Humans

A Monstrous History

A history of how humans have created monsters out of one another—from our deepest fears—and what these monsters tell us about humanity's present and future.

Monsters are central to how we think about the human condition. Join award-winning historian of science Dr. Surekha Davies as she reveals how people have defined the human in relation to everything from apes to zombies, and how they invented race, gender, and nations along the way. With rich, evocative storytelling that braids together ancient gods and generative AI, Frankenstein's monster and E.T., Humans: A Monstrous History shows how monster-making is about control: it defines who gets to count as normal.

In an age when corporations increasingly see people as obstacles to profits, this book traces the long, volatile history of monster-making and charts a better path for the future. The result is a profound, effervescent, empowering retelling of the history of the world for anyone who wants to reverse rising inequality and polarization. This is not a history of monsters, but a history through monsters.

©2025 Surekha Davies (P)2025 Tantor Media

What is a “Monster” anyway?

Rarely have I ever encountered a history book so relevant to the present day. “Humans: a monstrous history” explores how human society defines what is normal and what is monstrous overtime. The consequences of these artificial delineations are a key feature of the narrative. Well written and well read, I highly recommend.