The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch
The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch is a non-fiction reference work written by astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell. It was published in hardback by The Bodley Head in the UK on 3 April 2014 and by The Penguin Press in the US on 17 April 2014. The UK paperback was released by Vintage on 5 March 2015 while the US paperback, retitled "The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm", was published on 10 March 2015 by Penguin Books. The book is written as a  quick-start guide to restarting civilization following a global catastrophe. Synopsis. The thirteen chapter book starts off explaining how humanity and civilization works and has come to be and how this could possibly be altered in the event of worldwide disaster — such as avian flu. Leaving us with the essential question of what knowledge would we need to rebuild civilization as we know it, which Dartnell answers by looking at the history of science and technology. Dartnell explains and realistically details a 'grace period' in which survivors can salvage food, materials and tools from the ruins of today's society . However, after a certain point this grace period would end, and humanity would have to produce their own food, make their own tools, practice hygiene and fight infection to maintain health, and develop energy stores for a new society to survive the aftermath. The book covers topics like agriculture, food and clothing, substances, medicine, and transport. Darnell points out that applying the scientific method to basic knowledge will enable an advanced technological society to reappear within several generations. Along with giving the history of scientific invention and how that applies to humans were they to recreate that, the book also  offers anecdotal bits of information in the form of endnotes. Giving facts such as how carrots were originally white but grown orange in honour of the Dutch royal family, and how onions are the leaves of the onion plant. Reception. Reviews. "The Times" called the book "an extraordinary achievement", noting that Dartnell expertly explains things such as the rudiment of a civilization. They state "it is a great read even if civilization does not collapse". "The Guardian" praises how Dartnell deftly "sketches the many problems that may face humanity, and sympathetically reconstructs the reasoning applied". Further praising how The Knowledge  is a "terrifically engrossing history of science and technology" as well as "cunningly packaged yet entertainingly serious". "" praises the book as "highly readable and engaging", as well as the high standard of the bibliography of further reading and resources. It was reviewed by "The Daily Telegraph" as an "entertaining instruction manual for the end of the world", only jarring when "it seems Dartnell is taking this end-of-the-world stuff seriously". Awards. It was awarded "The Sunday Times" "New Thinking" Book of the Year in 2014. As well as The Times Science Book of the Year the same year . It was awarded Best Science Books of 2014 by io9. It was shortlisted for Science Book of the Year by the German magazine "Bild der Wissenschaft" in 2015. It was also shortlisted for the 2016 Transmission Prize. Background. This is the third book written by astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell, his first book, "Life in the Universe: A Beginner's Guide", was published in 2007. His second book, an illustrated children's book called "My Tourist's Guide to the Solar System and Beyond", was published in 2012. After achieving a first class degree in Biology from the University of Oxford, he  went on to complete a PhD in the field of astrobiology from the University College London.