Penguin Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse

Explore a radical retelling of human history through the lens of societal collapse, from the earliest days of Homo sapiens to the urgent existential threats facing the twenty-first century and beyond. This paperback edition by Luke Kemp offers deep insights into the evolution of human organization and the recurring patterns that lead powerful states to fall.

The narrative traces how early, egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies gave way to hierarchical structures 12,000 years ago, following the adoption of lootable resources like grain. This shift concentrated power, leading to the rise of 'Goliath-like' states and empires across the globe, from Cahokia and Tiwanaku to Egypt, Rome, and China. Kemp analyzes how increasing inequality and concentrated power ultimately hollowed out these civilizations before external shocks caused their downfall, often resulting in a blessing for the majority population.

• Analysis of the transition from fluid, egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies to hierarchical, resource-dependent civilizations.
• Examination of the role of inequality and concentrated power in the collapse of major historical empires (Egypt, Rome, China).
• Exploration of contemporary 'global Goliath' structures, including growth-obsessed, extractive institutions.
• A framework for understanding the cyclical nature of societal rise and fall across 300,000 years of human history.

This edition is presented in paperback format and is written entirely in English.

• Author: Luke Kemp
• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication Date: June 4, 2026
• Print Length: 592 pages
• ISBN-13: 978-1405974899
• Dimensions: 129 x 35 x 198mm
• Weight: 420 g

Essential reading for those studying cultural studies, history of civilization, and the dynamics of social organization, Goliath’s Curse provides a compelling argument for how past collapses inform our future.