How Brawn and Engineering—Not Brains—Led to Human Domination |
Humans have harnessed energy from wood, animals, water, wind, sun, and fossil fuels to fuel our rise.
Blending anthropology, biomechanics, and history, he writes about ambition, ingenuity, and costs of progress.
We must change our mindset to live happier lives and achieve a healthier balance with nature.
I'm always looking for books that challenge the status quo, and when I learned about Roland Ennos' new book The Powerful Primate: How Controlling Energy Enabled Us to Build Civilization, I couldn't wait to get my eyes on it, and I'm thrilled I did. In this landmark book, Ennos offers "a compelling argument that flips the traditional view of humanity on its head. Rather than focusing solely on our intellectual abilities...[he] argues it’s our physical power and engineering brilliance that have set us apart in the animal kingdom." His arguments reminded me of an intriguing interview I did with author Justin Gregg titled "Is Human Intelligence a Gift or a Burden?" Here's what Ennos had to say about these intriguing and well-supported ideas blending anthropology, biomechanics, and history, and the costs of progress.
Marc Bekoff: Why did you write The Powerful Primate?
Roland Ennos: In my last book, The Science of Spin, I uncovered the ways in which we use rotational motion. I showed how we use compound sling actions to swing our arms when we hit or throw, and described how spinning machinery powers our modern world. In this book, I wanted to showcase these examples of our physical prowess and engineering skills and demonstrate how important they have been in enabling us to dominate our planet.
MB: How does your book relate to your background and general areas of interest?
RE: I have always loved creatures and machines, and spent my career in the field of biomechanics, investigating the........