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Fall of Civilizations: Stories of Greatness and Decline
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26Landmark world history from the creator of the Top Ten podcast Fall of Civilizations.
Based on the podcast with over 100 million downloads, Fall of Civilizations brilliantly explores how a range of ancient societies rose to power and sophistication, and how they tipped over into collapse.
Across the centuries, we journey from the great empires of Mesopotamia to those of Khmer and Vijayanagara in Asia and Songhai in West Africa; from Byzantium to the Maya, Inca and Aztecs of Central America; from Roman Britain to Rapa Nui. With meticulous research, breathtaking insight and dazzling, empathic storytelling, historian and novelist Paul Cooper evokes the majesty and jeopardy of these ancient civilizations, and asks what it might have felt like for a person alive at the time to witness the end of their world.
Based on the podcast with over 100 million downloads, Fall of Civilizations brilliantly explores how a range of ancient societies rose to power and sophistication, and how they tipped over into collapse.
Across the centuries, we journey from the great empires of Mesopotamia to those of Khmer and Vijayanagara in Asia and Songhai in West Africa; from Byzantium to the Maya, Inca and Aztecs of Central America; from Roman Britain to Rapa Nui. With meticulous research, breathtaking insight and dazzling, empathic storytelling, historian and novelist Paul Cooper evokes the majesty and jeopardy of these ancient civilizations, and asks what it might have felt like for a person alive at the time to witness the end of their world.
576 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2024
767 people are currently reading
11635 people want to read
About the author
Paul M.M. Cooper
3 books316 followersPaul Cooper was born in South London and grew up in Cardiff, Wales. He was educated at the University of Warwick and the UEA, and after graduating he left for Sri Lanka to work as an English teacher.
Paul has worked as an archivist, editor and journalist, and has a PhD in the cultural and literary significance of ruins. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The BBC, The Atlantic, National Geographic, New Scientist and Discover Magazine.
His first novel, River of Ink, was published in January 2016, and his second novel, All Our Broken Idols was released in May 2020. His upcoming work of nonfiction, Fall of Civilizations: Stories of Greatness and Decline will be released in April 2024.
He writes, produces and hosts the Fall of Civilizations podcast, which has charted in the top ten British podcasts, and gained upwards of 100 million listens since it launched in 2019.
He is on Twitter as @PaulMMCooper
Paul has worked as an archivist, editor and journalist, and has a PhD in the cultural and literary significance of ruins. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The BBC, The Atlantic, National Geographic, New Scientist and Discover Magazine.
His first novel, River of Ink, was published in January 2016, and his second novel, All Our Broken Idols was released in May 2020. His upcoming work of nonfiction, Fall of Civilizations: Stories of Greatness and Decline will be released in April 2024.
He writes, produces and hosts the Fall of Civilizations podcast, which has charted in the top ten British podcasts, and gained upwards of 100 million listens since it launched in 2019.
He is on Twitter as @PaulMMCooper
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
April 14, 2024
The collapse of society on Easter Island is an oft-repeated cautionary tale of man-made ecocide, which blames an ignorant indigenous population for deforesting the island out of an obsession with stone statue building and greed, leading to societal collapse. But author Paul Cooper’s new book Fall of Civilizations makes a compelling case that the failure on Easter Island was actually due to the exploitation of the island by Europeans, and their introduced diseases.
The most recent evidence shows that the famous stone statues could be readily transported without the use of tree logs. Cooper also draws on the historical record to show that there were ample woodlands at first European contact and a wide variety of foods and animals, and the indigenes had developed ingenious techniques for efficient farming.
The civil war/collapse narrative is easily dismissed by comparative archaeological analysis. He goes on to demonstrate the widespread impact of slave raids, disease and, as a final deadly blow to the island’s trees, the corporate sheep grazing under Chilean rule.
The case for re-examination of the fall of Easter Island is the last chapter in Cooper’s book. It is the most surprising because it challenges the conventional narrative. However, the other chapters are equally captivating in other ways.
Starting with ancient times, we learn the fate of lost civilizations like the Sumerians and the Assyrians. The chapter on Roman Britain is a nice encapsulation of the larger problems encountered by the Roman Empire during its decline, but also shows that the Romans brought a high degree of order which disintegrated on their departure.
The stories continue into the Middle Ages including the Maya, Khmer, and multicultural Byzantium.
A striking theme in many of these stories is that once a civilization fell, its marvellous cities were often totally abandoned leaving behind some wondrous architecture and art in the ruins. The buildings at Angkor Wat are testament to exquisite craftsmanship, at a time where modern power tools could hardly be dreamed of.
The stories provide insights into unresolved dilemmas and the human condition. The origins of the instability in West Africa is revealed through the story of the Songhai, the brutality of man illustrated in the destruction of Carthage, and his greed and cruelty in the massacres of the Aztecs and Incas. But the stories also display the creativity and beauty that could be achieved.
Another insight is how quickly a civilization can collapse from its apparent zenith once a long-standing visionary ruler dies and both insiders and outside parties seek to grab power and wealth, as in Assyria, Vijayanagara (southern India) and Han China.
In the Epilog, Cooper takes the lessons of the past and looks to the future. His rational and wise logic is uncomfortable but hard to refute. I will not spoil the author’s conclusion and encourage you to read it for yourself.
