My new book is available for pre-order!

A Theory of Everyone: Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going

Hi Lab,

Big news, everyone! Today is my birthday but more importantly, the first glimpse of my new book is here - and available for pre-order!

Substack subscribers can get a signed copy (see details bottom of page):

Here’s the synopsis:

ABOUT A THEORY OF EVERYONE

A blueprint for a better future that offers a unified theory of human behavior, culture, and society.

Playing on the phrase “a theory of everything” from physics, Michael Muthukrishna’s ambitious, original, and deeply hopeful book A Theory of Everyone draws on the most recent research from across the sciences, humanities, and the emerging field of cultural evolution to paint a panoramic picture of who we are and what exactly makes human beings different from all other forms of life on the planet.

Muthukrishna argues that it is our unique ability to create culture, a shared body of knowledge, skills, and experience passed on from generation to generation, that has enabled our current dominance. But it is only by understanding and applying the laws of life—the need for energy, innovation, cooperation, and evolution—that we can solve the practical and existential challenges we face as a species. A Theory of Everyone attempts to provide solutions for the most pressing problems of our collective future, such as polarization, inequality, the “great stagnation” in productivity, and the energy crisis.

Casting a bold and wide net, Muthukrishna’s book is a must-read for anyone interested in a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.

After almost a decade of rattling around in my head, I'm excited that my book is finally coming to fruition! In January of 2020, I started working on a proposal and signed with MIT Press, distributed by Penguin Random House - the perfect combination of academic rigor and popular power.

Despite some setbacks due to the pandemic and the birth of my daughter, the book has already received early coverage in the Sunday Times, which sparked a bidding war for UK and Commonwealth rights. Ultimately, Hachette won the rights, and I couldn't be happier to have MIT, Penguin, and Hachette on board as the ideal team to deliver this book across the English speaking world.

The book is set to release on September 28th in the UK and Commonwealth and October 3rd in the US and Canada, and I'm excited to announce that the cover will be revealed next week! So stay tuned for that.

I'll be keeping everyone updated on the book's progress in the coming months, so be sure to subscribe to stay in the loop.

And if you're as excited as I am, please share the news with your friends and followers!

Best wishes,

Michael