Climate, Fire and Human Evolution

The book explores the intricate relationship between the evolution of Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere over the last 4 million years, particularly focusing on how these changes influenced the development of the genus Homo and the mastery of fire. It discusses the impact of flammable landscapes and unstable climates on human survival, cultural evolution, and the emergence of complex ideas such as immortality and divinity. The narrative also examines the transition to Neolithic civilization, the consequences of agricultural practices, and the ongoing anthropogenic extinction event, likening it to previous mass extinctions.