Chasing the Sun

audiobook (Unabridged) A Luminous History of Light and Its Shadow

By Chris Wyatt

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CHASING THE SUN

Before history had a name, our ancestors huddled around a single fire. In its flickering light, humanity was born—a light of community, safety, and consciousness itself. That primal flame was the first volley in a 400,000-year war against darkness, a war we have finally, perhaps tragically, won. Our world is now saturated with brilliant, ever-present light. But what if the enemy we vanquished was also our most vital sanctuary?

Chasing the Sun unfolds this epic history through one unforgettable lineage: a family of 'Keepers' bound to the light of their time. See through the eyes of Ur, a Stone Age boy whose mind sparks with the first cooked meat. Stand with Elara, a medieval chandler's daughter who glimpses the divine in pure beeswax candle flame. Walk with Arthur, a Victorian clerk thrilled by gaslit nights, then shackled to his desk under that same merciless glare. Finally, meet Dr. Lena, a modern astrophysicist who inherits this legacy not to champion light, but to defend the profound, star-filled dark.

This is the story of light that frees us and sickens us; glow that builds societies and shatters ecosystems. Discover how blue light from your phone disrupts ancient circadian rhythms. Witness sea turtle hatchlings lured to doom by hotel lights and birds trapped in city skylines.

A masterful blend of history, family drama, and groundbreaking science, Chasing the Sun transforms the simple act of flipping a switch into a meditation on our past and future. Now that we've vanquished the dark, how do we learn to cherish it?

Chasing the Sun