These stories of fallen civilizations, covering five continents, are written in a style that avoids the curtness of a Wikipedia entry and the dense detail of academic works. Lively writing keeps the reader engaged as insights into our modern states are subtly revealed.
Fall of Civilizations is a highly readable, entertaining and informative book and a useful wakeup call for our modern, consumer-driven society.
My full review at https://courtofthegrandchildren.com/f...
The most recent evidence shows that the famous stone statues could be readily transported without the use of tree logs. Cooper also draws on the historical record to show that there were ample woodlands at first European contact and a wide variety of foods and animals, and the indigenes had developed ingenious techniques for efficient farming.
The civil war/collapse narrative is easily dismissed by comparative archaeological analysis. He goes on to demonstrate the widespread impact of slave raids, disease and, as a final deadly blow to the island’s trees, the corporate sheep grazing under Chilean rule.
The case for re-examination of the fall of Easter Island is the last chapter in Cooper’s book. It is the most surprising because it challenges the conventional narrative. However, the other chapters are equally captivating in other ways.
Starting with ancient times, we learn the fate of lost civilizations like the Sumerians and the Assyrians. The chapter on Roman Britain is a nice encapsulation of the larger problems encountered by the Roman Empire during its decline, but also shows that the Romans brought a high degree of order which disintegrated on their departure.
The stories continue into the Middle Ages including the Maya, Khmer, and multicultural Byzantium.
A striking theme in many of these stories is that once a civilization fell, its marvellous cities were often totally abandoned leaving behind some wondrous architecture and art in the ruins. The buildings at Angkor Wat are testament to exquisite craftsmanship, at a time where modern power tools could hardly be dreamed of.
The stories provide insights into unresolved dilemmas and the human condition. The origins of the instability in West Africa is revealed through the story of the Songhai, the brutality of man illustrated in the destruction of Carthage, and his greed and cruelty in the massacres of the Aztecs and Incas. But the stories also display the creativity and beauty that could be achieved.
Another insight is how quickly a civilization can collapse from its apparent zenith once a long-standing visionary ruler dies and both insiders and outside parties seek to grab power and wealth, as in Assyria, Vijayanagara (southern India) and Han China.
In the Epilog, Cooper takes the lessons of the past and looks to the future. His rational and wise logic is uncomfortable but hard to refute. I will not spoil the author’s conclusion and encourage you to read it for yourself.
These stories of fallen civilizations, covering five continents, are written in a style that avoids the curtness of a Wikipedia entry and the dense detail of academic works. Lively writing keeps the reader engaged as insights into our modern states are subtly revealed.
Fall of Civilizations is a highly readable, entertaining and informative book and a useful wakeup call for our modern, consumer-driven society.
My full review at https://courtofthegrandchildren.com/f...
September 27, 2024
This is without a doubt the best history book I've read in a long time. The author is the host of the Fall of Civilizations Podcast and has managed to transfer his empathetic and engaging voice narration to the written page. The book is well researched, with almost 20% dedicated to sources, so it is a good starting point for deep dives into any of these fallen empires of the past. Well done Paul Cooper!
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Questo è senza dubbio il miglior libro di storia che abbia letto da molto tempo. L'autore è il conduttore del podcast omonimo ed è riuscito a trasferire la sua narrazione vocale empatica e coinvolgente alla pagina scritta. Il libro è ben documentato, con quasi il 20% dedicato alle fonti, quindi è un buon punto di partenza per ulteriori approfondimenti su ciascuno di questi imperi scomparsi del passato. Ben fatto Paul Cooper!
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Questo è senza dubbio il miglior libro di storia che abbia letto da molto tempo. L'autore è il conduttore del podcast omonimo ed è riuscito a trasferire la sua narrazione vocale empatica e coinvolgente alla pagina scritta. Il libro è ben documentato, con quasi il 20% dedicato alle fonti, quindi è un buon punto di partenza per ulteriori approfondimenti su ciascuno di questi imperi scomparsi del passato. Ben fatto Paul Cooper!
November 16, 2024
This book was extensively researched, well written and comprehensive. It accomplished what I want from a history book. It made me want to know more about each of these defunct civilizations. I was more interested in the details about how the people lived than I was in the overreaching and battles that may have led to their downfall. Sometimes there was no conclusion about what caused the end of a particular civilization and the author did not try too hard to draw comparisons. I was fine with that. It is sort of humbling to read about huge, thriving populations that are now represented by piles of rubble buried under jungles. Makes you wonder who could be next. The author did a pretty good job of narrating his own audiobook.
