Wisdom of the Ancients: Life lessons from our distant past
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- Create Date：2022-05-25 08:52:07
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Neil Oliver
- ISBN：1529176786
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Summary
THE PERFECT READ FOR TROUBLED TIMES
From the bestselling author of The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places comes this inspiring and beautifully written meditation on the wisdom inherited from our ancestors。
For all we have gained in the modern world， simple peace of mind is hard to find。 In a time that is increasingly fraught with complexity and conflict， we are told that our wellbeing relies on remaining as present as possible。 But what if the key to being present lies in the past？
In Wisdom of the Ancients， Neil Oliver takes us back in time， to grab hold of the ideas buried in forgotten cultures and early civilizations。 From Laetoli footprints in Tanzania to Keralan rituals， stone circles and cave paintings， Oliver takes us on a global journey through antiquity。 A master storyteller， drawing on immense knowledge of our ancient past， he distils this wisdom into twelve messages that have endured the test of time， and invites us to consider how these might apply to our lives today。 The result is powerful and inspirational， moving and profound。
From the bestselling author of The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places comes this inspiring and beautifully written meditation on the wisdom inherited from our ancestors。
For all we have gained in the modern world， simple peace of mind is hard to find。 In a time that is increasingly fraught with complexity and conflict， we are told that our wellbeing relies on remaining as present as possible。 But what if the key to being present lies in the past？
In Wisdom of the Ancients， Neil Oliver takes us back in time， to grab hold of the ideas buried in forgotten cultures and early civilizations。 From Laetoli footprints in Tanzania to Keralan rituals， stone circles and cave paintings， Oliver takes us on a global journey through antiquity。 A master storyteller， drawing on immense knowledge of our ancient past， he distils this wisdom into twelve messages that have endured the test of time， and invites us to consider how these might apply to our lives today。 The result is powerful and inspirational， moving and profound。
Reviews
Les Wilson
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I’m not criticising the book but disagree with him。
Elaine Jack
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I really enjoyed this book。 It’s the first book I’ve read that Neil Oliver has written， so not sure if it’s how all his books are。 I found it very honest， reflective and anecdotal。 Alongside this， of course， was his knowledgeable recounting of ancient past people and events。 I was born the same year as Neil， not that far away from him， relatively speaking， and so I completely got his reminiscing of his younger self and how different growing up then felt like to growing up now。 Stripped of techno I really enjoyed this book。 It’s the first book I’ve read that Neil Oliver has written， so not sure if it’s how all his books are。 I found it very honest， reflective and anecdotal。 Alongside this， of course， was his knowledgeable recounting of ancient past people and events。 I was born the same year as Neil， not that far away from him， relatively speaking， and so I completely got his reminiscing of his younger self and how different growing up then felt like to growing up now。 Stripped of technology and much poorer in terms of material things although arguably richer in cheap and cheerful activities and social interactions。 He helped me to remember my own childhood。 I also appreciated his love of nature。 His connection with his surroundings， his musings while walking his dog。 He feels。 。。。more
Clare
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My favourite book about ancient history！！ Loved it。
Mr Michael R Stevens
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Every Day Is A School DayThere is no doubt that some will find this book hard going， I'm not ashamed to say I did。 But I learnt something new every time I picked the book up， a wealth of information contained in great stories， well told， that draw you in。I have the urge to read other titles by Neil Oliver。 Every Day Is A School DayThere is no doubt that some will find this book hard going， I'm not ashamed to say I did。 But I learnt something new every time I picked the book up， a wealth of information contained in great stories， well told， that draw you in。I have the urge to read other titles by Neil Oliver。 。。。more
Boulder Boulderson
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Dreadfully dull。 It's not anything like how it's sold， or at least how I interpreted - i。e。 some ancient philosophy， perhaps some Graeco-Roman， with some other cultures thrown in to share new viewpoints。 Instead it's a series of rambling anecdotes about various archaeological sites， mostly in Scotland though a few more broadly， coupled with vague aphorisms about being aware of our surroundings and being nice to each other。 I initially thought perhaps it was a collection of newspaper articles， bu Dreadfully dull。 It's not anything like how it's sold， or at least how I interpreted - i。e。 some ancient philosophy， perhaps some Graeco-Roman， with some other cultures thrown in to share new viewpoints。 Instead it's a series of rambling anecdotes about various archaeological sites， mostly in Scotland though a few more broadly， coupled with vague aphorisms about being aware of our surroundings and being nice to each other。 I initially thought perhaps it was a collection of newspaper articles， but it doesn't seem to be。Heavily Christian， and spouting some outdated and rather racist theories about how interbreeding with Netherandals gave Europeans the spark of consciousness and ability to become what we understand about humans （and therefore implicitly saying that Africans， Asians， don't have this spark）。 Avoid。 。。。more
