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The Ascent Of Man Kindle Edition

by Jacob Bronowski (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 604 ratings
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Dr Jacob Bronowksi's The Ascent of Man traces the development of human society through our understanding of science.

First published in 1973 to accompany the groundbreaking BBC television series, it is considered one of the first works of 'popular science', illuminating the historical and social context of scientific development for a generation of readers. In his highly accessible style, Dr Bronowski discusses human invention from the flint tool to geometry, agriculture to genetics, and from alchemy to the theory of relativity, showing how they all are expressions of our ability to understand and control nature.

In this new paperback edition, The Ascent of Man inspires, influences and informs as profoundly as ever.

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  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    BBC Digital
  5. Publication date
    July 31, 2011
  6. File size
    2520 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
We don’t use a simple average to calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star. Our system gives more weight to certain factors—including how recent the review is and if the reviewer bought it on Amazon. Learn more
604 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

GPK
5.0 out of 5 stars DOES SUPERB HAVE A SUPERLATIVE?
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
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Read this wonderful book, created by a beautiful mind nearly half a century ago, that remains vital and relevant to us all. While it is scientifically oriented its true subjects are love of humanity and unending faith in the continual expansion of the human intellect and spirit. I have read it several times and expect to do so again. The author was a genuine, and quite possibly the last, Renaissance Man. This magnificent volume explores the growth of modern man front it's very beginnings fusing anthropology physics, biology and chemistry, poetry and cultural analysis with skill, elegance of style, humor, compassion, and extraordinary respect for the past and for his readers. A word of advicem however: read a copy of the original publivpcation replete with photos fron the televised programs. Better yet, watch them to hear the text in the author' s voice. However you take this book to heart, it is bound to stay there.
9 people found this helpful
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Wayne K Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars a thoughtful reflection of science, art and culture
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
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I share Bronowski's view that science is a creative process and this creativity has been at the heart of the ascent of man. A lot of what he says is all the more relevant today when funding in science has been consistently cut and -- because of extreme "evolutionary pressures" to seize on the few remaining scraps -- this direction has led to an oversized, overhyped effort at incremental progress (at best) and fiefdoms.

The book follows closely with the BBC series from which it was derived, but there are a few minor considerations for the fact that it is a book. Yet most of what he says in that work is worth reading and remembering. As a starting point for further research, it has a considerable wealth of information in the bibliography to help dig deeper into each of the 13 topics presented in this series. Whereas I find a lot to agree with Bronowski, even some of the things I can perhaps find a little questionable, he seems like a voice worth hearing. Bronowski strikes me as a compassionate man of science who sought to understand the world and how creativity and culture influence progress and human understanding.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking in it's scope
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024
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This book outlines the story on mankind from the beginning of time. If you are interested in anthropology you really should read this book.
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Phred
4.0 out of 5 stars Past its prime but still sets the standard
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013
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Jacob Bronowski's The Ascent of Man was one of several documentary style miniseries that created a market for and set the standard for thoughtful television programs of the type we should expect from the History Channel or Arts and Entertainment. The Ascent of Man along with the Civilization Series, Connections, and Cosmos proved that there was a large market for intellectually challenging and enlightening discussion extending over many weeks and many topics. These were not the first efforts in this direction, I can remember Leonard Bernstein doing televised lectures about music some time before the above mentioned programs but these took hold and proved that there was in fact a market for quality programming.

This however is a review of a text only version. This book reprodes Prof. Bronowski's lectures with very few of the visuals. In these lectures, rather 13 chapters the reader is taken from the beginning of man as a social, culturally artistic and technologically inventive being up into at least the 1970s, when this book was first published, and what was then emerging as the DNA driven understanding of human biology.

I am deeply impressed with the depth and breath of the authors intellect plus his immense skill with English. He was Polish born and did not come to English until he was much older. His original background shifted from a specialty in the mathematics of physics into a later career in biology while gaining recognition as a poet, historian, philosopher and (this is new to me) a "theater author". All of these skills were powerfully displayed in the television series and this is the source of my reservation over a fifth star for the book. My memories of this program from almost 30 years ago are tied to what were then some very high-tech graphics. The absence of the visuals affected my ability to appreciate the text. The power of Bronowski's language is here; unfortunately the text has not been scrubbed of all references to the images not carried over into the text.

Others have mentioned that science is moved forward, indeed leaped forward since this text was put in print. It is remarkable how much of what is here remains valid in itself or at least as a document of where our understanding was before it got to where it is. The very name of the book suggests that human progress his ongoing. A major theme of this book is that a failure to press ahead represents an ending for that culture but not an ending for human progress.

Accepting that some of the science is dated, my recommendation is based on the powerful use of language and the opportunity to spend time with a deeply thoughtful and passionate thinker
16 people found this helpful
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kimberly cepeda
5.0 out of 5 stars Bronowski
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2023
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This is a companion to a PBS hosted by Bronowski. He is an intellectual who can communicate, with passion, the history of the growing mind of man. Although written in 1972 the contents remain relevant and often remarkably surprising.
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Nina A. Schwartz
3.0 out of 5 stars A bad edition of a great book
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2019
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What's wrong with Amazon and PBS? Is there some proprietary agreement that says no one can come out with a decent Kindle edition of this book? One that contains ALL the illustrations, not just one in 10? And you can't sell the series on Amazon Prime? This is the best series of lectures ever given, and this edition just shoots it in the foot.
3 people found this helpful
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Asko Korpela
5.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to myself
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
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A good introduction to myself
That was what it is: a jolly good introduction to anybody, to me, to you, and to Jacob Bronski, even to Albert Einstein. Path of development of man from original living cell millions of years ago to the bearer of brain more ingenious than the latest brand of computer available. All in thirteen steps on the Earth. A battle for survival of the fittest. An unbroken chain of getting food and shelter to enable physical and psychic steps forward to the final unknown destiny of man.
Somehow I expected more mathematical proof than this enormous amount of intuition in finding factual evidence all over in the world and quite close to anybody.
Up to the last moment I had in mind four stars, but how can I deny in the end five? So much satisfaction did it give, so five stars to Jacob Bronowski.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Philmore East
5.0 out of 5 stars Dated but still a pleasure to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2023
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I did not see the TV series, and the book is of course a bit dependent on it, but Bronowski's intellect and broad vision shine trough. Maybe not technically correct any more, but still a humanistic monument. Hariri "avant la lettre" but with more philosophical depth.
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Partha Datta
5.0 out of 5 stars The famous book THE ASCENT OF MAN
Reviewed in India on December 29, 2021
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Its a superb book depicting the social and cultural evolution of man from the earliest days to the present time.
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S.D. Manoli
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2018
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Excellent. Philosophy as seen by scientist. As it should be.
One person found this helpful
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Mark Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful explanation of what we are
Reviewed in Japan on August 22, 2020
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A brilliant book, a must read if you’ve ever seen the TV show, a should read for anyone else
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Marc
5.0 out of 5 stars For all ages
Reviewed in Germany on September 12, 2016
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As a scientist,I find this book phenomenal! Bronowski is an intellect with a great way of telling you about human history and describe how humans have "ascended". He connects sciences, art, philosophy, history, and many more together, making the book on human history an interesting read. Bronowski paints a historic picture, and expresses scientific and philosophical ideas in the most poetic way. This book puts you on a journey of human development in several fields around the world.
One person found this helpful
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