TOP 2 in Kickstarter history
400k+
copies sold to curious minds of the planet Earth
A global bestseller
(4.89)
1107
reviews
The Book
The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization Select edition
30-day money back guarantee
Secure Payments
400k+
books sold worldwide
Have you ever imagined visiting the past with full knowledge of modern information and technology? If you told people from the Middle Ages or Ancient Egypt about a telephone, a car, or electricity, they would take you for a deity or a superhero. But do you actually know how these things work?
Crafted entirely by hand, with each illustration painstakingly designed by talented artists and every fact rigorously verified by scientists and experts, creating The Book consumed over 5,000 hours. A beautiful encyclopedia of incredible inventions and discoveries throughout human history.
Is The Book a good gift for someone interested in science, history, or engineering?
Yes. The Book suits curious readers who enjoy science, history, engineering, medicine and learning how civilization works. Across 400 hand-illustrated pages, it explores inventions, materials, mechanisms and social systems, with a structure that readers can browse by topic and return to over time.
Where can I track my delivery?
You can track your delivery progress using the tracking page on our website. Input your tracking code to access the information.
Are other language options available?
For now, you can enjoy it in English, German, Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese languages. If we notice a rising demand for other languages, we will promptly work on providing them.
What type of paper are the books printed on?
The Book is printed on high-quality paper using offset printing.
How can I expedite order shipping? Do you offer express shipping or anything similar?
We don’t offer any type of express shipping or anything similar, yet you are more than welcome to reach out to support@hungryminds.com and ask our team to prioritize your order in the queue!
Is The Book appropriate for children under 18 years old?
Suitability depends on local age restriction laws in your jurisdiction. The book set features a sealed envelope with additional content related to intimacy that is 18+ in many countries. That material was removed from The Book and included separately in a closed envelope to ensure it is not easily accessible to children. Adult purchasers are responsible for deciding whether the book and its sealed contents are appropriate for younger readers under their care, subject to local age restriction laws. The approximate list of themes that are covered in the book that might be age-restricted in certain jurisdictions is: Contraception/Condoms and Alcohol/Wine
What is the ISBN?
978-0-578-37745-2
What are the dimensions?
Weight: 4.96lb / 2.25 kg
Size: 9.0 x 2.0 x 13.4 in / 23 x 4.9 x 34 cm
Order Processing
All orders are processed within 5 business days. We do not ship orders on weekends or national holidays. Once the order is placed, we can only make changes before it’s entered in our processing system, which is usually within one hour of placing an order.
Order Tracking
Tracking information will be emailed to you as soon as the package ships. If you don’t have your tracking number within 5 business days after the order was placed, please contact us at support@hungryminds.com with your order number.
Shipping
Please be aware that shipping times vary by location. Shipping and taxes are calculated at checkout. For more information about delivery times and shipping costs in your country, visit our Shipping Policy page. We provide express delivery within the United States. You may select express delivery at checkout.
For further assistance or concerns regarding your order's whereabouts, feel free to reach us at support@hungryminds.com.
1107
reviews
TOP 2 in Kickstarter history
400k+
copies sold to curious minds of the planet Earth
A global bestseller
What if you could carry all of human civilization in your hands?
Consider the question seriously. Empires have risen on the strength of a single idea. Civilizations have perished for want of knowledge that was simply... lost. The wheel. Penicillin. The arch. The printing press. The power grid. For ten thousand years, humanity has accumulated a vast and fragile inheritance - discoveries and inventions that transformed our species from cave-dwellers into builders of cities that touch the clouds.
Now, you can possess it all.
5,000+ Hours of Creation
400+ Pages of Knowledge
1,000+ Hand-Drawn Illustrations
$3M+ Raised by Believers
Translated into 6 languages worldwide
What makes
The Book special
The 400-page edition describes the most significant and impressive mechanisms, processes and materials ever invented.
Luxuriously Crafted
At nearly five pounds and over thirteen inches tall, The Book does not merely sit upon a shelf — it commands one. This is an object with physical authority, the satisfying weight of something that means to last.