Alaric Moras
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Oliver writes well， this is for certain。 But he hasn't understood the assignment; odd， since it is one of his own making。 The book doesn't respond to its own interrogations， and the blurb and title are deceiving。 Prepare， instead， for his rather random shifts in thought and moralising about how the world is， has been， and should be。 Disappointing。 Oliver writes well， this is for certain。 But he hasn't understood the assignment; odd， since it is one of his own making。 The book doesn't respond to its own interrogations， and the blurb and title are deceiving。 Prepare， instead， for his rather random shifts in thought and moralising about how the world is， has been， and should be。 Disappointing。 。。。more
Julian Walker
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Entertaining and thought-provoking in equal measure， this is a superb read for those seeking a perspective on us， life， and purpose。Well written and instantly engaging， I love this kind of reference frame and it flows along quickly as the author uses a vast array of examples and lessons to bring his thinking alive。A fab book and hugely enjoyable read。
Belinda Glass
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Really enjoyed this fascinating book - Even better that I read it as an audiobook， read by the author himself with his thick Scottish accent。 Lots of food for thought， will definitely revisit！
Rene Nel
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Not really sure why he wrote this - a few interesting facts interspersed by rambling that I certainly didn't follow all of。 Not really sure why he wrote this - a few interesting facts interspersed by rambling that I certainly didn't follow all of。 。。。more
Louise Smethurst
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I love most history books and this was a fascinating take on philosophy， from an historian's perspective。 I only wish it had been longer。 I read the Kindle copy but I could hear Neil Oliver's voice in my head， calm and informative。 I love most history books and this was a fascinating take on philosophy， from an historian's perspective。 I only wish it had been longer。 I read the Kindle copy but I could hear Neil Oliver's voice in my head， calm and informative。 。。。more
Lois
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Within the first few pages of starting this book， I was hooked。 Not only was the subject matter fascinating - drawing on all manner of forgotten cultures and ancient civilisations in a bid to understand the 'wisdom of the ancients' within the context of our own lives - Oliver's writing was deft and beautiful。There were so many fascinating tales in here too， stories I'd never heard of。 One that stuck with me was that of Whakatāne， in New Zealand。 The word is derived from two separate words which， Within the first few pages of starting this book， I was hooked。 Not only was the subject matter fascinating - drawing on all manner of forgotten cultures and ancient civilisations in a bid to understand the 'wisdom of the ancients' within the context of our own lives - Oliver's writing was deft and beautiful。There were so many fascinating tales in here too， stories I'd never heard of。 One that stuck with me was that of Whakatāne， in New Zealand。 The word is derived from two separate words which， when put together， mean 'to act as a man'。 Around 1000 BC， during a period of Maori migration， the men left the women alone in the canoe they'd arrived in while they went ashore。 When the canoe started to drift back to sea， Wairaka， daughter of the captain-navigator Toroa， defied the ruling that forbade women to handle a canoe and seized the paddle to bring the boat back to shore。 In her doing so， acting 'as a man'， she saved the lives of the others aboard。 Now， a statue stands in the mouth of the bay， commemorating her bravery。 This is just one story that Oliver explores in brilliant detail。 There is no shortage of wonder to be found within these pages。 History is all around us， everywhere， living and breathing side by side with us。 All we have to do in order to see it， is look。'The Lady on the Rock'， Whakatāne， New Zealand 。。。more
Lisa
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Bit padded out with flowery writing。 Lots of irrelevant information。 Preferred his other books
Mo
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Wonderful tales that make you want to visit the places in his tales seeing them through the eyes of the ancients he so eloquently describes。
Candy Glade
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Thought provoking and eye-opening。 Read it with the internet close at hand so you can look up all of the archaeological sites Neil Oliver talks about。 I learned a lot about ancient civilizations and the things we have in common。