March 7, 2025
4.5/5
this is such a wonderfully thorough account of ancient civilizations and empires from all over the world. the author takes us from the very origins of these societies to their thriving golden eras and then to their eventual decline.
i loved how the book puts us in the shoes of a citizen of that time, making us imagine what it would've been like to wander the streets and markets of that long-gone society. it's a sobering thought to realize the people of that time probably imagined their great cities and cultures lasting forever, cities that are now mere ancient ruins.
unsurprisingly, this made for a bittersweet reading experience, to read about these incredible, complex, ingenious cultures and their inevitable fall from grace, with some being almost completely wiped out from history like the carthaginians. i also loved how the author included the voices of the people of that time, their poetry, their laments, the early and later historians who recorded their stories.
also i have to say, as a desi person from pakistan, i particularly enjoyed the chapter on the vijayanagara empire (since we pretty much only learned about the mughal empire in school). i appreciated the author's rightful observation of how conflict between the different subcontinent empires of that time was more complicated than simply muslims vs. hindus - "in fact, conflict between the bahmani sultans and vijayanagara most often arose over practical and economic matters."
some of the most compelling and frustrating chapters for me were the ones on the americas - the maya, the aztecs, the inca, as well as the african empires and easter island. it's just beyond comprehension to me, the sheer evil and genocidal destruction of european colonization, and these chapters were just the beginning of it! it's also infuriating to see how early european historians refused to believe that complex, enormous empires and cities existed outside of their lands - "[angkor's] very existence - like the ruins of the classic maya - had upset europe's notion of itself...many western writers found themselves scrambling for an explanation for how such an impressive city could have been built in cambodia" and "european explorers have often struggled to believe that the indigenous people of non-european lands were capable of complex and impressive constructions."
overall though, i love how the resilience of human societies shines through in these pages, how indigenous history and culture have been preserved despite the odds, despite constant destruction over the centuries, we still get to read about them and remember them.
this is such a wonderfully thorough account of ancient civilizations and empires from all over the world. the author takes us from the very origins of these societies to their thriving golden eras and then to their eventual decline.
i loved how the book puts us in the shoes of a citizen of that time, making us imagine what it would've been like to wander the streets and markets of that long-gone society. it's a sobering thought to realize the people of that time probably imagined their great cities and cultures lasting forever, cities that are now mere ancient ruins.
unsurprisingly, this made for a bittersweet reading experience, to read about these incredible, complex, ingenious cultures and their inevitable fall from grace, with some being almost completely wiped out from history like the carthaginians. i also loved how the author included the voices of the people of that time, their poetry, their laments, the early and later historians who recorded their stories.
also i have to say, as a desi person from pakistan, i particularly enjoyed the chapter on the vijayanagara empire (since we pretty much only learned about the mughal empire in school). i appreciated the author's rightful observation of how conflict between the different subcontinent empires of that time was more complicated than simply muslims vs. hindus - "in fact, conflict between the bahmani sultans and vijayanagara most often arose over practical and economic matters."
some of the most compelling and frustrating chapters for me were the ones on the americas - the maya, the aztecs, the inca, as well as the african empires and easter island. it's just beyond comprehension to me, the sheer evil and genocidal destruction of european colonization, and these chapters were just the beginning of it! it's also infuriating to see how early european historians refused to believe that complex, enormous empires and cities existed outside of their lands - "[angkor's] very existence - like the ruins of the classic maya - had upset europe's notion of itself...many western writers found themselves scrambling for an explanation for how such an impressive city could have been built in cambodia" and "european explorers have often struggled to believe that the indigenous people of non-european lands were capable of complex and impressive constructions."
overall though, i love how the resilience of human societies shines through in these pages, how indigenous history and culture have been preserved despite the odds, despite constant destruction over the centuries, we still get to read about them and remember them.
August 2, 2025
An extremely well written history of the rise and fall of many great civilizations including:
Sumerians, Assyrians, Carthage, Han China, Roman Britain, the Maya, the Khmer, Byzantium, Vijayanagara, the Aztecs, the Inca and Easter Island.
I found this book incredibly interesting. The audio was great but luckily I also had a digital copy as the illustrations were also fantastic.
Sumerians, Assyrians, Carthage, Han China, Roman Britain, the Maya, the Khmer, Byzantium, Vijayanagara, the Aztecs, the Inca and Easter Island.
I found this book incredibly interesting. The audio was great but luckily I also had a digital copy as the illustrations were also fantastic.
February 13, 2025
I give Fall of Civilizations 2 out of 5 stars, which feels like a generous rating given my expectations going in. I enjoy history books and especially history podcasts—Hardcore History and others have always captured my imagination—so a book exploring the collapse of great civilizations sounded inherently compelling. The premise is promising, and I had heard good things about both the author and the Fall of Civilizations podcast.
That said, there are some serious issues with the book. First, much of it reads like a lightly reworded Wikipedia entry, structured as a dry chronological sequence of events rather than a meaningful analysis. There is very little reflection on why civilizations fall beyond the usual mix of external and internal struggles. If you’re looking for a deeper exploration of commonalities across collapses, something like Ray Dalio’s work on historical economic cycles offers a more structured perspective—albeit from a financial angle. This book never really commits to answering the fundamental question of what patterns underpin the downfall of civilizations.
But the real dealbreaker for me was the final chapter. Instead of tying together key themes from the book, it veers into speculative musings about the potential collapse of modern civilization due to climate change, followed by vague, wishful thinking about how a more environmentally conscious world might rise from the ashes. It’s a jarring, unfocused epilogue that feels entirely disconnected from the rest of the book.
Another issue is the narrow lens through which history is presented—overemphasizing military conflicts while offering little analysis of social cohesion, economic structures, or the cultural shifts that underpin civilizational decline. Warfare is certainly well-documented, but it is hardly the sole driver of societal collapse. This book could have provided a more holistic view but instead defaults to a well-trodden retelling of battles and rulers.
