Civilized To Death

The Price of Progress

By: Christopher Ryan

Narrated by: Christopher Ryan

The New York Times bestselling coauthor of Sex at Dawn explores the ways in which “progress” has perverted the way we live—how we eat, learn, feel, mate, parent, communicate, work, and die—in this “engaging, extensively documented, well-organized, and thought-provoking” (Booklist) book.

Most of us have instinctive evidence the world is ending—balmy December days, face-to-face conversation replaced with heads-to-screens zomboidism, a world at constant war, a political system in disarray. We hear some myths and lies so frequently that they feel like truths: Civilization is humankind’s greatest accomplishment. Progress is undeniable. Count your blessings. You’re lucky to be alive here and now. Well, maybe we are and maybe we aren’t. Civilized to Death counters the idea that progress is inherently good, arguing that the “progress” defining our age is analogous to an advancing disease.

Prehistoric life, of course, was not without serious dangers and disadvantages. Many babies died in infancy. A broken bone, infected wound, snakebite, or difficult pregnancy could be life-threatening. But ultimately, Christopher Ryan questions, were these pre-civilized dangers more murderous than modern scourges, such as car accidents, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and a technologically prolonged dying process? Civilized to Death “will make you see our so-called progress in a whole new light” (Book Riot) and adds to the timely conversation that “the way we have been living is no longer sustainable, at least as long as we want to the earth to outlive us” (Psychology Today). Ryan makes the claim that we should start looking backwards to find our way into a better future.

We need to think deeper about our own Zoo.

This is a book I have been looking forward to for years due to Ryan's podcast and it did not disappoint. Ryan has produced (and narrated here) what I imagine will be the cause of a very big ripple in Western culture. We are in the midst of a meaning crisis with some symptoms of the crisis being a toxic divisive political circus, mass distraction through consumerism, and environmental destruction. Recent books like this one, "Tribe" by Sebastien Junger, "Lost Connections" by Johann Hari, along with evolutionary theory (and some might say common sense) point to the possibility that the cause of our meaning crisis may simply be the fact that the meaning and purpose we all need to thrive may be found by trying to live in accordance with our nature as a social ape who craves acceptance, belonging, and a collective to whom we as individuals can contribute to the wellbeing of.

To nit pick on some issues I had due to my current knowledge base and subsequent biases I docked a star each for Story and Overall. To provide some balance to a few of the brilliant arguments put forward by Ryan here I would highly recommend curious people who liked this book to check out "Stubborn Attachments" by Economist Tyler Cowen and also "The Beginning of Infinity" by Physicist David Deutsch.

Bravo Chris. This is an astounding piece of work that is very much needed.

Chris has been my involuntary mentor for years.

I'm so glad CTD finally came out. Having listened to all of his podcasts I already knew his shtick, but hey. Still refreshing. Also, I'm glad he personally recorded the reading. I'm impressed, brother.

an epic solution to societal and cultural problems

Christopher Ryan does an amazing job of teaching us what research shows is the healthiest way humans should live and interrelated. This book is crucial for anyone seeking Optimal Health optimal interpersonal relationships and an optimal way to happiness

Thorough and thought provoking.

I really enjoy the layout of this book. I really appreciate Dr. Ryan’s research. I know i will be listening again.

Very interesting compelling read

Once again Chris manages to eloquently dissect our modern existence and highlight the conflicts of our so call civilised society.
I was impressed with “sex at dawn” but this latest book is even better.