By Spencer Wells
The premise of the book interested me greatly. How the rise of agriculture 10,000 years ago brought about the rise of civilization as we know it. How could this possibly be bad? Well apparently it has caused lots of problems. I ended up not really caring for this book. It wasn't very memorable. My notes include facts from the book but not to much on my thoughts. This is unfortunate since the book didn't stick with me, I can't really articulate my reasons for disliking it.
Bits from the book:
Bits from the book:
What else has changed and what has lead to these changes with the invention of agriculture?
Interesting:
changes, variations in the DNA of genes are being tracked to see which
genes have changed rapidly and how recently to see when diseases started
to affect mankind.
Problems of agriculture:
obesity, spread of malaria, cavities, even mental illness is a result of
agricultural changes? More people are self medicating for Prozac,
Paxil, Ritillan to help become "normal" due to the stresses created
from our lives!
IVF - in vitro fertilization
and PGD - preimplantation genetic diagnosis, two genetic tests that as
they become more widespread could alter the path of mankind? It might
have taken thousands of years for people to be able to digest lactose in
adulthood but with genetic selection you could create the same thing in
a few generations. And now you are directly affecting future
generations by selecting what genes are available for them. Only
additional mutations can reintroduce these traits. Where might this
lead?
Mental illness. Creative thinking cam
lead to new discoveries, inventions. But a few extra of the reactive
genes and you end up with schizophrenia?
Last chapter about the loss of the myth to logic and how fundamentalists are using logic to bring back myth.
Reminds me of the Apsley Cherry Gerrard quote "the luxuries of civilization satisfy only those wants which they themselves create."