Ultimately, Fall of Civilizations is competently written but not particularly insightful. You can find more factual depth on Wikipedia, richer storytelling in history-focused YouTube videos, and a stronger analytical framework in other books. The one thing it should have done—draw meaningful cross-civilizational conclusions about why societies collapse—was largely absent. And then the abrupt, off-topic ending sealed the disappointment. If you’re looking for an engaging, thought-provoking history book, this isn’t it.
That said, there are some serious issues with the book. First, much of it reads like a lightly reworded Wikipedia entry, structured as a dry chronological sequence of events rather than a meaningful analysis. There is very little reflection on why civilizations fall beyond the usual mix of external and internal struggles. If you’re looking for a deeper exploration of commonalities across collapses, something like Ray Dalio’s work on historical economic cycles offers a more structured perspective—albeit from a financial angle. This book never really commits to answering the fundamental question of what patterns underpin the downfall of civilizations.
But the real dealbreaker for me was the final chapter. Instead of tying together key themes from the book, it veers into speculative musings about the potential collapse of modern civilization due to climate change, followed by vague, wishful thinking about how a more environmentally conscious world might rise from the ashes. It’s a jarring, unfocused epilogue that feels entirely disconnected from the rest of the book.
Another issue is the narrow lens through which history is presented—overemphasizing military conflicts while offering little analysis of social cohesion, economic structures, or the cultural shifts that underpin civilizational decline. Warfare is certainly well-documented, but it is hardly the sole driver of societal collapse. This book could have provided a more holistic view but instead defaults to a well-trodden retelling of battles and rulers.
Ultimately, Fall of Civilizations is competently written but not particularly insightful. You can find more factual depth on Wikipedia, richer storytelling in history-focused YouTube videos, and a stronger analytical framework in other books. The one thing it should have done—draw meaningful cross-civilizational conclusions about why societies collapse—was largely absent. And then the abrupt, off-topic ending sealed the disappointment. If you’re looking for an engaging, thought-provoking history book, this isn’t it.
May 19, 2024
I received a free e-book version from Net Galley by my own request, and have not been asked by the publisher, author or anyone else for a favourable review. The review listed below is my own.
I found this author through his podcast under the same name, and have been listening to it for the past few months. When I discovered that there would be a book, I was thrilled at the prospect of having a version that I could read of the excellent clips of history Paul Cooper narrates on his podcast. I immediately dived in when I received my e-book through Net Galley, and I can't believe how quickly I devoured it. Every chapter, ever bit of civilization that Paul Cooper writes about, is extensively researched. He always makes sure that each point leads to the other, that the reader never gets lost in how one event could have affected another. It feels as though any potential reason for why a civilization may have fallen is in the chapter, but the reader never feels overwhelmed with all of this. He has a great writing 'voice', and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I would highly recommend this book.
One thing I have to be honest about, is that I would have loved if there had been an audiobook version of this, read by Paul Cooper, as he does in his podcast. The book version is excellent, but there is something about Paul Cooper reading it that makes it absolutely magical to listen to.
It is still a 5 Star book.
Edit:
Some kind people left messages to let me know that there is an Audio version of this book. I have subsequently bought it on Audible. While I haven't listened to it, I am thrilled that I have the Audio version as well. I wish I could give it more than 5 Stars with this addition.
I found this author through his podcast under the same name, and have been listening to it for the past few months. When I discovered that there would be a book, I was thrilled at the prospect of having a version that I could read of the excellent clips of history Paul Cooper narrates on his podcast. I immediately dived in when I received my e-book through Net Galley, and I can't believe how quickly I devoured it. Every chapter, ever bit of civilization that Paul Cooper writes about, is extensively researched. He always makes sure that each point leads to the other, that the reader never gets lost in how one event could have affected another. It feels as though any potential reason for why a civilization may have fallen is in the chapter, but the reader never feels overwhelmed with all of this. He has a great writing 'voice', and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I would highly recommend this book.
One thing I have to be honest about, is that I would have loved if there had been an audiobook version of this, read by Paul Cooper, as he does in his podcast. The book version is excellent, but there is something about Paul Cooper reading it that makes it absolutely magical to listen to.
It is still a 5 Star book.
Edit:
Some kind people left messages to let me know that there is an Audio version of this book. I have subsequently bought it on Audible. While I haven't listened to it, I am thrilled that I have the Audio version as well. I wish I could give it more than 5 Stars with this addition.
August 12, 2024
I have been a fan of this author for years! I've seen all of the videos that he has made on youtube. I listened to this on audible which is probably the best way! I will continue to go back on this whenever I want to listen about ancient history. 10/5 stars.
September 25, 2024
If I don’t win the next trivia night I go to I am killing myself
March 30, 2025
Not a bad read. It covers quite a wide range of fallen civilizations - well and less known, more ancient and also some more recent. That's why the chapters differ so much - when it comes to the level of detail, sources of information, and the number of unknowns and speculations.
While some chapters felt a bit like a waste of time (as they are already covered in a significantly better way in so many other, very popular books) - Maya, Byzantium or Aztec; some chapters really shed a lot of light on things I knew very little about: Assyria, Khmer, or Vijayanagra,
Does this knowledge have a potential of changing anything in your life? No. Is the knowledge brought here somehow novel (e.g., updated by some recent, breathtaking discoveries)? Nope. But it's still interesting, as it teaches as a bit of humbleness - those people felt like they are invincible at some point, they were virtually unopposed (until ... they were), noone could match their power (to some point).
