Civilized to Death

The Price of Progress

Most of us feel that something’s off — balmy December days, face-to-face conversation replaced with screen-to-screen artificiality, the world at constant war, political systems in disarray. We hear some lies so frequently that they begin to feel like facts: Civilization is humankind’s greatest accomplishment. Progress is undeniable. We’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 may be analogous to an advancing disease.

“Incredible . . . timely . . . clarifying.”
– Jack Dorsey, cofounder and CEO of Twitter

“This is not just a book, it’s a revolution.”
– Neil Strauss, author of The Game & The Truth.

“Every great once in a while, a book comes along that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew. Civilized to Death is without question one of them.”
– Jesse Bering, PhD, author of Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us & Suicidal: Why We Kill Ourselves.

“Christopher Ryan is one of the most interesting and provocative thinkers of our time. Everyone should read him—you might well disagree but you’ll definitely think differently.”
– Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream & Lost Connections.

In this controversial, thought-provoking New York Times bestseller, Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá debunk almost everything we’ve been told about human sexual nature, weaving together convergent, frequently overlooked evidence from anthropology, archaeology, primatology, anatomy, and psychosexuality to show how far from human nature sexual monogamy really is. Translated into over twenty languages, and winner of the 2011 Ira and Harriet Reiss Theory Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, and named Consumer Book of the Year by the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), Sex at Dawn exposes the ancient roots of human sexuality while pointing toward a more optimistic future illuminated by our innate capacities for love, cooperation, and generosity.

“The single most important book on human sexuality since Alfred Kinsey’s Sexual Behavior in the Human Male.”
– Dan Savage, author of the Savage Love column

“Challenges conventional wisdom about sex in a big way. Provocative, entertaining, and pioneering.”
– Dr. Andrew Weil, author of Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, Spontaneous Healing & Natural Health, Natural Medicine

“Paradigm-shifting.”
– Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., psychologist & parapsychologist

“Sex At Dawn has helped me understand myself and the world so much more clearly.”
– Ilana Glazer, co-creator of Broad City

Tangentially Reading is the literary spin-off of Christopher Ryan’s popular podcast, Tangentially Speaking. Tangentially Speaking released its inaugural episode in 2012, and new episodes have appeared weekly ever since. Tangentially Reading collects and preserves in paper form 26 of the podcast’s most memorable conversations. The creation of the book – from its conception through to transcription through to design and illustration – was powered by the enthusiasm of the global Tangentially Speaking community. The book’s gorgeous illustrations are original works by podcast listener Adam McDade.

“Chris is the most relaxed smart person I know.”
– Joe Rogan, host of The Joe Rogan Experience

“Chris is the shame exorcist of podcasting.”
– Duncan Trussell, MD, PhD

Talking Sex