Mr Alister Cryan
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FrustratingI would have liked to give this book a five star review。 An interesting foray into geology and archaeology but lacking much of the wisdom offered by the title。 Also I was very irritated by "Those soldiers left behind a Britain that has not known an engulfing war for most of a century。。。" as a description of the First World War。 This is simply historically sloppy and encourages an ignorant view of history ignoring the numerous wars fought between the Napoleonic Wars and the First World FrustratingI would have liked to give this book a five star review。 An interesting foray into geology and archaeology but lacking much of the wisdom offered by the title。 Also I was very irritated by "Those soldiers left behind a Britain that has not known an engulfing war for most of a century。。。" as a description of the First World War。 This is simply historically sloppy and encourages an ignorant view of history ignoring the numerous wars fought between the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War。 。。。more
Rachel
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Patchy。 There were some interesting bits， but some decidedly dodgy ones too。 Did he really just say that the infusion of Neanderthal blood after leaving Africa made humanity great？ Isn't that massively racist？ Patchy。 There were some interesting bits， but some decidedly dodgy ones too。 Did he really just say that the infusion of Neanderthal blood after leaving Africa made humanity great？ Isn't that massively racist？ 。。。more
Jane Glaister
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Wromantic but soporifically soothing。
Mrs E J Lees
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Fascinating Great book， well written and with much attention to detail。 Bringing together many stands of science all in one place。
Flapper72
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I think I liked this book but I'm not quite sure really。 It felt as if the author was floundering and I really wasn't sure what he wanted to get from the book。 It made me feel sad because it feels as if he's struggling with how he sees life - are we all completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things （which is inordinately comforting to me） or is there a higher power directing our every last move。 I think the former but then， at the beginning of chapters， there were often biblical quotes。 I I think I liked this book but I'm not quite sure really。 It felt as if the author was floundering and I really wasn't sure what he wanted to get from the book。 It made me feel sad because it feels as if he's struggling with how he sees life - are we all completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things （which is inordinately comforting to me） or is there a higher power directing our every last move。 I think the former but then， at the beginning of chapters， there were often biblical quotes。 I enjoyed all the archeological evidence。 All the people of millennia ago who still have stories to tell。 How important they were to their loved ones and how they were treated by the world around them。 I think I was meant to have respect for each and every individual， and I hope that I would if I were party to exploring their burial grounds and their mortal remains， but that is beyond the human condition。 As Mr Oliver said; we are really only remembered for four generations and then there is no real memory of us。 I find that so comforting。 This life is so transient that it really doesn't matter。 No one will every remember me because the world's been going round for longer than we can imagine with birth， living， suffering and death。 I wanted to love this book but not sure if I'd really recommend it at all。 。。。more
Hazel O'Sullivan
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I saw this book recommended in a magazine and although I know nothing about archaeology it sounded interesting。 I loved it almost all the way through。 The earlier chapters focussed on ancient sites， around the world。 They were described so beautifully that it was a slow read whilst I savoured the emotive writing - and then looked up the sites on the internet。 （There are a few sketches but no pictures）。 On earlier chapters the historical site is all and Oliver can make a stone with some scratches I saw this book recommended in a magazine and although I know nothing about archaeology it sounded interesting。 I loved it almost all the way through。 The earlier chapters focussed on ancient sites， around the world。 They were described so beautifully that it was a slow read whilst I savoured the emotive writing - and then looked up the sites on the internet。 （There are a few sketches but no pictures）。 On earlier chapters the historical site is all and Oliver can make a stone with some scratches on it thrilling。 A short reflection at the end of each chapter made the mystery of distant ancestry truly thought provoking and exciting。 I spent considerable time telling my other half all about it and he's going to read it as a result。As the book went on the emphasis shifted and it seemed that the archaeology became almost incidental to Oliver's musings on life lessons as he moved more to legends and myth - and a faint sense that he just needed to be finished for the publisher！ Somehow， the very real excitement and very moving sense of connection with the past， so ably generated in early chapters was lessened。 Still well worth a read though and the early part is wonderful。 。。。more
