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£14.99
Published
2 July 2024
HB
978-1-91308-344-1
Ebook
978-1-91308-345-8
Press Release
 

From our earliest wanderings to the rise of the digital nomad, here is the story of human migration.


For hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of Homo sapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. Yet this deep migratory impulse is being tested as never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of our societies.

In The Shortest History of Migration, a visionary thinker tells a story of the movement of peoples that spans every age and continent and goes to the heart of what makes us human. Drawn from ancient records and the latest genetic research, it recounts strange, terrible and uplifting tales of migrants past and present, examining the legacies of empire, slavery and war.

Finally, Goldin turns his attention to today’s world, bringing together the evidence of history with the most recent data to suggest how we might create a more humane future – one that allows us to reap the tremendous benefits that migration can offer.

For more infomation or to buy the book click here

Old Street Publishing The Shortest History of Migration

From our earliest wanderings to the rise of the digital nomad, here is the story of human migration.


For hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of Homo sapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. Yet this deep migratory impulse is being tested as never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of our societies.

In The Shortest History of Migration, a visionary thinker tells a story of the movement of peoples that spans every age and continent and goes to the heart of what makes us human. Drawn from ancient records and the latest genetic research, it recounts strange, terrible and uplifting tales of migrants past and present, examining the legacies of empire, slavery and war.

Finally, Goldin turns his attention to today’s world, bringing together the evidence of history with the most recent data to suggest how we might create a more humane future – one that allows us to reap the tremendous benefits that migration can offer.

For more infomation or to buy the book click here

14.99
 
 

'If you’re interested in getting into discussions with people about migration, this is a really handy place to start. I recommend it'
David Aaronovitch

 
 
  • 'In 241 crisp pages… Goldin addresses the history, consequences and opportunities of migration.'
    Alec Russell, Financial Times
  • 'Compulsively readable, trenchantly argued . . . Goldin’s crisp analysis, combined with his thorough research, results in a work that draws clear connections between ancient events and the modern world. His use of an equity lens is extraordinarily effective at uncovering patterns that underly our current discourse.'
    Kirkus Reviews, starred review
  • All human beings have ancestors who were migrants. For some, like Goldin and me, those ancestors were our parents. For others, this history goes further back. But humans have always moved. This excellent book explores both this history and the embattled present.
    Martin Wolf's 'Books of the Year', Financial Times
  • 'an indispensable guide to our common origins – and our shared destiny'
    Parag Khanna author of CONNECTOGRAPHY
  • ‘Impressively succinct yet wide-ranging… convincingly shows that migration has always been an integral part of humanity’
    Hein de Haas, author of HOW MIGRATION REALLY WORKS
  • ‘A uniquely informative account of the state of the world in the 21st Century. A riveting account of humanity’s most pressing challenges and innovative solutions.’
    Steven Pinker on TERRA INCOGNITA
  • ‘Ian Goldin is one of the great authorities on globalisation’
    Gordon Brown
  • 'a bold and compelling account of the story of migration… generally shifts the global picture away from the usual suspects – the USA and Western Europe. There is much to admire in this book for both old hands and newcomers to the subject.'
    Robin Cohen, author of MIGRATION: THE MOVEMENT OF HUMANKIND FROM PREHISTORY TO THE PRESENT
 
 

Ian Goldin is the Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development and founding Director of the Oxford Martin School, the world’s leading centre for interdisciplinary research into critical global challenges. He served as Advisor to President Nelson Mandela, has been knighted by the French Government and is the author of three BBC series. His most recent book, Age of the City, was selected by the Financial Times as one of its best books of 2023. His website is iangoldin.org.