A Short History of Progress
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A Short History of Progress

by Ronald Wright

2004•Documentary•211 pages

Taste attributes: documentaryhistoricalslowfresh & originalheavyrealisticlinearglossybig & variedemotive & stirringsocial commentaryhuman spirit/resilience/survivalinjustice/tragedy/vengeance

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Boxlist takeA grounded non-fiction book that is heavy, expansive and slow-paced. Best if you like real life over fantasy.

Taste details

Open Library rating

3.8 / 5

5 ratings

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About This Book

Palaeolithic hunters who learnt how to kill two mammoths instead of one had made progress. Those who learnt how to kill 200 by driving a whole herd over a cliff had made too much. Many of the great ruins that grace the deserts and jungles of the earth are monuments to progress traps, the headstones of civilisations which fell victim to their own success.

Description: Open Library

Characteristics

Where this book sits on each taste spectrum

SlowPACEFast
FamiliarORIGINALITYOriginal
DarkTONEWholesome
LightWEIGHTINESSHeavy
FantasyREALISMRealistic
SimpleINTRICACYIntricate
Non-LinearLINEARITYLinear
UnderstatedSTYLEStylised
IntimateSCALEEpic
RestrainedEMOTIONIntense

Genres and themes

DocumentaryHistoricalSocial commentaryHuman spirit/resilience/survivalInjustice/tragedy/vengeance

Subjects

HistoryProgressCivilizationEnvironmental degradationNonfictionScienceEnvironnementHistoire

Details

Author
Ronald Wright
Published
2004
Pages
211
Taste scores
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Books are scored on the same ten characteristics as films and matched with the same formula and your own match bands. Book scores are estimates, made from Open Library subjects and descriptions plus an AI reading.

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