Civilized To Death: The Price of Progress

Written by Christopher Ryan

Narrated by Christopher Ryan

The New York Times bestselling coauthor of Sex at Dawn explores the ways in which “progress” has perverted the way we live—how we eat, learn, feel, mate, parent, communicate, work, and die—in this “engaging, extensively documented, well-organized, and thought-provoking” (Booklist) book.

Most of us have instinctive evidence the world is ending—balmy December days, face-to-face conversation replaced with heads-to-screens zomboidism, a world at constant war, a political system in disarray. We hear some myths and lies so frequently that they feel like truths: Civilization is humankind’s greatest accomplishment. Progress is undeniable. Count your blessings. You’re lucky to be alive here and now. Well, maybe we are and maybe we aren’t. Civilized to Death counters the idea that progress is inherently good, arguing that the “progress” defining our age is analogous to an advancing disease.

Prehistoric life, of course, was not without serious dangers and disadvantages. Many babies died in infancy. A broken bone, infected wound, snakebite, or difficult pregnancy could be life-threatening. But ultimately, Christopher Ryan questions, were these pre-civilized dangers more murderous than modern scourges, such as car accidents, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and a technologically prolonged dying process? Civilized to Death “will make you see our so-called progress in a whole new light” (Book Riot) and adds to the timely conversation that “the way we have been living is no longer sustainable, at least as long as we want to the earth to outlive us” (Psychology Today). Ryan makes the claim that we should start looking backwards to find our way into a better future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781508297659

Christopher Ryan

Christopher Ryan, PhD, is a research psychologist. He lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Reviews for Civilized To Death

[Warren Stevens · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an excellent analysis of everything that’s wrong with civilization, though the author is limited by his paradigm. He, like many secular intellectuals, points to religion as a cause of our misery rather than a valuable tool humans have used to cope with the fact we’ve been pulled from the environment in which we were designed to thrive. I find it fascinating that religion is all bad when he can see the positives and negatives of science. While I, a Roman Catholic used to outsiders making straw men of the worst misrepresentations of the Christian faith, disagree deeply with his conclusions and solutions, I found much of his analysis solid and compelling and worth my time. I think the thrust of his argument is sound: progress is making us miserable and may very well lead to the end of the world; prehistoric humans, with simple lives grounded in voluntarily sharing all resources, had it figured out. My reservation with this book is that it has the feel of Marxist nonsense repackaged. We can not go back to prehistory, and using politics to attempt to force egalitarianism will backfire as we saw it do in the 20th century. I think it’s great to use science and anthropology to identify what humans need and to strive to change the world. The change will need to be grassroots, however, and I must point out that orthodox Christianity—with calls to poverty, generosity, forgiveness, sanctification of sex, and the love of neighbors/strangers—has been striving for this for 2000 years and succeeded in surprising ways: in the creation of hospitals, schools, charities, and social stability of large groups of people. It is unfortunate that the church acquired power that could be abused by bad actors and heretical teachers to the point that even those who call themselves believers have lost touch with the central message. Today, people associate Christianity, and indeed all religion, with authoritarianism rather than a universal call to return to the most ancient and pure form of our humanity. Share all you have. Use only what you need. We all all brothers and sisters. Greed will make you miserable and punish us all.

[Jados Moreno · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I find Ryan a bit pedantic, but it's hard to argue with premise. The gains of modernity are largely side effects of the exponential exploitation of the vast majority of humanity. 30% of all urban humans live in slums. There are more people enslaved now than during the time of chattel slavery. This is not progress. A broader view of history would have enabled Ryan to avoid falling into the trap of blaming religion for humanities woes.

[medansilviu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG,what a book. Probably the best one I listened in the last 5 years (and I'm listening to about 5 book a month).Truly mine opener, I'll never think about the life in the same way. Many thanks to the author.

[fazila amber · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved it. I started reading it during COVID times - perfect timings! Thank you for writing this brilliant book!

[Margaret Bukovscak · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has been a pleasing, eye-opening, and sometimes terrifying ride. I absolutely will be listening to this book again, as I feel one read-through was not enough to digest the all-encompassing messages Ryan offers.

