The Ascent Of Man Details

Still the best series on human culture ever made

The series may be 30 years old, but Jacob Bronowski still shines out as a presenter and thinker and makes this series one of the best ever made about the development of human culture. People may struggle to get through all thirteen 50 minute episodes but it is worth persevering. The original series on TV in the early 1970's inspired me to take a greater interest in the history and development of the human race, and watching it again after all this time, Bronowski still inspires. What you don't get is any of the dreadful jazzing up and awful camera work that modern TV documentaries think we need to keep our interest, but this is all the better for being straight. Not quite riveting, but almost.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Good Television

What a refreshing change to return to high quality television. Thought provoking, considered narative around dificult ideas, that make the whole process both infomative and interesting.

Leaves you wanting more, and wondering ig CGI really adds anything to the documentry format.