Charles Eisenstein explores the history and potential potential of civilization, tracing the converging crises of our age group towards the illusion of the separate self. Within this limited hardcover release of Eisenstein’s landmark book, he argues that our disconnection in one another and the natural world has mislaid the foundations of science, religion, cash, technology, economics, medication, and education as we know them. They have terminated our near-pathological quest for technological Utopias even as we press about The Ascent of Mankind: Civilization and the Human being Sense of Self ourselves and our world to the brink of collapse.

Fortunately, an Age of Reunion is emerging out of the birth pangs of the earth in crisis. Our trip of separation was not a terrible mistake but an evolutionary procedure and an adventure in self-discovery. Also in our darkest hour, Eisenstein sees the chance of a far more beautiful world–not through the extension of millennia-old ways of management and control but by fundamentally reimagining ourselves and our systems. We should shift from our Babelian efforts to create ever-higher towers to heaven and rather turn out attention to creating a fresh kind of civilization–one created for beauty instead of height. Breathtaking in its range and cleverness, The Ascent of Mankind can be a landmark book displaying what it truly means to end up being human.

‘A tour-de-force filled up with astounding understanding, wit, wisdom and center.’ –Christopher Uhl, author of Developing Ecological Consciousness: Paths to a Sustainable Future

‘Quite marvelous, a greatly important work. This book is actually needed in this time around of deepening turmoil.’ –John Zerzan, author of Potential Primitive and Components of Refusal