A pocket history of human evolution : how we became sapiens

A concise, illustrated update on our earliest ancestors, the first sapiens - and on how (and when) we distinguished ourselvesPrehistory is changing quickly: Thanks to progress in genetics and dating methods, we now know more than ever about our ancient relatives.

A Pocket History of Human Evolution will bring us up to date on the exploits of Homo erectus and ergaster, the Neanderthals, Denisovans, and others. (Hint: There was a lot more crossbreeding than previously supposed.)These latest discoveries have only spurred more questions.

Lauded paleoanthropologist Silvana Condemi and science journalist François Savatier consider: What accelerated Homo sapiens evolution - and left us the sole surviving species among many ancient bipedal “humans”?

Was it tools, our “large” brain, language, or empathy?

Their conclusions are likely to startle (and inspire a new appreciation for the human foot). Condemi and Savatier also look to the future of our strange species - migratory, social animals with a rapidly expanding population, who have transformed our world forever.

By taking stock of our ancestors, we can better understand ourselves.