Is this such an important observation? Probably ... no. The context that is the most interesting to us is the lifespan of our lives and maybe the lives of our direct descendants - typically, the empires & civilizations need much more time to turn into dusts, so such changes are not easily perceivable from individuals perspective - we do not have enough patience. But I still had reasonably much fun reading this book.
While some chapters felt a bit like a waste of time (as they are already covered in a significantly better way in so many other, very popular books) - Maya, Byzantium or Aztec; some chapters really shed a lot of light on things I knew very little about: Assyria, Khmer, or Vijayanagra,
Does this knowledge have a potential of changing anything in your life? No. Is the knowledge brought here somehow novel (e.g., updated by some recent, breathtaking discoveries)? Nope. But it's still interesting, as it teaches as a bit of humbleness - those people felt like they are invincible at some point, they were virtually unopposed (until ... they were), noone could match their power (to some point).
Is this such an important observation? Probably ... no. The context that is the most interesting to us is the lifespan of our lives and maybe the lives of our direct descendants - typically, the empires & civilizations need much more time to turn into dusts, so such changes are not easily perceivable from individuals perspective - we do not have enough patience. But I still had reasonably much fun reading this book.
November 22, 2025
This is potentially the best non fiction book I have ever put my hands on. It’s a remarkable achievement in both storytelling and science communication. At times it’s deeply emotional, forcing the reader to contemplate the tragedies and wonders that humanity has brought upon itself. It’s overwhelming and ephemeral at the same time. Absolute recommendation for history enthusiasts.
December 17, 2025
the earth is littered with the ruins of empires that once believed they were eternal
October 5, 2024
Wonderful, I would recommend this to anyone regardless of if they are a history buff or not. I have been listening to the podcast this book is based on for over four years. As such, I had heard most of these stories before, but it was great revisiting them in this setting.
Paul Cooper beautifully showcases the wide variety of human civilizations that have existed for the past 6ish thousand years. He takes every opportunity to place the reader in the psyche of a person living in a given society. This book and his podcast are true gems.
Paul Cooper usually does not add too much of his own analysis in either his podcast or the main body of this book. Opting instead to use the quotes of others. But in both the prologue and epilogue of this book he expertly connects details from the past with our current, modern civilization. It is here that this book really shined for me. Paul Cooper helps us achieve a birds eye view and ponder the immensity of both our past and future. He leaves us with the truly touching question, "How will they remember us?" "This distant world, perhaps thousands of years in our future...We will not live to see it, but there are people who will. And one day, perhaps one of them will tell our story."
Paul Cooper beautifully showcases the wide variety of human civilizations that have existed for the past 6ish thousand years. He takes every opportunity to place the reader in the psyche of a person living in a given society. This book and his podcast are true gems.
Paul Cooper usually does not add too much of his own analysis in either his podcast or the main body of this book. Opting instead to use the quotes of others. But in both the prologue and epilogue of this book he expertly connects details from the past with our current, modern civilization. It is here that this book really shined for me. Paul Cooper helps us achieve a birds eye view and ponder the immensity of both our past and future. He leaves us with the truly touching question, "How will they remember us?" "This distant world, perhaps thousands of years in our future...We will not live to see it, but there are people who will. And one day, perhaps one of them will tell our story."
December 15, 2024
In our 'relatively stable' era, many of us believe that the current civilizations we live in will last forever, but why shouldn't we? We were born into them and taught histories about them; beyond the occasional exciting film or book, any historical world that has existed is just that - historical.
Paul M.M. Cooper opens the readers eyes to this illusion by exploring the fall of several civilizations at different time periods in different parts of the world. These civilizations seemed everlasting to the people who lived in them, till they weren't. Many of them collapsed due to war, natural disasters, drought, disease etc.
This is a historical read, but it is also very much a message of caution. The natural state of the world is chaos, and for any civilization to endure, its people have to recognize this fact and adopt sustainable behaviors. This could be better healthcare, reduced exploitation, environmental restoration etc.
Cooper did a great job of getting this message across without seeming preachy, and he did it in an entertaining way, by exploring exciting stories about the rise and fall of different civilizations and the many individuals who played a role in both.
Paul M.M. Cooper opens the readers eyes to this illusion by exploring the fall of several civilizations at different time periods in different parts of the world. These civilizations seemed everlasting to the people who lived in them, till they weren't. Many of them collapsed due to war, natural disasters, drought, disease etc.
This is a historical read, but it is also very much a message of caution. The natural state of the world is chaos, and for any civilization to endure, its people have to recognize this fact and adopt sustainable behaviors. This could be better healthcare, reduced exploitation, environmental restoration etc.
Cooper did a great job of getting this message across without seeming preachy, and he did it in an entertaining way, by exploring exciting stories about the rise and fall of different civilizations and the many individuals who played a role in both.
January 26, 2024
Please release in the US!
July 9, 2025
A journey through past civilizations that makes you question where we are now and where we’re going. The ending made me think a lot of about what we can learn from previous collapses about our own impending doom. The solution, he feels, will only come with complete societal collapse brought about by global warming. I tend to agree, but I do cling to a thin shred of hope that we will invent our way out of this. But maybe not before disease gets us, who’s to say.
