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The Ascent of Man Paperback – April 1, 2013

by Jacob Bronowski (Author), Richard Dawkins (Foreword)
4.5 out of 5 stars 645 ratings
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A new paperback edition of Dr. Bronowski's classic history of humankind, with a foreword by Richard Dawkins

Dr. Jacob Bronowksi's classic traces the development of human society through our understanding of science. First published in 1973 to accompany the groundbreaking BBC television series, it is considered one of the first works of "popular science," illuminating the historical and social context of scientific development for a generation of readers. In his highly accessible style, Dr. Bronowski discusses human invention from the flint tool to geometry, agriculture to genetics, and from alchemy to the theory of relativity, showing how they all are expressions of our ability to understand and control nature. In this new paperback edition, The Ascent of Man inspires, influences, and informs as profoundly as ever.

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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    BBC Physical Audio
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.9 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1849901155
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1849901154
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  1. Every animal leaves traces of what it was; man alone leaves traces of what he created.
    Highlighted by 392 Kindle readers
  2. But war, organised war, is not a human instinct. It is a highly planned and co-operative form of theft.
    Highlighted by 337 Kindle readers
  3. The largest single step in the ascent of man is the change from nomad to village agriculture.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book and television series . . . are a superb teaching tool and a remarkable memorial."  —Carl Sagan

"A great book . . . it taught me a huge amount about mixing history and science."  —Simon Singh, author, The Code Book

About the Author

Jacob Bronowski (1908–1974) was a mathematician, biologist, science historian, and author. His other well-known works include The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination and The Western Intellectual Tradition, From Leonardo to Hegel. Richard Dawkins is the author of The God Delusion and The Selfish Gene.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BBC Physical Audio; Illustrated edition (April 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1849901155
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1849901154
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.9 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 645 ratings

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  1. Jacob Bronowski

    Jacob Bronowski

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  2. Marion Chesney

    Marion Chesney

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    Marion Chesney is known primarily for the more than 100 historical romance novels she has published under her own name and under several pseudonyms: Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward. But M.C. Beaton is the pseudonym she reserves for her mystery novels.

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4.5 out of 5 stars
645 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book accessible and engaging. They appreciate the author's insightful and erudite writing style. The presentation style is described as well-presented, magnificent, and elegant. Readers praise the author's articulate and powerful use of language. The humor and provocative tone are also appreciated.

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ReadabilityInsightPresentation styleWriting styleHumor
41 customers mention "Readability"41 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and remember. They praise the author's lucid, accessible writing style and consider it an excellent series of lectures. The book is described as brilliant, memorable, and a much-cited classic.

"Read this wonderful book, created by a beautiful mind nearly half a century ago, that remains vital and relevant to us all...." Read more

"...Yet most of what he says in that work is worth reading and remembering...." Read more

"...this book - and the series which produced it - are an achievement of the highest order, which have yet to be equaled, let alone surpassed...." Read more

"...but these took hold and proved that there was in fact a market for quality programming. This however is a review of a text only version...." Read more

38 customers mention "Insight"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and accessible. They say it provides an overview of mankind's development, touching on little-known aspects. The book opens their eyes to scientific thought and vice versa. It also provides a wealth of information in the bibliography for further research.

"...This magnificent volume explores the growth of modern man front it's very beginnings fusing anthropology physics, biology and chemistry, poetry and..." Read more

"...starting point for further research, it has a considerable wealth of information in the bibliography to help dig deeper into each of the 13 topics..." Read more

"...of the camera (and screen of the television), this book is an essential companion to his extraordinary and landmark 13-part series of the same name..." Read more

"...Connections, and Cosmos proved that there was a large market for intellectually challenging and enlightening discussion extending over many weeks..." Read more

14 customers mention "Presentation style"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's presentation style engaging and well-presented. They appreciate its elegant style, flair, dignity, and humanity. The book contains vivid imagery and a direct presentation style that keeps readers involved.

