Love it! When I’m camping it’s amazing how quickly I tune back into waking at sunrise. And of course gathering around a fire at dusk. Best feeling in the world.
I love this piece, both the humor and truth and the balance you’ve maintained between them are fantastic. One part that snags for me is this line towards the beginning: “Would it be a far-fetched utopian fallacy to claim Neanderthals are the true fulfillment of the Rousseauian “noble savage” ideation, or would it be insanely true?” I am not trying to accuse you of anything but I am just wondering if you understand the historical context of the phrase “noble savage”, and how it was most often used to describe and therefore invalidate Native peoples in what is now the US and Canada? again, I do not wish to start a smear campaign or anything, I am merely curious as to your usage of the phrase! (Also not saying that Neanderthals are not also the ancestors of Native peoples, but still the language snagged for me a bit.) Loved the piece 💖
The term has baggage in retrospect, but in Rousseau it’s a critique of civilization rather than a colonial stereotype. There was also genuine French engagement with Indigenous cultures that shaped that intellectual atmosphere. I’m using it in that sense, and in a deliberately playful context here. Thanks for reading, hope that clarifies!
Not only is your article moving, but it is also hopeful. We have more than wisps of those qualities in all of us still. Perhaps these better angles of our nature can be remembered and reconstituted. Thank you!
I have 42% more Neanderthal dna than other people in a popular dna database and your article is a clear validation of this. What you describe here is my lived preference and I’d like to think it’s in resonance with my ancient kin. I’m all for this maxxing.
Brilliant. You had me laughing out loud to start, but my heart fell earnest as I felt a tug of yearning for the tender cohesion of Neanderthal society. I’ve only recently discovered this softer side of Neanderthal after watching the BBC doco series ‘Human’ (available on ABC iview in Australia) - and the discovery has filled me with an incensed injustice. We have been misguided by tropes and dim-witted stereotype for so long! Where Homo sapiens may have been the explorer or adapter species, Neanderthals were the endurer! What a credit to their gifted ability for communal living. You’ve illuminated this beautifully! Absolutely loving your newsletter and look forward to learning more about these misunderstood ancestors (also learning that my desire might be genetically biased - red hair / blue-green eyes over here… apparently that indicates Neanderthal lineage?!)… thanks for all the research and work that you share!
When it comes to natural diets what I believe are most lacking are wild mushrooms, wild plants, bark and insects. The first and the latter being the most important. The nutritional profile of these specific items is off the charts. I consume 40-50 different species of wild mushrooms alone. When I put a client on my mushroom capsules it changes their lives. The things are loaded with antidepressants and vitamin D.
The best way I've found to incorporate insects into modern diets is dehydrated, pulverized and put into gel caps. I eat crickets, mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, blue bottle fly larvae and krill like that. I also add whole dried anchovies and whole dried sardines to the powder. (that's heads, guts, fins, bones, skin, etc.) A Korean(I think) study basically showed that women who eat whole fish 3 times a week just don't get certain cancers.
It's my understanding that only the inland groups ate much animal meat and the costal neanderthal were mostly vegetarian. I read a study that analyzed the calculus on their teeth. Same way they proved Lucy was a vegetarian.
I don't believe any westerner would test for insect protein, though. They always view that as survival food when found in association with humans. Even though today billions of Asians & Africans consume over 1600 species of insects daily as a primary source of protein.
Love it! When I’m camping it’s amazing how quickly I tune back into waking at sunrise. And of course gathering around a fire at dusk. Best feeling in the world.
Agreed! No need for an alarm clock when camping. And getting out of your sleeping bag is excitement, not exhausting.
incredible article as always, thank you so much for sharing
Thanks for reading.
I love this piece, both the humor and truth and the balance you’ve maintained between them are fantastic. One part that snags for me is this line towards the beginning: “Would it be a far-fetched utopian fallacy to claim Neanderthals are the true fulfillment of the Rousseauian “noble savage” ideation, or would it be insanely true?” I am not trying to accuse you of anything but I am just wondering if you understand the historical context of the phrase “noble savage”, and how it was most often used to describe and therefore invalidate Native peoples in what is now the US and Canada? again, I do not wish to start a smear campaign or anything, I am merely curious as to your usage of the phrase! (Also not saying that Neanderthals are not also the ancestors of Native peoples, but still the language snagged for me a bit.) Loved the piece 💖
The term has baggage in retrospect, but in Rousseau it’s a critique of civilization rather than a colonial stereotype. There was also genuine French engagement with Indigenous cultures that shaped that intellectual atmosphere. I’m using it in that sense, and in a deliberately playful context here. Thanks for reading, hope that clarifies!
Thank you for clarifying! Yes that makes a lot of sense, and I did pick up on the humorousness!
Not only is your article moving, but it is also hopeful. We have more than wisps of those qualities in all of us still. Perhaps these better angles of our nature can be remembered and reconstituted. Thank you!
This is amazing. I feel seen on so many levels..!
I have 42% more Neanderthal dna than other people in a popular dna database and your article is a clear validation of this. What you describe here is my lived preference and I’d like to think it’s in resonance with my ancient kin. I’m all for this maxxing.
It sounds like an absolute dream. Tough, but purposeful.
We are making it out of the Antropocene with this one!!!
😤
Yessss! My new mantra is Neanderthal maxing!
I’ve been calling it mismatch theory
Brilliant. You had me laughing out loud to start, but my heart fell earnest as I felt a tug of yearning for the tender cohesion of Neanderthal society. I’ve only recently discovered this softer side of Neanderthal after watching the BBC doco series ‘Human’ (available on ABC iview in Australia) - and the discovery has filled me with an incensed injustice. We have been misguided by tropes and dim-witted stereotype for so long! Where Homo sapiens may have been the explorer or adapter species, Neanderthals were the endurer! What a credit to their gifted ability for communal living. You’ve illuminated this beautifully! Absolutely loving your newsletter and look forward to learning more about these misunderstood ancestors (also learning that my desire might be genetically biased - red hair / blue-green eyes over here… apparently that indicates Neanderthal lineage?!)… thanks for all the research and work that you share!
Thank you very much, Lizey!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I need to apply some of these and weave them into my daily life a bit more. Thank you for composing this
Thanks tooth twin!
🤣
lovely and amazing article as always
Thank you!
I love this
When it comes to natural diets what I believe are most lacking are wild mushrooms, wild plants, bark and insects. The first and the latter being the most important. The nutritional profile of these specific items is off the charts. I consume 40-50 different species of wild mushrooms alone. When I put a client on my mushroom capsules it changes their lives. The things are loaded with antidepressants and vitamin D.
The best way I've found to incorporate insects into modern diets is dehydrated, pulverized and put into gel caps. I eat crickets, mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, blue bottle fly larvae and krill like that. I also add whole dried anchovies and whole dried sardines to the powder. (that's heads, guts, fins, bones, skin, etc.) A Korean(I think) study basically showed that women who eat whole fish 3 times a week just don't get certain cancers.
It's my understanding that only the inland groups ate much animal meat and the costal neanderthal were mostly vegetarian. I read a study that analyzed the calculus on their teeth. Same way they proved Lucy was a vegetarian.
I don't believe any westerner would test for insect protein, though. They always view that as survival food when found in association with humans. Even though today billions of Asians & Africans consume over 1600 species of insects daily as a primary source of protein.
I'll venture outside as soon as that sabertooth leaves that antelope carcass for me and the vultures to fight over.