The death told by a sapiens to a Neanderthal is a book published by Alfaguara in 2022. He comes to complete the title The life told by a sapiens to a Neanderthal (Alfaguara. It is a splendid vision of death told by Juan José Millás and Juan Luis Arsuaga through different questions that concern the subject.
Writer and paleontologist unite their perspectives and create a multiple dialogue that includes readers. The best of literature with the best of science forge this work arranged for a better understanding of what we fear so much: death.
The death told by a sapiens to a Neanderthal
The book: what it tells and how it tells it
The duo formed by Juan José Millás, the writer, and Juan Luis Arsuaga, the anthropologist, reveals a dynamic and vehement dialogue about life and death. They already did it with his first book, The life told by a sapiens to a Neanderthal, and in this second issue there is a new opportunity to show absolute truths (and this is really difficult and dangerous), which hurt. The theme of death is treated from all angles: eternity, the biological question and evolution, programmed death, aging or human and individual durability. Although curiously speaking of death, what is discovered between its pages is life. A very lively sapiens and neanderthal with a more than interesting chat.
There is much talk about old age and the unstoppable decrepitude inherent in life. The passage of time and existence towards death. However, far from becoming a reflection that is difficult to understand, it becomes fun and lucid, we speak clearly about issues that interest us all. Regarding aging, the book gives a renewed perspective on languor over the years. We no longer see the arrival of that last vital stage in the same negative way. With good spirits they approach an informative topic and they do it in a very entertaining way.
It is also important to emphasize working together, since it is not always easy to create a book with two thinking heads. However, Millás and Arsuaga get along very well, and with a good sense of humor they know how to present their ideas from very different branches: artistic and scientific.
an invigorating book
The death told by a sapiens to a Neanderthal it deals with many more topics besides death through aging. It deals with biology and nature, natural selection, as well as the prospect of living forever out of fear of death. After reading its pages, the question will remain as to whether it is really worth living forever., in what way we would do it, or doing what.
Finally, with its content, the book tries to give answers to some big questions. He does it without pretensions, with imagination and with that very bearable literary point. Although, of course, he knows how to be a rigorous book. It is curious, because this text is not a novel, but it is not an essay either, is a genre created by these two curious geniuses: a sharp dialogue between old friends. It is a book that speaking of death is capable of invigorating readers.
Conclusions
This book is a relaxed conversation between two friends who try to find out the answer to questions between life and death, talking about things that affect the ordinary person, such as the end of life, or illness. They deal with topics about literature, anthropology, or biology, in various places (such as a junkyard, during a meal, or in the field). They brood, but they do it in a very pleasant tone and with a sharp and honest discernment. The reader will simply get caught up in the pages and feel that they are conversing with the authors in a relaxed and enjoyable way. He reflects a lot and with intelligence, but Millás and Arsuaga flee from any superfluous pedantry. oh! A third party is expected to complete the path of life and death. So the paleontologist and the poet say goodbye until next time.
The authors: Juan José Millás and Juan Luis Arsuaga
Juan José Millás (Valencia, 1946) is a Spanish writer and journalist. She trained at the Complutense University of Madrid and writes novels, essays and short stories, as well as newspaper articles. she participates in El País and in SER chain. He has written a multitude of texts, many of which have been recognized (he has prizes to his credit such as the Nadal and Planet). Some of his most celebrated works are Cerberus are the shadows, The disorder of your name, Loneliness was this, Two women in Prague: The world.
Juan Luis Arsuaga (Madrid, 1954) is a Spanish paleoanthropologist.. He is a professor of Paleontology and has written various works on the subject, such as Neanderthal necklace, The chosen species, The world of Atapuerca: Mr. Darwin's watch. He is part of the team that investigates the deposits of Atapuerca (Burgos) and is scientific director of the Museum of Human Evolution of Burgos. He has received, among other awards, the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research.