title: The Anthropocene: The Human Era and How It Shapes Our Planet
author:  Christian Schwgerl 
description: "This is a splendid introduction to the Anthropocene by one of its most eloquent celebrants."<br /><br /> <br /><br />-- Diane Ackerman, author of The Human Age<br /><br />"...authorative and engaging. Read, enjoy and recommend..." --Frank Oldfield, The Anthropocene Review
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00276.jpeg)
  
  Dedication
  
  To my teacher, S. N. Goenka (1924–2013),
  
  who lovingly taught me important things.
  
  Contents
  
    1. Dedication
    2.   3. 1 The New Human Agenda
    4. PART I _Homo Sapiens_ Conquers the World
      1. 2 The Anthropocene
      2. 3 The Human Spark
    5. PART II _Homo Sapiens_ Gives Meaning to the World
      1. 4 The Storytellers
      2. 5 The Odd Couple
      3. 6 The Modern Covenant
      4. 7 The Humanist Revolution
    6. PART III _Homo Sapiens_ Loses Control
      1. 8 The Time Bomb in the Laboratory
      2. 9 The Great Decoupling
      3. 10 The Ocean of Consciousness
      4. 11 The Data Religion
    7. Notes
    8. Acknowledgements
    9. Index
    10. About the Author
    11. Also by Yuval Noah Harari
    12. Credits
    13. Copyright
    14. About the Publisher
  
  ![](Images/image00277.jpeg)
  
  _In vitro_ fertilisation: mastering creation.
  
  Computer artwork © KTSDESIGN/Science Photo Library.
  
  1
  
  The New Human Agenda
  
  At the dawn of the third millennium, humanity wakes up, stretch