"Books for young readers"

What makes us human? -- Just another big mammal. A tale of three chimps -- The great leap forward -- A strange life cycle. Human sexuality -- The origin of human races -- Why do we grow old and die? -- Uniquely human. The mystery of language -- Animal origins of art -- Agriculture, for better and worse -- Why do we smoke, drink, and use dangerous drugs? -- Alone in a crowded universe -- World conquerors. The last first contacts -- Accidental conquerors -- In black and white -- Reversing our progress overnight. The golden age that never was -- Blitzkrieg and Thanksgiving in the new world -- The second cloud -- Nothing learned, everything forgotten?

Refelects on the puzzle of human revolution, on where we came from and where we may be heading

Adapted from Jared M. Diamond's The third chimpanzee

Includes index