What people are saying about The Book
From the first flame to molecular
gastronomy
Twenty-three chapters span the full breadth of human civilization - from the most elemental act of survival to the most rarefied pinnacles of culture. There is no hierarchy here. The fire-maker and the architect stand as equals, as they always have in the history of our species.
| Fire & Survival | Food & Agriculture | The Human Body & Medicine |
Materials & Manufacture |
| Mechanics & Engineering |
Architecture & Construction |
Navigation & Seafaring |
Energy & Power Grids |
| Chemistry & Alchemy | Communication & Language |
Mathematics & Logic | Governance & Society |
| Commerce & Economy | Aviation & Transport | Music & Acoustics | Art & Aesthetics |
| Astronomy & Cosmology |
Rites of Passage | Molecular Gastronomy |
Weapons & Defense |
| Plants & Botany | The Animal Kingdom | + Much More Within |
Anatomy & Blood
The human body is a universe unto itself. Everything is interconnected, energy and nutrients flowing from one place to another through the body’s supply system — blood. Hopefully, your blood generally stays inside your own body, but in certain life-threatening situations, it can be shared with another person. And luckily, finding someone with a similar blood type is easier than finding someone with shared interests, political views or musical tastes.
Bicycles
Some inventions happen naturally, as if spontaneously willing themselves into existence, such as the wheel. Others require a chain of happy accidents to come into being. But for the most part, discovery is a long, uphill road illuminated only by brief flashes of insight. By connecting two wheels to a solid frame and throwing on a chain and a couple of pedals, you’re left with a fun and efficient vehicle suitable for both transporting heavy cargo and carrying friends in tow. Using the basic principles behind its design, you can also come up with a variety of other helpful devices and even start generating electricity.
Animation
Animation works by taking advantage of a simple optical illusion. When you present a sequence of still images in quick enough succession, the viewer’s mind interprets them as a continuous moving image. This effect is achieved by using a large number of sequential images that differ minimally from the previous image in the series. But persistence of vision is only one small part of the bigger picture. When we watch animated characters, we start to empathize and identify with them. We laugh, cry and scream in horror along with them. This is where cinematography comes into play.
Festivals
For humans, taking breaks from the daily routine and the fight for survival is vital. Otherwise, they are unable to create. Negative thoughts start to accumulate in their minds, they become more prone to conformism and society enters a period of stagnation. Festivals and carnivals help relieve the tension and reboot the creative mind. Festival culture is a living contradiction to the hierarchies, dogmas and norms meant as societal safeguards. These kinds of celebrations bestow a sense of freedom, allowing people to leave their duties and responsibilities behind for a while and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, becoming truly spontaneous and authentic.
Sushi
Food is, of course, important for its caloric and nutritional value. But it’s also so much more than that! Food is an opportunity for personal growth and self-expression. New flavors and sensations cause new connections to form in your brain, and a good meal can heal more than just your body. You know what they say — you are what you eat. So why not create the best version of yourself by preparing a well-balanced meal? It’s time to learn how to make sushi. The only thing you’ll have to cook is the rice. This is the main secret of sushi: do not complicate what can be done simply.
From concept to completion: every illustration is entirely hand-drawn
Behind the scenes where luxury begins
The Book is made to satisfy your curiosity, widen the horizons of your mind, act as a source on inspiration and teleport you from world to world.
Every Detail Counts
Everything in The Book is thoughtfully crafted to make it a pleasure to hold, from the cover to the illustrations on the last page. Built with careful attention to detail, it will satisfy both your curiosity and your fingertips.
Meticulously Crafted
Every line, symbol, and carving on this cover is carefully made to draw you in even more. Nothing here is by chance, every little thing gives you a hint about the atmosphere inside.
It All Starts With a Sketch
Our illustrations begin where imagination dares to be first. Each page begins with a pencil sketch: one line, one idea, one invention at a time. What you hold in your hands is not just an illustration on paper, but a journey that starts with a single sketch and grows into an entire universe for you to explore.
All that you may
wish to know
What manner of paper is this volume printed upon?
The Book is printed on 157gsm premium uncoated paper using high-quality offset lithographic printing with soy-based inks — chosen specifically for their color depth, tactile quality, and longevity. The cream-toned leaves have a slight warmth that gives the volume its aged, manuscript quality.
In which languages may one obtain it?
The Book is currently available in English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, and Japanese. Further languages may follow should demand warrant the undertaking.
What are the precise dimensions of this volume?
The Book weighs 4.96 lb (2.25 kg) and measures 9.3 × 13.6 × 2 inches. Its physical presence, we are told, is part of what makes the first encounter with it so memorable.
How long until my copy arrives?
All orders are processed within 5 business days. Tracking information is sent upon dispatch. Express delivery is available for US orders.
What is the ISBN, should a librarian require it?
978-0-578-37745-2
PRODUCTION PROCESS
Take a glimpse behind the scenes to see the passion and attention to detail with which the book is created from start to finish.