"...biology and chemistry, poetry and cultural analysis with skill, elegance of style, humor, compassion, and extraordinary respect for the past and for..." Read more

"...as plumbing the lowest depths - all presented with great drama, wit, flair, dignity and humanity, the portrayal of which will be remembered the rest..." Read more

"...but its direct presentation style keep the reader involved. My top "bucket list: book." Read more

"...His presentation is of course legendary, but I missed most of it in the 1970s, and I felt a need to watch it...." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style. They find it articulate and well-written, with a powerful use of language. Readers praise the author's ability to convey complex subject matter in simple yet accurate ways that are readable for all. The book is described as clear, concise, and engaging.

"...'s very beginnings fusing anthropology physics, biology and chemistry, poetry and cultural analysis with skill, elegance of style, humor, compassion..." Read more

"...of the science is dated, my recommendation is based on the powerful use of language and the opportunity to spend time with a deeply thoughtful and..." Read more

"...Its clarity, purpose and clear definition of mans progress over the millenia makes this book one of the best overviews of man and civilization's..." Read more

"Bronowski's was a keen intellect with the rare ability to to convey his complex, often subtle subject matter in a way that makes it accessible to us..." Read more

4 customers mention "Humor"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the humor. They find the book presents with authority, humor, and clarity in a sensitive and provocative manner.

"...chemistry, poetry and cultural analysis with skill, elegance of style, humor, compassion, and extraordinary respect for the past and for his readers...." Read more

"...as well as plumbing the lowest depths - all presented with great drama, wit, flair, dignity and humanity, the portrayal of which will be remembered..." Read more

"...Bronowski presents with authority, humor and most importantly clarity...." Read more

"...Mr. Bronowski does so in a sensitive and provocative manner...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • GPK
    5.0 out of 5 stars DOES SUPERB HAVE A SUPERLATIVE?
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Read this wonderful book, created by a beautiful mind nearly half a century ago, that remains vital and relevant to us all. While it is scientifically oriented its true subjects are love of humanity and unending faith in the continual expansion of the human intellect and spirit. I have read it several times and expect to do so again. The author was a genuine, and quite possibly the last, Renaissance Man. This magnificent volume explores the growth of modern man front it's very beginnings fusing anthropology physics, biology and chemistry, poetry and cultural analysis with skill, elegance of style, humor, compassion, and extraordinary respect for the past and for his readers. A word of advicem however: read a copy of the original publivpcation replete with photos fron the televised programs. Better yet, watch them to hear the text in the author' s voice. However you take this book to heart, it is bound to stay there.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Wayne K Dawson
    5.0 out of 5 stars a thoughtful reflection of science, art and culture
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I share Bronowski's view that science is a creative process and this creativity has been at the heart of the ascent of man. A lot of what he says is all the more relevant today when funding in science has been consistently cut and -- because of extreme "evolutionary pressures" to seize on the few remaining scraps -- this direction has led to an oversized, overhyped effort at incremental progress (at best) and fiefdoms.

    The book follows closely with the BBC series from which it was derived, but there are a few minor considerations for the fact that it is a book. Yet most of what he says in that work is worth reading and remembering. As a starting point for further research, it has a considerable wealth of information in the bibliography to help dig deeper into each of the 13 topics presented in this series. Whereas I find a lot to agree with Bronowski, even some of the things I can perhaps find a little questionable, he seems like a voice worth hearing. Bronowski strikes me as a compassionate man of science who sought to understand the world and how creativity and culture influence progress and human understanding.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • AJ Averett
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jacob Bronowski's "The Ascent of Man" (book)
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Essentially a transcript of what Dr. Jacob Bronowski says to the audience through the lens of the camera (and screen of the television), this book is an essential companion to his extraordinary and landmark 13-part series of the same name (available in a stunning DVD transfer).

    From Man's origins (as then known) through nomadic migrations, from the ruins of ancient civilizations to the late twentieth century, from the very beginnings of science and technology through the Industrial Revolution and the splitting - then fusing - of the atom, "The Ascent of Man" takes one to the highest peaks humanity have reached, as well as plumbing the lowest depths - all presented with great drama, wit, flair, dignity and humanity, the portrayal of which will be remembered the rest of one's life.

