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Understanding Human History
Understanding Human History is a history of humanity, beginning about 100,000 years ago and going through the 20th century. It includes discussions of developments in every major area of the world. Unlike other books on world history, it explicitly discusses racial differences in intelligence, and explains how, why, and when they arose. The book also discusses the many consequences that those differences have had on human events, starting in prehistoric times and continuing to the present. The book includes an abundance of data and tables, together with sixteen maps, three tables, an extensive bibliography, and a thorough index.
496 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2007
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About the author
Michael H. Hart
11 books251 followersMichael H. Hart (born April 28, 1932 in New York City) is an astrophysicist who has also written three books on history and controversial articles on a variety of subjects. Hart describes himself as a Jeffersonian liberal, while his critics call him a conservative and a racial separatist.
Hart, a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science who enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University in mathematics and later earned a Ph.D. in astrophysics at Princeton University. He also holds graduate degrees in physics, astronomy, and computer science, as well as a law degree. He was a research scientist at NASA before leaving to be a professor of physics at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He has also taught both astronomy and history of science at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland. His published work in peer-reviewed scientific journals includes several detailed computer simulations of atmospheric evolution.
Among Hart's articles was one, published in 1975, that gave scientific support for the conclusion that the only intelligent life in the Milky Way Galaxy resides on the planet Earth.
His first book was The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, which has sold more than 500,000 copies and been translated into 15 languages. What mainly surprised readers in this book was the first person on Hart's list (Hart, 1992). Hart decided to choose Muhammad over Jesus or Moses. Hart attributes this to the fact that Muhammad was "supremely successful" in both the religious and secular realms. He also accredits the authorship of the Qur'an to Muhammad, making his role in the development of Islam far more influential than Jesus' collaboration in the development of Christianity. He attributes the development of Christianity to St. Paul, who played a pivotal role in the dissemination of Christianity.
His third book, A View from the Year 3000, published in 1999, is a history of the future which includes both technological advances and political developments.
His fourth book, Understanding Human History, is a history of humanity.
One of Hart's articles disputed the authorship of the literary works of Shakespeare, asserting that the famous plays and poems were in fact written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford rather than the man from Stratford-on-Avon who is credited with them.
Another paper suggested that a future of Yugoslavia-type ethnic conflict in the United States could be avoided by a voluntary partition of the country into three states: an integrated mixed-race state, a white state, and a black state.[1]
In 1996, Hart addressed a conference organized by Jared Taylor's race-realist organization, American Renaissance, on the need for a racial partition of the United States.[2] Hart proposed a three-way division with one part for white separatists, one part for black separatists, and one part left as multiracial nation. He said that a peaceful, voluntary partition is the only way to prevent violence.[3]
At the 2006 American Renaissance conference, Hart had a public confrontation with David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and former Louisiana state representative, over Duke's "antisemitic" remarks.[4][5]
Hart organized a conference held in Baltimore in 2009 with the title, Preserving Western Civilization. It was billed as addressing the need to defend "America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and European identity" from immigrants, Muslims, and African Americans.[6] Invited speakers included: Lawrence Auster, Peter Brimelow, Steven Farron, Julia Gorin, Lino A. Graglia, Henry C. Harpending, Roger D. McGrath, Pat Richardson, J. Philippe Rushton, Srdja Trifković, and Brenda Walker.[7]
Hart, a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science who enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University in mathematics and later earned a Ph.D. in astrophysics at Princeton University. He also holds graduate degrees in physics, astronomy, and computer science, as well as a law degree. He was a research scientist at NASA before leaving to be a professor of physics at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He has also taught both astronomy and history of science at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland. His published work in peer-reviewed scientific journals includes several detailed computer simulations of atmospheric evolution.
Among Hart's articles was one, published in 1975, that gave scientific support for the conclusion that the only intelligent life in the Milky Way Galaxy resides on the planet Earth.
His first book was The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, which has sold more than 500,000 copies and been translated into 15 languages. What mainly surprised readers in this book was the first person on Hart's list (Hart, 1992). Hart decided to choose Muhammad over Jesus or Moses. Hart attributes this to the fact that Muhammad was "supremely successful" in both the religious and secular realms. He also accredits the authorship of the Qur'an to Muhammad, making his role in the development of Islam far more influential than Jesus' collaboration in the development of Christianity. He attributes the development of Christianity to St. Paul, who played a pivotal role in the dissemination of Christianity.
His third book, A View from the Year 3000, published in 1999, is a history of the future which includes both technological advances and political developments.
His fourth book, Understanding Human History, is a history of humanity.
One of Hart's articles disputed the authorship of the literary works of Shakespeare, asserting that the famous plays and poems were in fact written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford rather than the man from Stratford-on-Avon who is credited with them.
