Summary of The Runaway Species

The Runaway Species by Anthony Chemero and Gottfried Mayer-Kress is a thought-provoking book exploring the marvel of human creativity. It examines the evolutionary process and the influence of various human traits, from problem-solving ability to language to technology development, that have allowed us to outshine other species. The authors carefully explain the incredible evolutionary processes that have brought us to this point, and open a theoretically grounded discussion on how we can optimally employ these traits to produce great works of art and scientific inquiry. They also explore how our creativity and inventiveness can be applied to larger societal challenges like global warming and poverty. The authors ultimately suggest a framework of creative thinking and problem-solving that allows us to focus our attention and shape our own destiny.