December 25, 2025
Briljant als je houdt van geschiedenis en niet kan kiezen wat je het leukst vindt, maar toch het idee wil hebben dat je overal redelijk diep in bent gedoken.
September 16, 2024
I started listening to Paul Cooper's Fall of Civilizations podcast a couple of years ago to fight my insomnia and I have been utterly addicted to it ever since. I quickly became a HUGE fan, so q when the book was announced last year, I immediately pre-ordered the hardcover as well as the audiobook (First pre-order of my life). While the book is essentially a concise version of the podcast, it is still as captivating and thought-provoking as the latter.
Cooper explores the rise and fall of some of history's most renowned societies with meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and a borderline hypnotic narration, painting a picture of the factors that contributed to the decline of these once-mighty empires.
From the ancient Egyptians to the Aztec and Inca civilizations, the book is broken into three sections where Cooper delves into the complex interplay of environmental, social, political, and economic factors that ultimately led to their downfall. He skillfully weaves together historical accounts, archaeological discoveries, and contemporary perspectives to offer a comprehensive understanding of these tragedies.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to bring these ancient civilizations to life. Cooper's detailed descriptions of their cultures, customs, and daily lives allow readers to connect with the people who lived and suffered through these tumultuous times. Parts of the book are very somber and one can't help but feel sad for how some of the mightiest empires simply vanished from the face of the earth.
For me personally, the way Cooper describes the fall of Roman Britain, the Spanish invasion of the Inca civilization, and the genocide carried out in the Easter Islands were particularly hard-hitting.
The book a masterful exploration of history's greatest tragedies and serves as a cautionary tale for our own time. Despite the melancholic subject matter, Cooper's writing is very engaging and accessible, making it a must-read for all history enthusiasts.
Cooper explores the rise and fall of some of history's most renowned societies with meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and a borderline hypnotic narration, painting a picture of the factors that contributed to the decline of these once-mighty empires.
From the ancient Egyptians to the Aztec and Inca civilizations, the book is broken into three sections where Cooper delves into the complex interplay of environmental, social, political, and economic factors that ultimately led to their downfall. He skillfully weaves together historical accounts, archaeological discoveries, and contemporary perspectives to offer a comprehensive understanding of these tragedies.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to bring these ancient civilizations to life. Cooper's detailed descriptions of their cultures, customs, and daily lives allow readers to connect with the people who lived and suffered through these tumultuous times. Parts of the book are very somber and one can't help but feel sad for how some of the mightiest empires simply vanished from the face of the earth.
For me personally, the way Cooper describes the fall of Roman Britain, the Spanish invasion of the Inca civilization, and the genocide carried out in the Easter Islands were particularly hard-hitting.
The book a masterful exploration of history's greatest tragedies and serves as a cautionary tale for our own time. Despite the melancholic subject matter, Cooper's writing is very engaging and accessible, making it a must-read for all history enthusiasts.
November 19, 2024
“Perhaps that is part of history’s spell. It teaches us lessons even as it convinces us that these lessons don’t apply to us - that we’ll be the ones to break its endless chain.”
This was a haunting book but absolutely stunning. Paul Cooper’s Fall of Civilizations podcast is one of the best out there (seriously if you haven’t given it a listen do it) and this book was such a great companion to it. Paul’s storytelling and ability to make history easy to digest is on display in this book and he highlights civilizations that are often over looked but no less grand than the ones we know much about. His chapters on the fall of Roman Britain and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) are particular stand outs for me.
Even though it’s heavy reading it left me feeling hopeful for the first time in awhile in these wild times; he ends the book on this note:
“This distant world, perhaps thousands of years in our future, will have risen out of much death and suffering. But it will be a world that might finally have some hope of lasting. We will not live to see it, but there are people who will. And one day, perhaps one of them will tell our story.”
This was a haunting book but absolutely stunning. Paul Cooper’s Fall of Civilizations podcast is one of the best out there (seriously if you haven’t given it a listen do it) and this book was such a great companion to it. Paul’s storytelling and ability to make history easy to digest is on display in this book and he highlights civilizations that are often over looked but no less grand than the ones we know much about. His chapters on the fall of Roman Britain and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) are particular stand outs for me.
Even though it’s heavy reading it left me feeling hopeful for the first time in awhile in these wild times; he ends the book on this note:
“This distant world, perhaps thousands of years in our future, will have risen out of much death and suffering. But it will be a world that might finally have some hope of lasting. We will not live to see it, but there are people who will. And one day, perhaps one of them will tell our story.”
November 12, 2024
It’s very good and Paul Cooper’s narration is excellent. However, if you’ve listened to his podcast, there isn’t much new material. The manuscript is about 80% the same as the excellent podcast, with a chronological arrangement and an epilogue.
July 8, 2025
Although I knew the story of most of the 14 civilizations whose rise and fall are described in this book, I read it with great curiosity and interest. I wanted the book to never end, and when I finally read the last page, I felt like saying goodbye to a very close friend.
March 31, 2025
Cooper zafundował mi absolutnie fascynującą podróż przez karty historii, a do tego zaprezentował historię cywilizacji w sposób bardzo poukładany, bo od momentu ich narodzin, przez rozkwit, aż do często dramatycznego upadku. Mnie kupił absolutnie ukazany obraz procesów społecznych, gospodarczych i kulturowych, które kształtowały bieg dziejów.
