Humans: A Monstrous History - Surekha Davies

Humans: A Monstrous History

(Author: Surekha Davies)

A profound, empowering, and effervescent retelling of human history through the lens of monster-making, authored by award-winning historian of science Dr. Surekha Davies.

Monsters are central to how we think about the human condition. In Humans: A Monstrous History, Dr. Surekha Davies reveals how people throughout history have defined humanity in relation to everything from ancient gods and apes to zombies and generative AI. Along the way, she traces how these constructs were used to invent ideas of race, gender, and nationhood, showing that monster-making has always been a mechanism of control—defining who gets to count as "normal."

Braid together stories ranging from Frankenstein and E.T. to modern corporate practices where people are seen as obstacles to profit, this book demonstrates how the long, volatile history of monster-making can help us chart a better path forward. It is not merely a history of monsters, but a powerful history through monsters designed for anyone who wants to reverse rising inequality and polarization.

Key Highlights:

• Empowering Historical Perspective: Examines how monster-making shaped human definitions of race, gender, nationhood, and normalcy.

• Wide-Ranging Narrative: Braids together ancient mythology, early modern cartography, pop culture icons, and contemporary generative AI.

• Contemporary Relevance: Addresses modern issues of inequality, corporate greed, polarization, and what it means to be human today.

• Acclaimed Author: Written by Dr. Surekha Davies, Cambridge and University of London alumnus, and author of the award-winning Renaissance Ethnography and the Invention of the Human.