Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

By: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan

Narrated by: Nick Sagan, Ann Druyan, Clinnette Minnis

World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a Roots for the human species, a lucid and riveting account of how humans got to be the way we are. It shows with humor and drama that many of our key traits - self-awareness, technology, family ties, submission to authority, hatred for those a little different from ourselves, reason, and ethics - are rooted in the deep past, and illuminated by our kinship with other animals.

Astonishing in its scope, brilliant in its insights, and absolutely compelling, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a triumph of popular science.

©1992 Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Excelente bofetada al ego especista

El humano se piensa a sí mismo como un ser superior y totalmente desligado del entorno en que vive, la cantidad de pruebas presentadas en este libro debería ser suficiente para una persona racional replantee seriamente ese tipo de pensamiento.

A very important read, poor audio performance

Understanding the evolved underpinnings of our modern psychology, culture, and societal structure helps me see our failings with greater compassion, and the obstacles in our path with greater clarity. We are a species with a history and a future--a future to be defined with knowledge and wisdom, or haphazardly via vestigial tendencies however impractical they may be in a modern context.

As important as this work is, and I feel bad saying it, the reading by Sagan and Druyan's son is uninspired, and even monotonously weasly, tending to end statements in a whiny, pleading tone that undermines the authority of carefully considered words. Toward the end, I either got more used to it or he got better, but getting there was often a struggle.

Still, for the absolutely critically essential content that should be in every human's brain, the audio version is worth it. Though if you're able to read it instead, maybe better...

Realizations of how all species are connected

Loved it - content and delivery. Such insights about human behaviors and how these are connected. Realization that we are just another species like many others!

Dated but still relevant and revealing

Nicely performed as a labor of love and well worth the listen, esp. considering the time of Carl Sagan's initial writing. Well ahead of his time but right on the money on so many points.

Fantastic. Exactly what I expected.

I gave a 4 for performance because of the awful foreword by the female with laryngitis. But this is a fantastic experience for the ears and mind.