Zawsze w literaturze historycznej mam obawy co do języka, że może okazać się zbyt trudny, co skomplikuje mi odbiór książki, jednak Cooper i jego sposób narracji zdecydowanie zrozumienie i cieszenie się lekturą ułatwili. Co jeszcze warte odnotowania to fakt, że autor wplatając anegdoty sprawia, że w natłoku szczegółowych informacji książka nie nuży, a wręcz przeciwnie zachęca do dalszej eksploracji poznawanych zagadnień cywilizacyjnych.
Co mnie niezmiernie ucieszyło podczas czytania to fakt, że książka nie ograniczyła się jedynie do opisu wielkich imperiów, bo z niezwykła precyzja przedstawia analizy mechanizmów, które są w stanie doprowadzić do rozkwitu jak i upadku. Cooper to wszystko starał się uszeregować i pokazać, jakie konkretnie czynniki sprawiły, że fana cywilizacja się wznosiła lub upadała.
Warte odnotowanie jest również to, że pisarz chcąc stworzyć maksymalnie precyzyjny obraz danej cywilizacji posiłkuje się danymi z historii, archeologii, antropologii oraz teorii cywilizacyjnych i właśnie to sprawia, że przedstawiony obraz jest niemal kompletny. Smaczku całek książce dodaje fakt, że można odszukać wiele analogii z przeszłości w obecnej sytuacji geopolitycznej, ale nie chce nikomu wróżyć upadku.
Książka foruje dość prostą, ale niezwykle ważna prawdę, mianowicie aby lepiej i pełniej postrzegać teraźniejszość i przyszłość kluczowe jest zrozumienie czynników historycznych i wydarzeń z przeszłości. „Utracone cywilizacje” są dla mnie niesamowicie rzeczowym i rzetelnym studium historycznym, ale również bogatą analizą mechanizmów społecznych. Fenomenalna publikacja.
Zawsze w literaturze historycznej mam obawy co do języka, że może okazać się zbyt trudny, co skomplikuje mi odbiór książki, jednak Cooper i jego sposób narracji zdecydowanie zrozumienie i cieszenie się lekturą ułatwili. Co jeszcze warte odnotowania to fakt, że autor wplatając anegdoty sprawia, że w natłoku szczegółowych informacji książka nie nuży, a wręcz przeciwnie zachęca do dalszej eksploracji poznawanych zagadnień cywilizacyjnych.
Co mnie niezmiernie ucieszyło podczas czytania to fakt, że książka nie ograniczyła się jedynie do opisu wielkich imperiów, bo z niezwykła precyzja przedstawia analizy mechanizmów, które są w stanie doprowadzić do rozkwitu jak i upadku. Cooper to wszystko starał się uszeregować i pokazać, jakie konkretnie czynniki sprawiły, że fana cywilizacja się wznosiła lub upadała.
Warte odnotowanie jest również to, że pisarz chcąc stworzyć maksymalnie precyzyjny obraz danej cywilizacji posiłkuje się danymi z historii, archeologii, antropologii oraz teorii cywilizacyjnych i właśnie to sprawia, że przedstawiony obraz jest niemal kompletny. Smaczku całek książce dodaje fakt, że można odszukać wiele analogii z przeszłości w obecnej sytuacji geopolitycznej, ale nie chce nikomu wróżyć upadku.
Książka foruje dość prostą, ale niezwykle ważna prawdę, mianowicie aby lepiej i pełniej postrzegać teraźniejszość i przyszłość kluczowe jest zrozumienie czynników historycznych i wydarzeń z przeszłości. „Utracone cywilizacje” są dla mnie niesamowicie rzeczowym i rzetelnym studium historycznym, ale również bogatą analizą mechanizmów społecznych. Fenomenalna publikacja.
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March 20, 2025I am slightly obsessed with this, because this is a somewhat niche topic I really like and the author did a great job explaining how the civilizations he focused on rose to their place and how they fell down. Obviously some things were similar to each other but I really loved seeing the in-depth discussion and how sometimes it had been avoidable for a variety of reasons and for some times it couldn't really have been avoided.
There was lots of information that makes me want to reread at least passages of this novel and it was also very helpful that the author has a easily accessible writing style.
There was lots of information that makes me want to reread at least passages of this novel and it was also very helpful that the author has a easily accessible writing style.
December 6, 2024
I loved this book - I learned so much and really rediscovered my love of history. I only wish it was longer, there are so many more civilizations and historical events that I want to learn about.
I thought he did a great job of using evidenced based research and pointing out the various European biases in a lot of the sources he discussed. I particularly liked his discussion of the unfair representation most historians have given to the indigenous people of Easter Island - not the creators of their own demise at all.
I only hope I can find more historical texts with as much intelligent research and discussion as this one.
I thought he did a great job of using evidenced based research and pointing out the various European biases in a lot of the sources he discussed. I particularly liked his discussion of the unfair representation most historians have given to the indigenous people of Easter Island - not the creators of their own demise at all.
I only hope I can find more historical texts with as much intelligent research and discussion as this one.
January 23, 2025
The writing wasn't great. A decent chuck on the book read like a podcast transcript (which it very well may be). Fortunately, the content was entertaining enough for me to overlook this. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the Sumerians, Carthage, the Mexican Empire, & Easter Island.
