AUSU speaker series: "Humans: The 300,000-Year Struggle For Equality" with Dr. Alvin Finkel

Are you passionate about history? Interested in understanding the roots of human equality? Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to join Dr. Alvin Finkel for a captivating discussion on his groundbreaking new book, Humans: The 300,000-Year Struggle for Equality. Dr. Finkel, historian and author, uses his expertise to reframe the way we think about human history. His work challenges conventional elitist perspectives, offering a fresh narrative that spotlights the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of common people across millennia.

Dr. Finkel brings years of scholarly achievement to the table, building upon his extensive academic career, which includes authoring books such as Compassion: A Global History of Social Policy and editing and co-authoring Working People in Alberta: A History. His most recent book, Humans: The 300,000-Year Struggle for Equality, was named one of the best 100 books of 2024 by Chapters, further cementing his reputation as a preeminent historian. Known for his ability to make complex historical themes accessible and engaging, this event promises to inspire thought-provoking discussions and provide a deeper understanding of the human condition.

This talk is not only a chance to enrich your knowledge of history but also an opportunity to gain unique insights into the value of interdisciplinary study. Dr. Finkel’s life story—from growing up in a working-class immigrant family in Winnipeg to earning his PhD and achieving distinction as a historian—serves as an inspiring testament to the possibilities of intellectual curiosity and hard work. Don't miss the opportunity to hear from one of Canada's leading historians and uncover the hidden stories of human equality throughout history.

About Dr. Finkel
Dr. Alvin Finkel was the first History professor hired at Athabasca University. Over a 36-year career with the university, he wrote 10 different courses, revising most of them frequently. In many cases, he also wrote textbooks for those courses that universities nationwide chose to use.

He is the co-author of the two-volume History of the Canadian Peoples, first published in 1993 and now in their seventh edition, and Canada: A History, now in its third edition. Those books have sold over 150,000 copies. Alvin was the sole author of Social Policy and Practice in Canada: A History, used in both social work and history programs, as well as Our Lives: Canada Since 1945. His monographs include Business and Social Reform in the Thirties, The Social Credit Phenomenon in Alberta, and the co-written The Chamberlain-Hitler Collusion. He is also co-editor of three collections of articles on Canadian history, and the sole editor and principal author of Working People in Alberta: A History.

In retirement, he has expanded his research to global studies. The first was Compassion: A Global History of Social Policy. His magnum opus, Humans: The 300,000-Year, Struggle for Equality, encompasses human history in 400 pages, focusing on challenging elitist history books with a narrative that focuses on the common people and turns many earlier accounts upside down.
Alvin grew up in an immigrant working-class family in Winnipeg and earned his BA and MA at the University of Manitoba and his PhD at the University of Toronto. He worked as a journalist before turning to academe, including a stint as assistant editor of Canadian Dimension magazine.

Event Contact
* Please email questions about the event to ausu@ausu.org.
* Students requiring accommodations can email the AUSU Accessibility Officer at president@ausu.org.