Peak Human

What We Can Learn from History’s Greatest Civilizations

By: Johan Norberg

Narrated by: Andrew Cullum

All golden ages are marked by periods of spectacular cultural flourishing, scientific exploration, technological achievement and economic growth; yet no two are the same. Their beliefs, societies and place in the wider world all vary. Despite this, all previous golden ages have ended, whether it be because of external pressures or internal fracturing; too much hubris or too little wariness.

Looking at seven of humanity's greatest civilisations—ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Abbasid Baghdad, Song China, Renaissance Italy, the Dutch Republic and the Anglosphere—historian and commentator Johan Norberg seeks to distil their strengths and shortcomings in answering the question: how do we ensure that our current golden age doesn't end?

As insightful as it is riveting, Peak Human is at once a paean to our incredible progress and a warning that we cannot afford to be complacent.

©2025 Johan Norberg (P)2025 W.F. Howes Ltd

Fascinating view of history and of what works compared to why things go awry.

Thoroughly enjoyed the big picture view of the golden ages of human history and the cautionary tales that led to their decline.

Breathtaking, Outstanding and Hard to Put Down

A well-researched body of work delivered with outstanding narration, Johan Norberg's audiobook is a breathtaking tour of history that is hard to pause. The author will help you rewind the past lifetime of man, transporting you to thousands of years of history to fill the curious mind and leave it thoroughly satisfied. The bottom line is that empires and civilisations come and go, but humanity moves forward in a gale of progress that builds on the past. What worries me is that the behaviour that led to the past collapse of prior civilisations is currently unfolding in real time. I hope policymakers read this excellent piece of history and pull back from the brink.

Excellent and timely.

Very interesting historical review. Easy to listen to and engaging. Just the right length, keeping to the main points.

Peak Human

Fabulous review of the rise and fall of nations. Very important lessons for the present era.

Good Golden Age Choices

Excellent, balanced descriptions and choices for Golden Ages. As with every historian, from great to awful, the author is generally a drooling rutabaga when he references the current world. Ignore that. Enjoy the history. Also, 'Inclusivity.' To quote Inigo Montoya: I do not think that word means what you think it means.