Alan Davies

And ta-da, invented writing.

It's the very on-brand human move of inventing writing and immediately writing a myth about it.

A big thank you to my guests, Nels Abbey and Dominic Wise.

Next time on Life Without, the ultimate biological reset button is smashed, trapping humanity in an endless, delirious, waking nightmare.

Join me next time for a life without sleep.

Life Without Writing was produced by Ria Moussa, with support from Michelle Martin.

Rubina Pabani is the executive producer, Emily Jarvis is production manager, and sound design and mix is by Nick Hanley and Tom Butler.

The commissioning editor for Radio 4 is Rhian Roberts.

This is an ITN production for BBC Radio 4.

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I mean, his stuff is jaw-droppingly shocking.

History is usually written by winners, but he wants to give a voice to people who are not usually heard.

These two get everywhere, from your kitchen table to the deepest oceans.

As friends, their chemistry is delicious and their mood is always buoyant.

But they have their secrets.

Together they have shaped history, financed wars and ended up starring in one of Earth's greatest optical illusions.

Picture this.

In southern Bolivia, a blinding white expanse almost the size of Jamaica stretches to the horizon.

Then, a thin layer of rain sweeps across it.

And suddenly, the ground turns into a mirror the size of the sky.