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A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century summary
Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein
Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life
18 mins
Brief summary
A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century by Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein discusses how to navigate the modern world by understanding our ancient past. It explores how our biology and culture can be used to create a better future.
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A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
WEIRD people grow up surrounded by unnatural geometry.
Can you tell whether two lines drawn on a page are the same length or not? You may have seen the optical illusion in which two lines, of identical length, both have arrowheads at either end, going in opposite directions. Due to this difference, you perceive one line as being longer than the other. But not everyone falls for this illusion.
Interestingly, people who grow up in hunter-gatherer societies, such as the San Bushmen of Southern Africa, have no problems seeing that the two lines are identical. However, for people who grow up in WEIRD countries – that is, Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic – it’s almost impossible.
The key message here is: WEIRD people grow up surrounded by unnatural geometry.
Unlike the San Bushmen, people in industrialized nations use sawmills to create timber with perfectly straight edges and precise corners. This might explain why we have trouble interpreting different line lengths – because we’re deprived of seeing more organic forms, we lose some of our visual abilities. This is just a theory, however, and it’s worrying that experts can’t say for sure that this is why we struggle with this sort of illusion. But one thing that does seem clear is that modernity is undermining our natural abilities in ways that we don’t fully understand, or often even realize.
Our ignorance of how our environment affects our bodies manifests in other ways, too. For example, many people in WEIRD countries will suffer from appendicitis, a dangerous inflammation of the appendix, at some point. People in developing countries, however, rarely deal with appendicitis.
Why?
Experts now believe that the appendix acts as a breeding ground for the good bacteria and microorganisms that live in our guts and help us digest our food. When we suffer from diarrhea and stomach upset, a lot of gut bacteria from our digestive tract gets flushed out of our bodies. But the appendix doesn’t lose its bacteria, and so can grow more of them to repopulate the tract. People in developing countries are exposed to more germs and different bacteria than those in WEIRD ones. We might think this is a bad thing – but our bodies are designed to go through this cycle of stomach upset and bacterial regrowth in the appendix. With our overly sterile and hygienic modern homes, we no longer suffer frequent digestive upsets, and so our immune systems and our gut bacteria get out of balance, ultimately leading to appendicitis in some people.
So whether it’s our overly clean homes or the perfectly straight lines that surround us, the modern world is having an effect on our bodies and minds to which we’re not paying enough attention.
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What is A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century about?
Hunter Gatherers (2021) explores the mismatch between our evolutionary tendencies and our modern environments. It outlines how seemingly innocuous aspects of contemporary living are harming us, and stifling our true nature and potential.
A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century Review
A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century (2021) provides valuable insights on navigating the complexities of modern life through the lens of our anthropological past. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers a unique perspective on contemporary challenges, using lessons from our hunter-gatherer ancestors to shed light on societal issues.
- Delves into the intersection of biology, psychology, and culture, exploring how these aspects shape our behavior and decision-making in today's world.
- Brings together evidence-based research and personal anecdotes from the authors to create a thought-provoking narrative that sparks curiosity and reflection.
Who should read A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century?
- Psychology buffs looking for fresh insights
- Anyone interested in evolutionary biology
- Fans of natural history
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A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century FAQs
What is the main message of A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century?
The main message of A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century is how to navigate modern life by adopting principles from our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
How long does it take to read A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century?
The estimated reading time for A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century is several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century a good book? Is it worth reading?
A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century is worth reading as it offers valuable insights on navigating the complexities of modern life.
Who is the author of A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century?
The author of A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century is Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein.
What to read after A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century?
If you're wondering what to read next after A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Book of Humans by Adam Rutherford
- The Story of the Human Body by Daniel Lieberman
- Irresistible by Adam Alter
- Cosmosapiens by John Hands
- The Distraction Addiction by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
- The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Exercised by Daniel E. Lieberman