How We Change the World

A Short History of the Human Mind

  • Stefan Klein is Germany's most successful science writer: over 1 million books sold
  • The history and future of creative thinking in a grand narrative
  • sample translation available

A short history of the human mind: on the power of community 

Bestselling author Stefan Klein takes us on a thrilling journey through the history of creative thinking. From the innovations of the Stone Age, such as painting, via the invention of writing to the achievements of the computers of tomorrow, Klein shows us vividly and in an entertaining way how the human mind has repeatedly reinvented the world. In the process, we encounter Neanderthals and Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci and Ada Lovelace, Archimedes and AlphaZero. And it becomes increasingly clear: We do not owe innovation and progress to the brilliant ideas of solitary geniuses – they come about through intellectual exchange. For creativity, imagination, and innovation are not gifts of individuals, but are derived from human interaction.
How did the world we live in come to be as it is? How did we come to be as we are? And what will happen next? All change starts with a new idea! The renowned science writer's gripping new book about the power of community, the future of thought, and the unlimited possibilities of our creativity.

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Sample Translations
Rights sold to

MEX (Spanish World) (Editorial Trillas) | I (Bollati) | KOR (ACROSS) | RUS (Bombora/Exmo) | TR (Say Dagitim); to previous titles: Das All und das Nichts: F (Dunod) | KOR (EWHA) | PRC (Simplified Chinese) (China Citic) |  Arabic (Atlas) | Spanish World (Planeta) | USA (The Experiment) | UK (Octopus) | NL (Amsterdam University Press) | I (Bollati) | TR (Say Dagitim)

  • Publisher: S. FISCHER
  • Release: 10.03.2021
  • ISBN: 978-3-10-002492-3
  • 272 Pages
  • Authors: Stefan Klein
  • Illustrated by: Stefanie Harjes
Buchcover von How We Change the World: Eine kurze Geschichte des menschlichen Geistes
Stefan Klein Stefanie Harjes How We Change the World
Portrait von Stefan Klein
© Andreas Labes
Stefan Klein

Stefan Klein is Germany’s most successful science author. After studying physics and analytical philosophy in Munich, Grenoble and Freiburg, he turned to writing because he ‘wanted to inspire people for a reality that is more exciting than any crime thriller’. His book The Science of Happiness (2002) was on all German bestseller lists for over a year and gained the author international recognition. This was followed by the much praised Time, Leonardo's Legacy and We All Are Stardust , Science Book of the Year 2011. His more recent works include Dreams: A Journey into Our Inner Reality , which was awarded the German Reading Prize 2016, How to Love the Universe and How We Change the World: A Short History of the Human Mind . 
Stefan Klein's work has been translated into numerous languages.

Portrait von Stefanie Harjes
© Susanna Wengeler
Stefanie Harjes

Stefanie Harjes, born in 1967 in Bremen, studied Illustration and Painting in Hamburg and Prague. Since 1994, she has been working as an illustrator and book artist in her studio in Hamburg.