Understanding Ourselves and Our World

How much do we really know about one another? How much do really know about people outside of our own country or culture? Or for some of us, outside of our neighborhood? Often we live our entire lives entrenched in our own culture whether that be ethnically (African-American) or nationally (American). It is only in understanding how we are the same and different that we gain a deeper appreciation for other people's perspective. Entire groups of people have been destroyed simply because one group felt "their way" was the best way. If we continue to take this myopic view on the world, it is only a matter of time before we destroy ourselves.

So, today I offer you a resource that can help you better understand yourself as a human being and the world you live in. It is a resource for understanding the vast differences as well as the similarities between us. Some values and beliefs you might adopt, others you might not. But in either case this resource should give you a greater appreciation for humanity. How complex and yet simple we all are.

This resource is a visually stunning book called Human created by the Smithsonian Institution, edited by Robert Winston. The book can be purchased from from Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) or Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com)

The publisher described the book this way: “A highly comprehensive and illustrated account of what makes us what we are: how we evolved, how our bodies work and develop, and how we think and behave, this unbelievable reference examines the qualities all humans share but also highlights the diversity of human society and culture. Profiling more than 250 peoples who inhabit the world and examining fascinating facts - from environmental and health issues to beliefs and customs – Human is the definitive illustrated guide to our species.”

You have to SEE this book to believe it! The pictures and rich detail are amazing! Here’s a taste:

Here are the sections and sub-sections of the book:

1. Introductions

2. Origins

3. Body
- Body
- Building a Body
- Support and Movement
- Breathing and Circulation
- Fueling the Body
- Defense and Repair
- Controlling the Body
- The Senses
- Reproducing

4. Mind
- How the Mind Works
-- Consciousness
-- Receiving Information
-- Learning
-- Memory
-- Thinking
-- Emotion
-- Language
- The Individual
-- Personality
-- Intelligence
-- Gender and Sex

5. Life Cycle
- Life Cycle
- Childhood
-- Birth and Early Childhood
-- Late Childhood
-- Adolescence
- Adulthood
-- Finding a Partner
-- Marriage
-- Family
-- Daily Life
-- Old Age
-- Death

6. Society
- Society
- Economies
-- How Economies Work
- Social Structures
-- Roles and Status
-- Power
-- Control and Conflict
-- Welfare

7. Culture
- Culture
- Belief
-- World Beliefs
- Communication
-- World Languages
-- Nonverbal Communication
-- Mass Media
- Clothing and Adornment
-- Types of Dress
- Art and Science
-- Art
-- Science

8. Peoples
- Peoples
- North America
- Central and South America
- Europe
- Middle East and North Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- North and Central Asia
- Far East
- Oceania

9. Future

I strongly encourage you to purchase this book. I’ve learned so much from it. I’m sure you will too. – CB