What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHuman Planet
Dale Templar · Series · 2011
If you loved Human Planet, start with Nanook of the North (Robert Flaherty, 1922) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Human Planet across media.
If you loved Human Planet, you will appreciate how these stories illuminate the raw, resilient intersection between human existence and the natural world.
Books on the same thread
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari · Book · 2015
Explores: Human Evolution, Cognitive Revolution, Agricultural Revolution.
Much like Human Planet, this sweeping history examines how our species has adapted to and shaped the Earth, providing a macro perspective on the human ingenuity you witnessed onscreen.
A Life on Our Planet
Sir David Attenborough · Book · 2020
Explores: Biodiversity loss, Rewilding, Planetary stewardship.
This memoir mirrors the environmental focus of Human Planet by charting our profound impact on the planet, urging you to consider the future of the extreme habitats you explored.
The Savage Landscape
Cal Flyn · Book · 2026
Explores: rewilding, human-nature connection, remote landscapes.
If the remote, unforgiving locations in Human Planet captured your imagination, this lyrical exploration of wild landscapes and the people who inhabit them will deepen your connection to nature.
The Living Elephants
Raman Sukumar · Book · 2003
Explores: Human-Animal Interactions, Endangered Species, Conservation Biology.
This work expands on the human-animal interactions showcased in Human Planet, offering a detailed scientific and historical analysis of how we have lived alongside the world's largest land mammals.
Films on the same thread
Nanook of the North
Robert Flaherty · Film · 1922
Explores: Survival in extreme environments, Indigenous cultural practices, Man versus nature.
As a predecessor to the observational style of Human Planet, this film documents the remarkable resilience of indigenous people surviving in harsh climates, mirroring your interest in cultural adaptation.
Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1968
Explores: Xenophobia, Speciesism, Reverse Role.
This classic shifts the perspective on the human-nature relationship explored in Human Planet, using a dystopian lens to challenge your understanding of speciesism and the dominance of mankind.
A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough
James Reed · Film · 2026
Shares a thread with Human Planet: Nature Documentary.
This documentary builds on the intimate animal encounters found in Human Planet, focusing on the legacy of primates and the conservation efforts required to preserve their existence and ancestry.
Life of Pi
Film · 2012
Shares a thread with Human Planet: Survival.
This narrative mirrors the survivalist themes of Human Planet by placing a human in an extreme, isolated environment where the bond with wildlife becomes the only path to endurance.
Podcasts on the same thread
Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human-wildlife conflict, Apex predators, Biological survival.
While Human Planet celebrates human adaptation, this podcast explores the dangerous reality of human-wildlife conflict, providing a visceral look at the apex predators that challenge our survival in the wild.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
This show complements the anthropological focus of Human Planet by analyzing the rise and fall of civilizations, applying a wide lens to the same human nature you observed globally.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Human Planet a documentary series about nature?
Human Planet is a cinematic experience that focuses on human stories rather than exclusively on nature. It explores how humans and wildlife coexist and survive within the most extreme environments on Earth, highlighting the resilience of people living in these challenging conditions.
What is the primary focus of Human Planet?
The primary focus of Human Planet is the relationship between humans and their environments. The series documents the most amazing human stories from across the globe, specifically showcasing the survival strategies employed by people living in the most extreme locations on our planet.
Who produced the 2011 series Human Planet?
The 2011 series Human Planet was produced by Dale Templar. The production features a cinematic approach to storytelling, capturing the unique ways in which humanity interacts with wildlife and navigates the difficulties of living in the world's most extreme environments.
Does Human Planet feature stories from around the world?
Yes, Human Planet presents a global perspective by bringing viewers the most amazing human stories from diverse locations. The series travels across the globe to document how different cultures and individuals manage to survive and thrive alongside wildlife in Earth's most extreme environments.