Peak Human

All golden ages are marked by periods of spectacular cultural flourishing, scientific exploration, technological achievement and economic growth; yet no two are the same. Their beliefs, societies and place in the wider world all vary. Despite this, all previous golden ages have ended, whether it be because of external pressures or internal fracturing; too much hubris or too little wariness. Looking at seven of humanity's greatest civilizations - ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Abbasid Baghdad, Song China, Renaissance Italy, the Dutch Republic and the Anglosphere - historian and commentator Johan Norberg seeks to distil their strengths and shortcomings in answering the question: how do we ensure that our current golden age doesn't end? As insightful as it is riveting, Peak Human is at once a paean to our incredible progress and a warning that we cannot afford to be complacent.
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All golden ages share periods of remarkable cultural flourishing, scientific discovery, technological innovation, and economic growth—yet no two are alike. Each is shaped by its own beliefs, institutions, and place in the wider world. Still, every past golden age has eventually come to an end, undone by external threats, internal divisions, overconfidence, or complacency. In Peak Human, historian and commentator Johan Norberg examines seven of humanity's greatest civilizations—ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Abbasid Baghdad, Song China, Renaissance Italy, the Dutch Republic, and the modern Anglosphere—to uncover what made them thrive and why they ultimately fell. As thought-provoking as it is urgent, Peak Human is both a celebration of our extraordinary progress and a timely warning that even the most brilliant eras can fade if we fail to learn from the past.