Fascinating & digestible. Filled some of my largest historical knowledge holes.
3.5/5 stars
Fascinating & digestible. Filled some of my largest historical knowledge holes.
3.5/5 stars
April 8, 2025
Paul Cooper made a book out of his podcast back catalog. That's fine, because the Fall of Civilizations podcast is great. But it's just fine. If you've listened to the podcast, I'd skip this.
Each chapter is dedicated to a civilization, and they each correspond to a podcast episode. Unfortunately, the book lacks the great sound design of the podcast. They also each cover less content than any individual podcast episode. If you've listened to the Fall of Civ, you will not learn much from this book - with the possible exception of some details around Easter Island agricultural practices. I may just have forgotten other additions, but it's telling that I don't recall much divergence between any episode and its corresponding chapter.
This book provided Cooper with the opportunity to build on the knowledge he's surely accumulated while studying collapsed civilizations to present compelling arguments for pursuing resilience. He does not do that throughout the book but saves it for the epilogue. It's weak. Climate shifts are a frequent (partial) explanation for many societal collapses he covers, so he transfers that to an argument for climate change as the most dangerous threat to civilization today. I'd find an argument for general resilience against existential risk more compelling. AI gets mentioned as a "sci-fi" type of threat, but this book was published in April 2024; this attitude reveals a blinkered sensibility to what modern societies may face. If the Bronze Age collapse was made inevitable due to climate change, it's not clear to me that the lesson transfers to a climate-change-induced collapse of industrialized nations.
It was a struggle to finish this, especially reaching the late back-to-back chapters on the Aztecs and Incas. Those stories are too similar for that placement (their Spanish protagonists are second cousins!), and they don't add anything to the story told in their podcast episodes. Fortunately, the last chapter on Easter Island is easier to get through, if only because Cooper defends a more unorthodox view with evidence that the Rapa Nui have suffered one of the worst series of injustices in modern history.
An amusing set of histories, better told in the author's excellent podcast.
Each chapter is dedicated to a civilization, and they each correspond to a podcast episode. Unfortunately, the book lacks the great sound design of the podcast. They also each cover less content than any individual podcast episode. If you've listened to the Fall of Civ, you will not learn much from this book - with the possible exception of some details around Easter Island agricultural practices. I may just have forgotten other additions, but it's telling that I don't recall much divergence between any episode and its corresponding chapter.
This book provided Cooper with the opportunity to build on the knowledge he's surely accumulated while studying collapsed civilizations to present compelling arguments for pursuing resilience. He does not do that throughout the book but saves it for the epilogue. It's weak. Climate shifts are a frequent (partial) explanation for many societal collapses he covers, so he transfers that to an argument for climate change as the most dangerous threat to civilization today. I'd find an argument for general resilience against existential risk more compelling. AI gets mentioned as a "sci-fi" type of threat, but this book was published in April 2024; this attitude reveals a blinkered sensibility to what modern societies may face. If the Bronze Age collapse was made inevitable due to climate change, it's not clear to me that the lesson transfers to a climate-change-induced collapse of industrialized nations.
It was a struggle to finish this, especially reaching the late back-to-back chapters on the Aztecs and Incas. Those stories are too similar for that placement (their Spanish protagonists are second cousins!), and they don't add anything to the story told in their podcast episodes. Fortunately, the last chapter on Easter Island is easier to get through, if only because Cooper defends a more unorthodox view with evidence that the Rapa Nui have suffered one of the worst series of injustices in modern history.
An amusing set of histories, better told in the author's excellent podcast.
September 1, 2024
Virtue is a desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency.
Overall, I enjoyed Fall of Civilization, but it was hit and miss. Each chapter picks a specific civilization and tells the story of its decline. Some chapters were great (Easter Island), and some others I found boring (Carthage). Because the book is based on a podcast series by the author, I also incorrectly expected something closer to Hardcore History, but the content was significantly dryer, with very little commentary by the author.
Overall, I enjoyed Fall of Civilization, but it was hit and miss. Each chapter picks a specific civilization and tells the story of its decline. Some chapters were great (Easter Island), and some others I found boring (Carthage). Because the book is based on a podcast series by the author, I also incorrectly expected something closer to Hardcore History, but the content was significantly dryer, with very little commentary by the author.
September 20, 2024
Really liked the premise of examining societal collapse across centuries and continents to try and discern a shared ingredient in the recipe for disaster seen by the Sumerians, Carthaginians, the Maya, Byzantium, etc etc. And I have to admit I thought a podcast host writing the book guaranteed me a little fun, a little flair, a bit of jazzy commentary. Maybe Emma Southon has spoiled history for me?
So…. not that. Instead it was a fairly repetitive narrative of decline and destruction. I know I said I was into the idea that all failed civilizations had something in common, but the commonality was too monotonous as it turned out. Also, just unrelentingly melancholy, especially the epilogue. By the halfway point I was forcing myself to keep going just to make it to the end.
So…. not that. Instead it was a fairly repetitive narrative of decline and destruction. I know I said I was into the idea that all failed civilizations had something in common, but the commonality was too monotonous as it turned out. Also, just unrelentingly melancholy, especially the epilogue. By the halfway point I was forcing myself to keep going just to make it to the end.
September 3, 2024
A fascinating exploration of the fall of great civilizations across time of interest regardless of your depth of knowledge
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