What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMaps of Time
David Christian · Book · 2011
If you loved Maps of Time, start with Dan Carlin's Hardcore History (Dan Carlin, 2026) — a podcast on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Maps of Time across media.
What hooked you in Maps of Time was the way the immense span of history reveals our profound interconnectedness.
Films on the same thread
Cloud Atlas
Lana Wachowski · Film · 2012
Explores: Reincarnation, Interconnected Narratives, Butterfly Effect.
Much like Maps of Time, this film weaves individual lives into a grand narrative, demonstrating how small actions echo across vast stretches of time to shape human destiny.
The Time Machine
George Pal · Film · 1960
Explores: Time Travel, Social Darwinism, Class Conflict.
If Maps of Time sparked your interest in the long-term evolution of humanity, this story offers a sobering look at how those trajectories might eventually diverge into unforeseen outcomes.
Modern Times
Film · 1936
Explores: Industrialization, Poverty, Social Criticism.
Where Maps of Time examines the structural shifts of history, this film provides a human-scale look at the personal toll exacted by the rapid industrialization of our society.
Interstellar
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2014
Explores: Existentialism, Humanity's Survival, Love and Sacrifice.
This film mirrors the cosmic scale of Maps of Time, pushing the boundaries of human space travel to explore our survival against the backdrop of the vast universe.
Series on the same thread
Life on Earth
Series · 1979
Explores: Evolution, Biodiversity, Natural Selection.
Just as Maps of Time integrates biology into the historical record, this series chronicles the evolution of life, grounding your understanding of our place in the natural world.
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
Carl Sagan · Series · 1980
Explores: Cosmology, Origin of Life, Scientific History.
Sagan shares the same curiosity found in Maps of Time, masterfully connecting the origins of life to our current existence within the expansive history of the cosmos.
Connections
James Burke · Series · 1978
Explores: Interconnectedness, Historical Causality, Non-linear History.
This series reflects the interdisciplinary spirit of Maps of Time, rejecting linear historical views to highlight the serendipitous and interconnected nature of human invention and scientific progress.
Cosmos
Ann Druyan · Series · 2014
Explores: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Scientific History.
This documentary captures the same awe for universal complexity found in Maps of Time, providing a clear, sweeping perspective on the scientific laws that govern our history.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
Carlin applies the same analytical intensity seen in Maps of Time, challenging you to rethink the consequences of power and human nature across the long arc of history.
Revisionist History
Pushkin Industries · Podcast · 2026
Explores: historical revisionism, cognitive bias, unconventional perspectives.
Like Maps of Time, this podcast invites you to challenge conventional wisdom, using an unconventional lens to re-examine the historical events that we often take for granted.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary focus of Maps of Time?
Maps of Time introduces a novel perspective on history by examining the interaction between the natural world and recent arrivals in flora and fauna. David Christian explores the deep history of the planet alongside the emergence and development of human beings within that broader environmental context.
Does Maps of Time cover human history alongside natural history?
Yes, Maps of Time integrates human history into the larger story of the natural world. David Christian frames the human experience as part of a continuous narrative that includes the development of flora and fauna, offering a comprehensive view of historical change from a scientific perspective.
Who is the author of Maps of Time?
Maps of Time was written by David Christian. Published in 2011, the book presents a unique historical framework that connects the evolution of the natural world with the arrival of human beings, shifting the traditional focus of historical study to include environmental and biological developments.
Is Maps of Time considered a traditional history book?
Maps of Time is not a traditional history book because it introduces a novel perspective on the study of the past. David Christian moves beyond standard historical accounts by analyzing how the natural world interacts with the relatively recent arrival of humans, flora, and fauna on Earth.