Did Lost Civilizations Really Exist? An Archaeologist Explains

Native America presents a richly illustrated, comprehensive history of the Indigenous peoples of North America, spanning over 20,000 years. Kenneth L. Feder draws on archaeological, historical, and cultural evidence to reveal the diversity and ingenuity of nearly a hundred different peoples across the continent. The book highlights their adaptation to varied environments, sophisticated cultures, and enduring resilience. It challenges misconceptions of Native Americans as 'primitive' by showcasing complex societies such as mound builders and Pueblo dwellers, and addresses the impact of European colonization. The narrative emphasizes that Native peoples are vibrant and living communities with a profound history everyone should know.

In this book, Jared Diamond explains why Eurasian and North African civilizations have survived and conquered others. He argues that differences in societal development arise primarily from geographical causes. The book details how agricultural societies developed immunities to deadly diseases, advanced in technology, and formed centralized political structures, ultimately leading to the conquest of other societies. Diamond also discusses the impact of germs, domesticated animals, and environmental factors on human history.

In 'Awe', Dacher Keltner presents a sweeping investigation and deeply personal inquiry into the elusive feeling of awe. The book reveals new research alongside an examination of awe across history, culture, and within Keltner's own life. It shows how awe transforms thoughts of self, one’s relationship to the world, and physical reactions to it. Keltner also explores how awe has propelled human evolution, is beneficial to mental and physical health, and can heal grief, build communal bonds, and humble us by making us feel part of something larger than ourselves.