Quicksand: What It Means To Be a Human Being

Swedish writer Mankell, best known for the "Kurt Wallander" mysteries, was diagnosed with cancer in January 2014. Although recovery seemed unlikely, he spent the following two years in chemotherapy. During that time he wrote this book, a reflection on his life from childhood up to shortly before his death in October 2015. Mankell's attention was also tuned toward past civilizations. He connects cave paintings, statues, and other pieces of culture left behind to present-day society as well as his personal life. Then he looks forward, pondering what we will leave behind and what future civilizations will assume about us. At times, Mankell is pessimistic about the future of humanity and afraid that all future civilizations will have to know us by is nuclear waste, but he is never despairing and always appreciative of the life he lived.