Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress

Was transitioning from a nomadic hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural one worth it?
Is Civilization really good in the long term? Was it inevitable?

This book discusses how civilization and the agricultural revolution (12,000 years ago) changed human living conditions and all our social relations. One of the arguments is that the Narrative of Perpetual Progress, or NPP, creates inequality, suffering and subjugation.

One interesting observation in the book is how the agricultural societies changed the role of women throughout history. In a nomadic society women used to breastfeed children for years, and biologically that naturally created a decrease in women fertility because of hormones. Women had less children and were active members of the tribe, contributing in equal levels as of men. After transitioning to a more settled society, ownership of land became important, cattle could provide milk to feed children and women started to be subjugated to the “breeder” role, having more frequent pregnancies. And the rest is history.

It was a fascinating read but not too hopeful. It seems that we are way past the point-of-no-return and only big improbable changes in our society could revert the damaging effects of civilization. It's good food for thought, tho.