The Ascent of Man is a celebrated work by Jacob Bronowski that traces the development of science as an expression of the unique gifts that make humans preeminent among animals. This book, a companion to the acclaimed BBC series, offers a fresh perspective on both science and civilization.

Bronowski's exciting and richly illustrated investigation takes readers on a journey through Western intellectual history, visiting places like Easter Island, the Alhambra, Newton's library, and the caves of Altamira. Here, he explores the qualities of thought and imagination that have driven humanity to analyze the physical world and its inherent laws and structures.

From the harvest of the seasons to the music of the spheres, and from the majestic clockwork to the ladder of creation, Bronowski weaves a compelling narrative of human invention. This work is a celebration of our ability to understand and control nature, from the flint tool to geometry, agriculture to genetics, and from alchemy to the theory of relativity.