I have just started reading this book and am still on the fence about it but part of the book’s thesis involves the development in humans of the ability to inflict death at long range, and apparently derives tremendous evolutionary and behavioral consequences from it. It posits a general theory of human evolution. My skeptic’s hackles are raised, but it is very, very interesting so far and the Kindle price is worth it IMO…
…especially if you shoot long-range, a skill in which I think most RNS readers may have some ability.
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This Book doesn’t work. 404 page error. Interested in what the book is as delivering death at a distance is something that interests me.
Just a malformed link, should send you to http:/amzn.com/B004X2HRR0/
Thanks, fixing now.
Humans are about the only creature in existence that can kill at a distance (exceptions are things like archer fish or bombardier beetles, and those distances are trivia, the critters, smalll). Even something a simple as a spear allows pygmies to hunt elephants, and that’s only adding a couple of feet of sharp stuff to our nearly inconsequential arm length. We are slow, we have no claws or fangs, we are weak. But we are vicious pack hunters that hold a grudge, and we can kill from just far enough away that we can avoid getting hurt in return. Suddenly, everything changes. Without tools, weapons that can kill just beyond our reach, we are nothing but tasty pieces of meat somewhere in the middle of the food chain. With tools, we are THE top predator. Not saying that what changes he’s talking about are correct, but the thesis that it makes a huge difference is undoubtedly correct.