I will be looking for more of your books. Thank you so much for what you’ve brought to the world.

[z boss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting take on comparing what we have vs what we could have if society realized that sometimes "progress" comes at a steep price.

[Isabel Ramirez-Burnett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book with so much wisdom backed by data. I wish this book was required reading in highschool.

[Liz Karschner-Slone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow - what an amazing take on our society and how we are living. I couldn't stop listening!

[Muthiaine Mutethia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

very insightful...life is simple if we let it be. loved it

[Tumi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Insightful but not cumbersome. Highly recommend. I had to speed up the reading though he does talk really slow for me.

[Roberto Francisco Wantland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eye opening in a familiar way. Supportive of some currently popular views and criticle of some that both support and question them. I would recommend if you feel everything is going to be ok. It might not be.

[Benjamin Wienen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well structured, interesting and straight forward approach on the analysis of human nature and the past, present and future of our species.

[Ron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great narration, great background, but where's the plan you promise?

Ryan does a great job of building a case for how we got into this mess. The book begins to wander in the middle into areas that seem sort of tacked on. And then seems to just quit altogether.

But I give it 4 stars for the great writing and narration. We can't expect one person to have all the answers anyways.

[Bradley Bouldin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

He offers a lot of thought-provoking assertions, some of which he supports well, and others that he cherry-picks data on to support is positions. Ultimately, he ends up trying to make a case, thinly veiled, for true communism.

[syanobakteeria 666 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well written and narrated, I found this audiobook entertaining and very accessible. I especially recommend it if you suspect you won't like the content, after all there is little point in preaching to the choir...
However, even so I actually agree with the core message, it is good to stay critical and keep your brain on: the author has an habit of cherry-picking evidences, over-simplifying, and making unjustifiably strong statements. Reading in depth about the mesolithic and neolithic eras - among other subjects - would go a long way to give context to this book. In many way it reminds me of Harari's "Sapiens", both for the good and the bad.

[Fraggle Rawk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a fantastic, insightful book. I've alway enjoyed Chris Ryan's work. Will read/listen again.

[Ingvild Syntropia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most profound and thought-provoking critiques of the status quo, the idea of progress, and the agrarian/patriarchal era of humans I've read. It has helped me scrutinize our so called normal lives further, and given me well researched tools to start living more in accordance with our human nature, to build a flourishing and meaningful future for all.

[Bipo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was my second audio book about human evolution and need to say I am happy it was not my first. Human behaviour and the way we are explored with the never leaving "we are so f%@#ed up" feeling, supported by perfectly fitting gloomy narator. After cheerful time I had with 1st book, this book was 180 turn around, that widened my perspective about how we can see ourselfs. Not only in a light of "more developed" or "above animal kingdom", but with the understanding, that civilization comes with the painfull cost. Highly recomend as one of books on evolutionary psychology.

[Vivian Tauro · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Author brings new perspectives through his remarks on progress of mankind..

[Audrey Kim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It questions the very basic premise we are born into: is human nature fundamentally evil, and is civilization the only goal?

And if you’ve ever wondered about the incongruity between the troublesome aspects of our reality and the message we are told to accept, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

[vukini79 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliantly written. Somber ending. I don’t agree with the authors conclusions and it clearly betrays his biases. This is an opinionated book, use it to expand your horizons, for that it is brilliant, using it as a prescription may be taking it too far.

[Oso Isko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An incredibly insightful and confirming work. Hopefully it's not too late.

[Bogdan Comsa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good, very good book about humanity.
I do not agree all ideas, but many of them are sound.

[Tim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the best and most important non-fiction book I've read for a long time. And many of its examples felt especially relevant, listening to it as coronavirus was spreading around the world - just the latest disease to be created by civilization.

[snash_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An exploration of the many ways progress (agriculture, industry, money, technology etc) have perverted the way mankind eats, moves, works, interacts, and dies. Excellently researched and substantiated although his stabs at a way out are feeble (because there is no pleasant way out).