The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch

The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch is a non-fiction reference work written by astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell. The book, also titled The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm, was published on the 17th of April, 2014, by Penguin Books.

The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch
Book cover
AuthorLewis Dartnell
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Genre
Non-Fiction
PublisherPenguin Books
Publication date
April 17, 2014
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book
Pages352
ISBN978-1-594-20523-1

The book is written as a quick-start guide to restarting civilization following a global catastrophe.

Synopsis

The thirteen chapter book starts off explaining how humanity and civilization works and has come to be and how this could possibly be altered in the event of worldwide disaster — such as avian flu. Leaving us with the essential question of what knowledge would we need to rebuild civilization as we know it, which Dartnell answers by looking at the history of science and technology.

Dartnell explains and realistically details a 'grace period' in which survivors can salvage food, materials and tools from the ruins of today's society. However, after a certain point this grace period would end, and humanity would have to produce their own food, make their own tools, practice hygiene and fight infection to maintain health, and develop energy stores for a new society to survive the aftermath.

The book covers topics like agriculture, food and clothing, substances, medicine, and transport. Darnell points out that applying the scientific method to basic knowledge will enable an advanced technological society to reappear within several generations. Along with giving the history of scientific invention and how that applies to humans were they to recreate that, the book also offers anecdotal bits of information in the form of endnotes. Giving facts such as how carrots were originally white but grown orange in honour of the Dutch royal family, and how onions are the leaves of the onion plant.[1]

Reception

Reviews

The Times called the book "an extraordinary achievement", noting that Dartnell expertly explains things such as the rudiment of a civilization. They state "it is a great read even if civilization does not collapse".[2]

The Guardian praises how Dartnell deftly "sketches the many problems that may face humanity, and sympathetically reconstructs the reasoning applied". Further praising how The Knowledge is a "terrifically engrossing history of science and technology" as well as "cunningly packaged yet entertainingly serious".[3]

Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries praises the book as "highly readable and engaging", as well as the high standard of the bibliography of further reading and resources.[4]

It was reviewed by The Daily Telegraph as an "entertaining instruction manual for the end of the world", only jarring when "it seems Dartnell is taking this end-of-the-world stuff seriously".[5]

Awards

It was awarded The Sunday Times "New Thinking" Book of the Year in 2014.[6] As well as The Times Science Book of the Year the same year.[7] It was awarded Best Science Books of 2014 by io9.[8]

It was shortlisted for Science Book of the Year by the German magazine Bild der Wissenschaft in 2015. It was also shortlisted for the 2016 Transmission Prize.[9]

Background

This is the third book written by astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell, his first book, Life in the Universe: A Beginner's Guide, was published in 2007. His second book, an illustrated children's book called My Tourist's Guide to the Solar System and Beyond, was published in 2012. After achieving a first class degree in Biology from the University of Oxford, he went on to complete a PhD in the field of astrobiology from the University College London.[10]

See also

References
  1. Dartnell, Lewis (2015). The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch. London: Vintage. ISBN 9781594205231.
  2. Whipple, Tom (29 March 2014). "The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World From Scratch by Lewis Dartnell". The Times. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  3. Poole, Steven (3 April 2014). "The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  4. Curtis, S.A (October 2014). "Dartnell, Lewis. The knowledge: how to rebuild our world from scratch". American Library Association CHOICE. 52 (2): 278 – via General OneFile.
  5. Chivers, Tom. "The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch by Lewis Dartnell, review". The Daily Telegraph.
  6. McConnachie, James (7 December 2014). "Minds over matters". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  7. Whipple, Tom (6 December 2014). "Books of the year: science". The Times. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  8. Newitz, Annalee (31 December 2014). "The Best Science Books of 2014". io9. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  9. "Salon London: The Transmission Prize 2016". Foyles. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  10. "Lewis Dartnell". The Knowledge. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
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