In A People’s History of Civilization, John Zerzan analyzes the history of civilization through sixteen essays covering a wide range of topics—from the emergence of patriarchy and the structure of early cities to industrialization, modernity, and cultural resistance. Zerzan’s critique is rooted in anarcho-primitivism and challenges core concepts such as domestication, symbolic culture, and time. The book offers a perspective on the systemic crises of civilization and explores possibilities for alternative forms of social organization inspired by pre-agrarian life.