The Human Drift and Other Essays

Just how did we become the dominant species on the planet?

Master storyteller Jack London considers the answer in "The Human Drift". Tracing humankind’s journey over the centuries, he examines the many forces that have helped shaped our story, from hunger to war. It’s a sharp-eyed essay that reflects his lifelong interest in evolutionary theory and socialism.

In addition to "The Human Drift", this collection contains personal travelogues, a book review, and two one-act plays. London’s talent across form and genre is on full display. An essential for completists.



Jack London (1876–1916) was one of the first American writers to achieve worldwide celebrity. He did so with rugged adventure stories set in forbidding landscapes. And heroes who survive by embracing their most primal instincts.

His breakthrough best seller was "The Call of the Wild". Inspired by his time in the Klondike Gold Rush, this hard-hitting novel is told from the perspective of a sled dog named Buck. It’s inspired many adaptations, including a big-budget movie starring Harrison Ford.

Among London’s other notable works are "White Fang", also featuring a canine protagonist, as well as "The Sea-Wolf", "Martin Eden" and "The Iron Heel".