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Books like The prehistory of the mind
An intellectual expedition into the deep past to uncover how early humans learned to think, speak, and create. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The prehistory of the mind.
- intellectual
- contemplative
- expansive
- curious
- 01
The roots of civilization
Alexander Marshack
A deep, scholarly dive into the ancient symbols and prehistoric art that mark the dawn of human cognition.
- 02
The Ape that Understood the Universe
Steve Stewart-Williams
An expansive, intellectually stimulating exploration of how a biological primate developed the capacity to ponder its own existence.
- 03
The Dragons of Eden
Carl Sagan · 1977
A poetic, mind-expanding journey into the deep evolutionary history of human consciousness.
- 04
The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind
Julian Jaynes
A sweeping, deeply unsettling, and awe-inspiring journey into the ancient mind that will forever change how you hear your own internal monologue.
- 05
The secret of our success
Joseph Patrick Henrich
A paradigm-shifting exploration that dismantles the myth of the lone genius to reveal the true superpower of our species: our collective brain.
- 06
From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds
Daniel C. Dennett
A sweeping, cerebral exploration of how mindless biological processes gave rise to the breathtaking complexity of human consciousness.
- 07
Archaeology and Humanity's Story
Deborah Olszewski
A grounded and illuminating exploration of deep time that pieces together the earliest chapters of the human experience.
- 08
The human animal
Desmond Morris
A fascinating, accessible lens on the biological imperatives driving human culture and behavior.
- 09
How the Mind Works
Steven Pinker
A witty, expansive masterclass that dismantles the magic of human consciousness to reveal the fascinating evolutionary machinery whirring beneath.
- 10
Frauds, myths, and mysteries
Kenneth L. Feder · 1990
A witty, sharp-eyed dismantling of history's most persistent hoaxes and pseudoscientific tall tales.
- 11
The Language Instinct
Steven Pinker
A witty, mind-expanding journey into the biological machinery that makes human communication possible.
- 12
Cognitive psychology
Robert L. Solso · 1979
A rigorous, methodical journey through the architecture and mechanics of the human mind.
