1118 pages of ambitious and stimulating facts and ideas, but not as absorbing as the tomes by fJames Burke (The Day the Universe Changed and Connections).

According to one reviewer, this is an overview of human intellectual development.  At times, I’m wondering how intelligent some of the development is.  But, I do agree that it is as much a response to changes in the natural environment- such as shifts in climate and the appearance of new diseases – as from internal dynamism.

This is the third time I’m worked my way through it.  I’ve found it more enlightening each time.

Be prepared to make extended sitting reading this one.  You’ll get caught up on something and keep reading.

Ideas A history from Fire to Freud – Peter Watson – ISBN 0-7538-2089-7