Life can feel so dazzling, so animated, so painfully vibrant that death seems impossible. And yet, from our first decade of life, humans develop a complex unconscious terror of death that influences and guides us in our darkest moments, to our brightest endeavours.

In this ground-breaking book, father-daughter academic duo Ross and Rachel Menzies show how the human fear of death has been the secret driver of most of the endeavours of our species over thousands of years and – ultimately – will be our downfall.

Drawing on both the arts and the sciences, the book reveals how humanity’s desperate attempts to deny our mortality have led to rampant consumerism, climate change, extreme overpopulation and a growing vulnerability to viral pandemics that could obliterate us within years.

Pitched for readers of Sapiens and Guns, Germs and Steel – Mortals will appeal to anyone interested in deepening their understanding of their own behaviour, the history of our species, and the true nature of man.