in Historical fiction, Podcasts by
They say there’s nothing new under the sun. This interview with former tech journalist, computer game designer, poet, futurist and archaeology writer (and more!) Rob Swigart pays tribute to this truism in a couple of ways.
In “Mixed Harvest: Stories from the Human Past,” Swigart uses the ancient art of story-telling to both entertain and to teach – just as his subjects did eons ago. Among many things I learned from this book, and this conversation, is that many of the issues and problems human deal with today got their start during prehistoric times, by what Swigart calls the “sedentary divide” – the move from hunter/gatherer to agricultural society. Misogyny, inequality, and environmental degradation were all unintended consequences of this “new” technology.
Swigart also discusses the impact of humans beginning to build square homes, as opposed to round ones, and the loss of the spontaneity of the non-straight.
I felt like we plowed some new ground in this conversation – I hope you think so too.

Every technology that we’ve developed creates a whole plethora of new remedial technologies that have to make up for the problems caused by the previous technology.

Rob Swigart

Neanderthal man listened to stories, if one may judge by the shape of his skull.

E.M. Forster

About

Monica Hadley is co-founder, host and producer of Writers' Voices which broadcasts on KHOE 90.5 FM World Radio from MIU in Fairfield, Iowa, and KICI-LP 105.3 a community-based radio station in Iowa City. She is also cofounder of Aeron Lifestyle Technology, Inc. and founder of the Iowa Justice Project, Inc.

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