Senioreuge
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I have see Oliver present several television programmes on natural history and history。 He always engages with his audience with his passion and enthusiasm for his subject。 I am sure I am not alone when I say that I do not always agree with all of his interpretations but such is the nature of historical discourse。 It was， therefore， inevitable that I should purchase a copy of this work when I spotted it on a shelf in Waterstones， between the first and second lock down。 I did， and have had a grea I have see Oliver present several television programmes on natural history and history。 He always engages with his audience with his passion and enthusiasm for his subject。 I am sure I am not alone when I say that I do not always agree with all of his interpretations but such is the nature of historical discourse。 It was， therefore， inevitable that I should purchase a copy of this work when I spotted it on a shelf in Waterstones， between the first and second lock down。 I did， and have had a great deal of pleasure from reading it。 It is thought provoking and while very wide ranging keeps pointedly at the main thesis he explores。 I can and have already recommended it several friends and used some of the points made in discussions。 I highly commend this work。 。。。more
Denise Gossow
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A very thought provoking book about humans， what came before and our role in the natural world。
Tanya （Novel Paperbacks）
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I’m not sure what I expected of this， but I certainly did not expect this book to challenge my thinking the way it did。 Using our history， Oliver shares the profound truths he has learnt and that have informed his life。 These truths hit me hard and have had me pondering much since I started reading it。 I felt quite emotional upon finishing this。
Allan Kelly
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I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful and hugely wide ranging book。 It's presented in themed short chapters， pulling together modern life experience with ancient stories。 You could read it quickly， but that would be missing the point。 I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful and hugely wide ranging book。 It's presented in themed short chapters， pulling together modern life experience with ancient stories。 You could read it quickly， but that would be missing the point。 。。。more
Cauldhamer
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Very easy to read。Short， concise chapters filled with stories of human experiences。As enjoyable to read as Harrari's Sapiens and Fry's Mythos。Made me feel minuscule and amazed with life at times。 Very easy to read。Short， concise chapters filled with stories of human experiences。As enjoyable to read as Harrari's Sapiens and Fry's Mythos。Made me feel minuscule and amazed with life at times。 。。。more
Nick
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A very enjoyable book - Oliver writes well and has a lovely reading voice （Scottish）。 His approach to history and archaeology is one on not of primarily dates and numbers， but of the experience of humans and the world they lived in。 From stories about finding footprints found in a bog in Scotland with shavings of flint that tell a story of a hunter stopping briefly to make or repair a tool to the bodies found in Denmark that were lovingly placed in graves with beautiful， valuable items。From Abor A very enjoyable book - Oliver writes well and has a lovely reading voice （Scottish）。 His approach to history and archaeology is one on not of primarily dates and numbers， but of the experience of humans and the world they lived in。 From stories about finding footprints found in a bog in Scotland with shavings of flint that tell a story of a hunter stopping briefly to make or repair a tool to the bodies found in Denmark that were lovingly placed in graves with beautiful， valuable items。From Aboriginal whalers in Australia that had a contract with Orca， the Maori navigators following the sea birds， the brutal price for the sun demanded by Huītzilōpōchtli to stone age brain surgery。 Oliver points out that humanity is not just dates and figures， but a much broader and involved concept of time and space - symbolism and not just science。Laced with anecdotes and experiences of his varied and interesting career， Oliver puts forward that our modern thinking could use a bit of perspective and wisdom from those in the past when it comes to what we value， what is important and ultimately ourselves and death。Highly recommended。 。。。more
Kirsty
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This book is a magic carpet and it will take you to places in your mind you’ve not been before。 It is both lyrical and erudite but grounded in real experience with real depth and philosophical investigation。 Neil presents his findings like any museum exhibition in order to make sense of the chaos of who we are and what has propelled us forward to this place in time。 A great non-fiction book to give real hope in these interesting times we find ourselves living through。
Caroline Morris
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