Might be the most important book I’ve ever read. This made sense of so much in the world.
Amazon review by Matthew Schwab on July 1, 2024
We have been told a false story about our past. We all deserve to know that we have had, and therefore can build, more equitable, sustainable and gender-balanced cultures. Before War is an important contribution to bringing this evidence out, and thereby changing the story of our past–and with this, to move to a more partnership-oriented future.
—Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice and the Blade, The Real Wealth of Nations and Nurturing Our Humanity
Revolutionary, groundbreaking, and deeply inspiring, Before War is the perfect antidote for our misguided, male-dominated world, and a much-needed, healing remedy for our troubled times. A brilliant follow up to Riane Eisler’s classic treatise on partnership and dominator societies, this insightful and extremely well-researched book reaches into our forgotten past, and integrates historical and mythological insights with new research from a half dozen different scientific fields, into a radiant vision of a peaceful and sustainable future.
Personal, sexually aware, hopeful and optimistic, the powerful evidence for historical periods where humanity lived in peaceful cooperation couldn’t be more needed than in our current state of world, where we’re threatened by nuclear war and ecological collapse. Most highly recommended!
—David Jay Brown, author of Dreaming Wide Awake and Mavericks of the Mind
Before War offers a trailblazing, paradigm-shaking, synthetic work of outside-the-academy scholarship that gives us a fresh and revelatory view of our collective past. Seeing patriarchy as a trauma reaction to harsh climactic conditions that snowballed into the brutal conversion of largely peaceful, matrilineal societies worldwide is a bold thesis and Deva backs up with solid research and provocative insights that chart an empowering path towards a more gender-balanced, female-positive future. A riveting read!”
—Stephen Dinan, Stephen Dinan, CEO, The Shift Network, Author, Sacred America: Sacred World
Before War is paradigm-shifting anthropological account of the peaceful matrist tribes that existed before European colonization created the patriarchal culture we have all come to accept as “the norm” around the globe. Daeva’s detailed accounts of how this invasion took place and of the day-to-day life in villages prior to them offers readers insight into a world from long ago that thrived without war, sexism, classism, and sexual violence. Her groundbreaking, inaugural book challenges academic dogmas and uses sociological information gleaned over decades of personal research to restore hope that way things are is not the way they have always been – and therefore not the way things have to be in the future. We can use the principals of these matriarchal societies to inspire transformation of our global village into a more peaceful place for all people by through sexual and cultural revolution.
—Alison Sher, author of The Millennial’s Guide to Changing the World
So many “wow” moments.
—Mia Lou, Editor
I found it fascinating. I learned so much.
I think the book flowed like water. Yes, a lot of info, maybe technical but I felt necessary!
Everything synchronized perfectly. No stone unturned. Thank you for such a gift to humanity.
— Branwyn Bronwyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging core beliefs
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2023
This book rattles the foundations of our beliefs that have been ingrained by the accounts of human history centered upon patrilineal social structures and ethics. Was there a time before patriarchal dominance when societies were peaceful, cooperative, and centered on the leadership of women and matrilineal heritage? Apparently so. And what happened to erase that from both the living experience of it and any reference to it in history books altogether? That is the compelling story found in Before War; a story that deserves honest and unflinching attention, free of academic bias and censorship, so that the human family can reconsider — and redirect — our core beliefs about who we innately are and what paths we can choose to take going forward cooperatively together. Read this book, for life’s sake.
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
Very interesting and eye opening information along with being very easy to read Elisha Daeva paints a past that doesn’t match up with that we were taught in school, maybe because it’s so much older than anything we were taught and changes the way we look at the way we live in society then and now. Things haven’t always been this way and they don’t have to stay.
5.0 out of 5 stars A stirring, informative, and inspiring read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2023
Before War explores the hidden history of human culture, before the practices of war and coercion dominated society. In a gripping and thoroughly researched narrative, Daeva questions the embedded assumptions of history as written by the force and violence-wielding winners, revealing instead the peaceful, cooperative cultures of “pre-history,” which functioned very differently from our own.
Never before has the feminist narrative been so plainly laid forth in a way that doesn’t blame men for the tragic outcome of male-dominated history, but rather examines the extensive evidence from history, zoology, mythology, linguistics, and archeology that natural culture is governed by feminine wisdom, and that the violence of patriarchy is a self-perpetuating trauma response that gives us war, slavery, and institutional oppression.
This book offers us a sobering look at what we’ve gone through as a species, serving as a reminder that we were not always this way, and that we don’t have to keep things like they are. It offers us a glimpse of our true heritage, and a reminder that we can rebuild the balanced way of life that our ancestors enjoyed.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Multi-Discipline look at what impact it had on society moving from Matriarchy to Patriarchy
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
I am so glad I read this book! It explains through history, archeology, language, genetics and more, how we have been taught untruths about our origins, culture, and what influence moving from matriarchy to patriarchy did to humans. This is something we have to understand in order to set humanity on a better path going forward.
This book validated what I’ve always felt as a woman. It just kept getting better and better as I was reading it. This book has such a grand scope that one really gets the complete picture of humanity’s cultural changes throughout history.
I highly recommend this ground-breaking, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable epic work! This is not the type of book I usually read, but I believe it is essential for everyone to know what is revealed in this book. It is a paradigm shift and is information that has changed me forever.
5.0 out of 5 stars The history (herstory) that should be included in every high school curriculum!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
I never had much interest in history class, because I had trouble seeing past all the bludgeoning, bloody gore in the name of greed.
But this book….this book is a gem. It weaves such an insightful, interesting, and obviously well-researched account of our untold past: of peaceful civilizations and the matriarch clans that headed them, who were eventually overtaken by men craving power and ownership.
If you’re even a little bit curious about how we got to the state we’re in, and what else is possible: buy this book!!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Introduced me to more new ideas than anything else I’ve read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2023
A fascinating book that at times reads like a well polished personal journal and at other times like a scientific paper. This made for a really enjoyable read in which I was constantly wondering what was coming next. This book introduced me to SO MANY NEW IDEAS and perspectives on our distant past and offered many novel insights into modern society. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
5.0 out of 5 stars A Celebration of our Matriarchal Beginnings
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2023
This is a refreshing look at our distant past and how it effects us today. The book is well researched and her passion for the subject matter comes through.. I could not put the book down. I am looking forward to her next book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Peace is possible
Elicia Daeva meticulously uses a wide range of historical and scientific facts and data to construct a multifaceted, practical vision of a post-war future. Exciting and inspiring!
Karen Clark
Reviewed in Australia on May 30, 2023
This is a brilliant book. It gathers together all the threads of our egalitarian past and weaves them into a spectacular luxurious blanket. I am loving this book so much!
This book needs to be read by everyone, especially the Truthers who are insistent that Patriarchy is our default. It is not, and never has been. I too would love to see a debate between this author and Jordan Peterson.
The explanation of how Patriarchy emerged hit the spot immediately. Lack of nutrition, trauma, makes a ton more sense than anything else I’ve ever read.
If we truly want to change the world, we need to know how we lived in peace originally, so we can do so again.
Thank you so much for writing this contemporary, easily readable, super well researched amazing book!