David Christian author photo

David Christian

출생: December 08, 1946 – Brooklyn, New York, United States

David Christian is a historian and pioneer of Big History, known for tracing human and cosmic history across deep time. He is the author of Maps of Time and co-author of Origin Story, and he helped found the Big History Project, bringing interdisciplinary history teaching to classrooms worldwide.

전기 및 작가의 여정

David Christian is a historian whose work moved outward from national history to the widest temporal scale imaginable. Born in New York in 1946 to British and American parents, he spent much of his childhood in Nigeria before schooling in England. He took a BA in modern history at Oxford, completed an MA in Russian history at the University of Western Ontario, and returned to Oxford for a D.Phil. awarded in 1974. His early career at Macquarie University was grounded in Russian and Soviet history, producing books on Russian food, drink, and Inner Eurasia. The decisive turn came in 1989, when a discussion about how to introduce students to history pushed him toward a radical question: why not begin at the beginning? That question led him from human history to geology, biology, and finally to the history of the universe itself. ((https://storage.googleapis.com/coursetexts-notion/usmani%20sociol2204/readings/Christian%20and%20McNeill%20-%20Maps%20of%20Time%20An%20Introduction%20to%20Big%20History.pdf))

더 보기

명언

quote
Once you’ve reduced 13 billion years to a 13-week semester, reducing it to 18 minutes is hard … but can be done
-A history curriculum that starts at the beginning of time
quote
Big history is a modern version of all these stories
-What Is Big History?
quote
Life exists in a thin sphere around the surface of the earth
-Life in All Its Forms
quote
You have to survey the whole history of the Universe. So let’s do it
-The History of Everything - TED
quote
Big history tries to look at the past on all scales, from those of conventional history up to those of cosmology
-What’s the Use of Big History?
quote
We need a history of humanity
-We Need A Modern Origin Story: A Big History

더 알아보기

History
학습 계획

History

This plan provides a comprehensive look at how human history is constructed and interpreted beyond just dates and facts. It is ideal for curious learners and students who want to develop critical thinking skills and understand the forces shaping our modern global society.

4 h 25 m5 섹션
The Antediluvian Blueprint
학습 계획

The Antediluvian Blueprint

This plan bridges the gap between historical philosophy, genetics, and catastrophe theory to uncover the hidden foundations of human history. It is designed for researchers and history enthusiasts eager to explore the intersection of myth, science, and the antediluvian past.

1 h 30 m3 섹션
learn more history
학습 계획

learn more history

This plan offers a comprehensive journey through the pivotal eras and ideologies that constructed our modern world. It is ideal for lifelong learners and students who want to develop a critical perspective on global events and the evolution of human society.

6 h 28 m4 섹션
Ancient Empires and Lost Worlds
학습 계획

Ancient Empires and Lost Worlds

This plan offers a deep dive into the foundations of human society by blending archaeology with cultural history. It is ideal for history enthusiasts and lifelong learners who want to understand how ancient power dynamics and daily life continue to influence the modern world.

1 h 45 m4 섹션
The Integrated Human Map
학습 계획

The Integrated Human Map

This multidisciplinary framework is essential for thinkers who want to bridge the gap between biological evolution, historical narrative, and physical laws. It is designed for visionaries and problem-solvers looking to build a holistic understanding of how to reboot global systems.

3 h4 섹션
The Human Story Across Scales
학습 계획

The Human Story Across Scales

This plan offers a high-level synthesis of anthropology, history, and strategy for those seeking to understand the drivers of human progress. It is ideal for leaders, strategists, and curious minds who want to apply historical patterns to modern challenges.

2 h 30 m5 섹션
The Birth of Reason
학습 계획

The Birth of Reason

This plan traces the evolution of Western thought from early cosmology to practical ethics. It is ideal for students of history and philosophy seeking to understand how rational inquiry replaced myth in explaining the world and human nature.

1 h 30 m3 섹션
Ancient Blueprints for Modern Heroes
학습 계획

Ancient Blueprints for Modern Heroes

This plan bridges the gap between classical literature and modern entertainment, revealing how ancient stories still shape our culture. It is ideal for students of literature, film enthusiasts, and creative writers looking to ground their work in timeless archetypal structures.

1 h 30 m3 섹션

커뮤니티 의견

"David Christian teaches an ambitious world history course that tells the tale of the entire universe"

TED ((

"David Christian is one of the grandest parachutists of them all—so grand that he's almost a space traveler"

American Scientist ((

"David Christian charts our course from the Big Bang to today"

TED Blog ((

"David Christian covers 13 billion years in 600 pages and poses some suitably weighty questions"

The Guardian ((

"A wave of mainstream media attention shines a spotlight on David Christian, a leading proponent of ‘big history"

Publishers Weekly ((

"David Christian’s approach to understanding history can help all of us learn to prepare for the future that lies ahead"

Bill Gates ((

"David Christian’s ‘big history’ synthesizes several disciplines, from astrobiology to behavioral economics, to tell the story of the universe"

The Washington Post ((

"Big History founder David Christian enthusiastically turns his attention to humanity's short- and long-term future"

Shelf Awareness ((

이 페이지에 대한 자주 묻는 질문

샌프란시스코에서 컬럼비아 대학교 동문들이 만들었습니다

BeFreed는 1,000,000 호기심 넘치는 글로벌 커뮤니티를 하나로 연결합니다

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
지금 바로 학습 여정을 시작하세요