Muthukrishna Michael. A Theory of Everyone: The New Science of Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going

The MIT Press, 2023. — 498 р. — ISBN 9780262048378.Playing on the phrase “a theory of everything” from physics, Michael Muthukrishna’s ambitious, original, and deeply hopeful book A Theory of Everyone draws on the most recent research from across the sciences, humanities, and the emerging field of cultural evolution to paint a panoramic picture of who we are and what exactly makes human beings different from all other forms of life on the planet.Muthukrishna argues that it is our unique ability to create culture, a shared body of knowledge, skills, and experience passed on from generation to generation, that has enabled our current dominance. But it is only by understanding and applying the laws of life—the need for energy, innovation, cooperation, and evolution—that we can solve the practical and existential challenges we face as a species. A Theory of Everyone attempts to provide solutions for the most pressing problems of our collective future, such as polarization, inequality, the “great stagnation” in productivity, and the energy crisis.Casting a bold and wide net, Muthukrishna’s book is a must-read for anyone interested in a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.Introduction
Who We Are and How We Got Here
Laws of Life
The Human Animal
Human Intelligence
Innovation in the Collective Brain
Created by Culture
Cooperation
Where We're Going
Reuniting Humanity
Governance in the Twenty-first Century
Shattering the Glass Ceiling
Triggering a Creative Explosion
Improving the Internet
Becoming Brighter
Conclusion