{"title":"Jonathan Kennedy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJonathan Kennedy\u003c\/strong\u003e offers insightful explorations at the crossroads of \u003cem\u003eScience \u0026amp; Nature\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e. His works delve into the complexities of disease and its impact on human events, blending scientific rigor with a keen historical perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect thoughtful analysis and engaging narratives that illuminate the forces shaping our world through both biological phenomena and the unfolding of military history. Kennedy's writing appeals to those curious about the interplay between science and historical change.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pathogenesis","title":"Pathogenesis","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePathogenesis\u003c\/i\u003e by Jonathan Kennedy presents a groundbreaking exploration of how infectious diseases have fundamentally steered the course of human history. This riveting work uncovers the profound impact germs have had on pivotal moments, from the advent of Homo sapiens to contemporary crises. Kennedy’s narrative intertwines scientific discovery with historical events, revealing the hidden drivers behind humanity’s most significant transformations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis thought-provoking book delves into how infectious diseases have shaped human evolution and societal development. For instance, the triumph of Homo sapiens over the intelligent Neanderthals is partly attributed to our encounters with pathogens. It further examines how the Black Death inadvertently catalysed the birth of capitalism and how the Industrial Revolution laid the groundwork for the welfare state we know today. Kennedy illuminates the intricate relationship between germs and human progress, showing that infectious diseases are not merely afflictions but integral to our very identity. Indeed, a staggering 8% of the human genome is composed of viral insertions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps most fascinatingly, \u003ci\u003ePathogenesis\u003c\/i\u003e challenges conventional understandings of evolution. It's not just about survival of the fittest, but about what viruses have managed to exploit to their advantage. A compelling example highlighted is the reason humans do not lay eggs—this can be traced back to a virus that embedded itself in our DNA eons ago, radically altering human reproduction. Kennedy uses these revelations to argue that the interplay between humans and pathogens is a defining factor in our species’ journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGlobally relevant and scientifically grounded, Dr Jonathan Kennedy's book not only recounts past pandemics but also addresses current and future implications of our ongoing battle with infectious diseases. He posits that these microbial adversaries have often triggered revolutionary shifts in human societies, offering crucial lessons and opportunities for change. By examining past crises and their outcomes, \u003ci\u003ePathogenesis\u003c\/i\u003e provides insightful perspectives on how humanity can navigate and adapt to ongoing and future challenges posed by infectious diseases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis captivating and enlightening narrative has earned immense praise from both critics and readers, solidifying its status as a must-read for anyone interested in the profound interconnectedness of disease and history. Recognised as a Radio 4 Book of the Week, \u003ci\u003ePathogenesis\u003c\/i\u003e promises to be an eye-opening journey that reshapes your understanding of human history and evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692325527788,"sku":"9781804991893","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781804991893.jpg?v=1725557310"},{"product_id":"pathogenesis-by-jonathan-kennedy-9780593240496","title":"Pathogenesis","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNATIONAL BESTSELLER\u003c\/em\u003e • A “gripping” (\u003cem\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/em\u003e) account of how the major transformations in history—from the rise of \u003cem\u003eHomo sapiens\u003c\/em\u003e to the birth of capitalism—have been shaped not by humans but by germs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Superbly written . . . Kennedy seamlessly weaves together scientific and historical research, and his confident authorial voice is sure to please readers of Yuval Noah Harari or Rutger Bregman.”—\u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e (U.K.)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to the accepted narrative of progress, humans have thrived thanks to their brains and brawn, collectively bending the arc of history. But in this revelatory book, Professor Jonathan Kennedy argues that the myth of human exceptionalism overstates the role that we play in social and political change. Instead, it is the humble microbe that wins wars and topples empires.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on the latest research in fields ranging from genetics and anthropology to archaeology and economics, \u003cem\u003ePathogenesis\u003c\/em\u003e takes us through sixty thousand years of history, exploring eight major outbreaks of infectious disease that have made the modern world. Bacteria and viruses were protagonists in the demise of the Neanderthals, the growth of Islam, the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the devastation wrought by European colonialism, and the evolution of the United States from an imperial backwater to a global superpower. Even Christianity rose to prominence in the wake of a series of deadly pandemics that swept through the Roman Empire in the second and third centuries: Caring for the sick turned what was a tiny sect into one of the world’s major religions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy placing disease at the center of his wide-ranging history of humankind, Kennedy challenges some of the most fundamental assumptions about our collective past—and urges us to view this moment as another disease-driven inflection point that will change the course of history. Provocative and brimming with insight, \u003cem\u003ePathogenesis\u003c\/em\u003e transforms our understanding of the human story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48240378085612,"sku":"9780593240496","price":52.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780593240496-pathogenesis-1.jpg?v=1787915292"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/jonathan-kennedy.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}