Another paper suggested that a future of Yugoslavia-type ethnic conflict in the United States could be avoided by a voluntary partition of the country into three states: an integrated mixed-race state, a white state, and a black state.[1]
In 1996, Hart addressed a conference organized by Jared Taylor's race-realist organization, American Renaissance, on the need for a racial partition of the United States.[2] Hart proposed a three-way division with one part for white separatists, one part for black separatists, and one part left as multiracial nation. He said that a peaceful, voluntary partition is the only way to prevent violence.[3]
At the 2006 American Renaissance conference, Hart had a public confrontation with David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and former Louisiana state representative, over Duke's "antisemitic" remarks.[4][5]
Hart organized a conference held in Baltimore in 2009 with the title, Preserving Western Civilization. It was billed as addressing the need to defend "America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and European identity" from immigrants, Muslims, and African Americans.[6] Invited speakers included: Lawrence Auster, Peter Brimelow, Steven Farron, Julia Gorin, Lino A. Graglia, Henry C. Harpending, Roger D. McGrath, Pat Richardson, J. Philippe Rushton, Srdja Trifković, and Brenda Walker.[7]
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 7 reviews
January 24, 2011
The author argues that intelligence evolved to different extents in different human populations in accordance with the different pressures they faced in their different environments. Since higher intelligence imposes costs, such as greater nutritional requirements, as well as benefits it is clear that more is not always better, just as greater size or greater visual range is not always better. This is perfectly routine Darwinism, though it is not much discussed in this context out of deference to political correctness.
With this as a foundation, the author then makes the case that some of the major trends in human history are explained by this phenomenon. All of a sudden, so much that was always puzzling begins to make sense. In my view, this book is essential to better understanding human history.
With this as a foundation, the author then makes the case that some of the major trends in human history are explained by this phenomenon. All of a sudden, so much that was always puzzling begins to make sense. In my view, this book is essential to better understanding human history.
September 7, 2017
Hart's aim in this book is to give an altenative anwser to the question of why Europeas were better than others in matters of technology, science and culture. The most famous anwser Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel. For Diamond it's the environment, for Hart it's the human intellegence.
The author explains everything by higher IQs, but in some places, Hart find it hard to do so and adds more factors like envionment and culture.
The first part of the book was great with the comparaison of IQs and behavioral differences between human races. But the remaining of the book was boring, it was just a summary of Western history (Europe + USA).
Knowing that Mr Hart is a white separatist, dedicating more than 50% of the book to the history of whites and why they are cool was by no means a surprise for me. At least he stayed scientific in throughout the book and he didn't include white pride propaganda.
The author explains everything by higher IQs, but in some places, Hart find it hard to do so and adds more factors like envionment and culture.
The first part of the book was great with the comparaison of IQs and behavioral differences between human races. But the remaining of the book was boring, it was just a summary of Western history (Europe + USA).
Knowing that Mr Hart is a white separatist, dedicating more than 50% of the book to the history of whites and why they are cool was by no means a surprise for me. At least he stayed scientific in throughout the book and he didn't include white pride propaganda.
November 22, 2023
The author is convincing in his arguments, and does a good job of providing a brief introduction to the entirety of human history. I found his writing engaging and highly interesting.
I intend to read counterarguments to the hypothesis put forth in this book in order to form my own opinion upon its reliability, and would encourage anyone else to do the same.
I intend to read counterarguments to the hypothesis put forth in this book in order to form my own opinion upon its reliability, and would encourage anyone else to do the same.
April 21, 2014
Simply one of the best if not _the_ best analysis of human history I have read.
March 25, 2022
Most of human history books are composed either with historical perspective focused on events, where the author delves into wars, states, revolutions etc., or as a late trend, the author chooses the socio-economical approach for the story. This book diverges from mainstream understanding for centering IQ for its thesis, therefore presents an original narrative.
The book covers a vast array of time, starting from early hominids to twentieth century. And also presents a succinct explanation of how evolution works, why certain characteristic traits emerged and how sexual selection shaped human mind and behavior.
The book is distinguished in terms of utilization of intelligence for explanation of historical events, but the author is intellectually humble enough to confess when the hypothesis is not robust and further explanation is needed, and does not hesitate to resort other hypothesis, seeing them as not rivals but complementary.
The book covers a vast array of time, starting from early hominids to twentieth century. And also presents a succinct explanation of how evolution works, why certain characteristic traits emerged and how sexual selection shaped human mind and behavior.
The book is distinguished in terms of utilization of intelligence for explanation of historical events, but the author is intellectually humble enough to confess when the hypothesis is not robust and further explanation is needed, and does not hesitate to resort other hypothesis, seeing them as not rivals but complementary.
January 31, 2011
Boring.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 7 reviews