    Now nearly forty years old (and even though some material may be dated), this book - and the series which produced it - are an achievement of the highest order, which have yet to be equaled, let alone surpassed.

    Highest recommendation.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Phred
    4.0 out of 5 stars Past its prime but still sets the standard
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Jacob Bronowski's The Ascent of Man was one of several documentary style miniseries that created a market for and set the standard for thoughtful television programs of the type we should expect from the History Channel or Arts and Entertainment. The Ascent of Man along with the Civilization Series, Connections, and Cosmos proved that there was a large market for intellectually challenging and enlightening discussion extending over many weeks and many topics. These were not the first efforts in this direction, I can remember Leonard Bernstein doing televised lectures about music some time before the above mentioned programs but these took hold and proved that there was in fact a market for quality programming.

    This however is a review of a text only version. This book reprodes Prof. Bronowski's lectures with very few of the visuals. In these lectures, rather 13 chapters the reader is taken from the beginning of man as a social, culturally artistic and technologically inventive being up into at least the 1970s, when this book was first published, and what was then emerging as the DNA driven understanding of human biology.

    I am deeply impressed with the depth and breath of the authors intellect plus his immense skill with English. He was Polish born and did not come to English until he was much older. His original background shifted from a specialty in the mathematics of physics into a later career in biology while gaining recognition as a poet, historian, philosopher and (this is new to me) a "theater author". All of these skills were powerfully displayed in the television series and this is the source of my reservation over a fifth star for the book. My memories of this program from almost 30 years ago are tied to what were then some very high-tech graphics. The absence of the visuals affected my ability to appreciate the text. The power of Bronowski's language is here; unfortunately the text has not been scrubbed of all references to the images not carried over into the text.

    Others have mentioned that science is moved forward, indeed leaped forward since this text was put in print. It is remarkable how much of what is here remains valid in itself or at least as a document of where our understanding was before it got to where it is. The very name of the book suggests that human progress his ongoing. A major theme of this book is that a failure to press ahead represents an ending for that culture but not an ending for human progress.

    Accepting that some of the science is dated, my recommendation is based on the powerful use of language and the opportunity to spend time with a deeply thoughtful and passionate thinker
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Asko Korpela
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to myself
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A good introduction to myself
    That was what it is: a jolly good introduction to anybody, to me, to you, and to Jacob Bronski, even to Albert Einstein. Path of development of man from original living cell millions of years ago to the bearer of brain more ingenious than the latest brand of computer available. All in thirteen steps on the Earth. A battle for survival of the fittest. An unbroken chain of getting food and shelter to enable physical and psychic steps forward to the final unknown destiny of man.
    Somehow I expected more mathematical proof than this enormous amount of intuition in finding factual evidence all over in the world and quite close to anybody.
    Up to the last moment I had in mind four stars, but how can I deny in the end five? So much satisfaction did it give, so five stars to Jacob Bronowski.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Mark Wood
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful explanation of what we are
    Reviewed in Japan on August 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant book, a must read if you’ve ever seen the TV show, a should read for anyone else
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  • Marc
    5.0 out of 5 stars For all ages
    Reviewed in Germany on September 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    As a scientist,I find this book phenomenal! Bronowski is an intellect with a great way of telling you about human history and describe how humans have "ascended". He connects sciences, art, philosophy, history, and many more together, making the book on human history an interesting read. Bronowski paints a historic picture, and expresses scientific and philosophical ideas in the most poetic way. This book puts you on a journey of human development in several fields around the world.
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  • Partha Datta
    5.0 out of 5 stars The famous book THE ASCENT OF MAN
    Reviewed in India on December 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Its a superb book depicting the social and cultural evolution of man from the earliest days to the present time.
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  • S.D. Manoli
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent. Philosophy as seen by scientist. As it should be.
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  • Antonio Blanco
    4.0 out of 5 stars Los orígenes de la serie Cosmos
    Reviewed in Spain on November 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Los orígenes de la famosa serie Cosmos.
    Vale la pena leer el libro que sirvió de base de partida para la famosa serie de divulgación de Carl Sagan.
    Report