Humans : A Monstrous History

Humans: A Monstrous History by Surekha Davies examines how people have defined what it means to be human by contrasting themselves with figures and beings considered monstrous. Drawing on examples ranging from apes and ancient gods to Frankenstein's monster, E.T. and generative AI, the book explores how ideas about humanity have been shaped alongside concepts of race, gender and nations. It is suited to readers interested in the history of science, human identity, monsters and the ways societies define normality.

Rather than presenting a history of monsters themselves, Davies uses monsters as a way of examining human history. The book traces the practice of "monster-making" as a means of establishing boundaries around who is considered normal and who is excluded from them. Moving across different periods and cultural ideas, it connects historical examples with contemporary questions about inequality, polarization and the future of humanity.

About This Book

Monsters have played an important role in how humans have imagined themselves and others. Davies examines this process through the history of exploration, encounters between cultures and changing ideas about the human. Her account brings together seemingly distant subjects, from ancient mythology to modern artificial intelligence, to show how representations of the monstrous can reveal assumptions about humanity.

The book also considers the relationship between monster-making and control. By defining certain people or groups as outside the boundaries of the normal, societies can establish distinctions around identity and belonging. The discussion connects these historical patterns with contemporary concerns about inequality and polarization.

Drawing on Davies's work as a historian of science, the book offers a history through monsters rather than a conventional history of monsters, using evocative storytelling to reconsider how humanity has understood itself.

What You'll Discover

• How monsters have shaped ideas about the human condition
• The relationship between humans, apes and other imagined beings
• Historical ideas surrounding race, gender and nations
• Connections between ancient gods, Frankenstein's monster and E.T.
• How generative AI raises questions about the boundaries of humanity
• The role of monster-making in defining who is considered normal
• Connections between historical exclusion, inequality and polarization

Perfect For

• Readers interested in the history of science
• Readers interested in monsters, mythology and cultural history
• Readers exploring the history of human identity
• Readers interested in race, gender and the construction of social boundaries

Why You'll Love This Book

Humans: A Monstrous History offers a distinctive way to examine the history of humanity by asking how people have defined themselves against those they label as monstrous. Surekha Davies connects historical encounters, cultural ideas and modern technology to explore how concepts of normality, identity and control have shaped the human story.