Biohistory - Hardcover

Jim Penman

4.12

16 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1443871656 ISBN 13: 9781443871655

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015

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Biohistory is a revolutionary new theory that explores the biological and behavioural underpinnings of social change, including the rise and fall of civilisations. Informed by significant research into the physiological basis of behaviour conducted by author Dr Jim Penman and a team of scientists at RMIT University and the Florey Institute in Melbourne, Australia, Biohistory examines how a complex interplay between culture and biology has shaped civilisations from the Roman Empire to the modern West. Penman proposes that historical changes are driven by changes in the prevailing temperament of populations, based on physiological mechanisms that adapt animal behaviour to changing food conditions. It details the history of human society by mapping the effects of these epigenetic changes on cultures, and on historical tipping points including wars and revolutions. It shows how laboratory studies can be used to explain broad social and economic changes, including the fortunes of entire civilizations. The author's shocking conclusion is that the West is in terminal and inevitable decline, and that its only hope may lie with the biological sciences. Drawing on the disciplines of history, biology, anthropology and economics, Biohistory is the first theory of society that can be tested with some rigour in the laboratory. It explains how environment, cultural values and childrearing patterns determine whether societies prosper or collapse, and how social change can be both predicted and potentially through biochemistry.

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Review:

The most powerful books tend to challenge common wisdom and widespread beliefs. Jim Penman does that in this volume. --Dr Steven A. Peterson, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs and Director of the School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg

A theory which only the unwise will ignore. --Dr Michael T. McGuire, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, University of California at Los Angeles

If a fraction of the argument presented [...] is borne out, it will shatter mainstream political science and grand history. --Dr Frank Salter, Principal, Social Technologies Pty Ltd; Senior Fellow, International Strategic Studies Association

About the Author:

Dr Jim Penman, PhD, is the pioneer of Biohistory, a revolutionary new scientific theory into the physiological underpinnings of social change and its probable effects on civilisations. He obtained a PhD in History from La Trobe University, Australia. His doctorate integrated broad historical changes with cross-cultural anthropology and aspects of animal behaviour. His more recent work focuses on biochemistry and the emerging field of epigenetics. Biohistory examines how social change and historical patterns in human society have biological roots. It explains how social, political and economic changes are driven by changes in the prevailing temperament, influenced by mechanisms designed to adapt animal social behaviour to changing food conditions. He received his doctorate in 1983 but lacked resources to pursue research. Instead, he established Jim's Group, Australia's largest franchise network, with commercial success enabling the creation of a Biohistory research program in 2007, now the Biohistory Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Australian Research Council, La Trobe University, RMIT University and the Howard Florey institute. To date, Dr Penman has co-authored ten peer-reviewed papers in leading journals including Behavioral Brain Research and Physiology and Behavior. Findings so far include a method of dramatically improving the maternal behaviour of rats, with far-reaching effects on offspring. They also make clear that the observed patterns are epigenetic in origin, supporting Biohistory's broader social and historical observations.

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