This book provides a comprehensive history of societal collapse, tracing the evolution of human societies from egalitarian groups to dominance hierarchies. It explores how the rise of inequalities, extractive institutions, corruption, and over-expansion led to the downfall of various empires and societies. The author, Luke Kemp, discusses the current global 'Goliath' and its vulnerabilities, including climate change, nuclear weapons, and fragile supply chains, emphasizing the need for democratic control to prevent a final collapse.
In this book, Sarah Wilson embarks on a three-year soul's journey, hiking around the world to find a path through the complexities of climate change, the pandemic, racial inequalities, and our disconnection from what truly matters. Drawing on science, literature, philosophy, and the wisdom of leading experts, Wilson provides a blueprint for living a wilder, more connected life. She advocates for 'wild practices' such as embracing discomfort, breaking the cycle of mindless consumption, and reconnecting with nature and others. The book is a call to action, encouraging readers to step outside the zeitgeist and find a more joyful and sustainable existence.
This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.
Luke Kemp (historical collapse expert; associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk) has studied past civilisations and mapped out a picture of how long they tend to last before they collapse, what tends to tip them and what (if anything) can be done to stall their demise. Luke works alongside Lord Martin Rees and Yuval Noah Harari, is an honorary lecturer in environmental policy at the Australian National University and his collapse insights have been covered by the BBC, the New York Times and the New Yorker. His first book, 'Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse' will be published in June 2025.
In this episode I get Luke to provide a bit of a 101 on how civilisations do indeed decline and perish and to update us on the latest theories on how and whether ours might make it through. The answer is surprising.
SHOW NOTES
Here’s Luke’s original report on complex civilisation’s lifespans.
Keep up to date with Luke's work here
A few past Wild guests are referenced by Luke. You can catch the episode on Moloch with Liv Boeree here, the interview with Adam Mastroianni here and my chat with Nate Hagens here
The first chapter of my book serialisation – about hope – is available to everyone here
And here are the two chapters that I reference at the end
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Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious Life
Let’s connect on Instagram
If you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" page
For more such conversations subscribe to my Substack newsletter, it’s where I interact the most!
Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious Life
Let’s connect on Instagram
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Wild with Sarah Wilson 
