This entertaining, informative, accessible account about human evolution starts with an explanation of natural selection and returns to it throughout as it touches on major milestones in the evolution of hominins, including which traits, behaviors, and skills allowed them—us—to continue to survive and evolve. The seven steps referenced in the title are chronicled in individual chapters titled “We Stand Up” (ability to walk upright), “We Smash Rocks” (using tools), “We Get Swelled Heads” (larger brain development), “We Take a Hike” (migration), “We Invent Barbecue” (use of fire), “We Start Talking (and Never Shut Up)” (language development), and “We Become Storytellers” (complex use of language and imagination). There is humor throughout the inviting narrative, including in occasional footnotes, but the overall sense is one of inclusivity. We are all homo sapiens, after all; nothing divides us from one another on an evolutionary scale, and to see images of handprints made by homo sapiens 40,000 years ago from locations around the world is to understand this on a very human scale: “We are one.” Sharing insight into our evolutionary past, this clear, cogent, fascinating work concludes with ample end matter, starting with a substantial author’s note about race being a social construct, not biological reality, even as racism and racial bias are very real results of that construct. More about evolution, a glossary, timeline, and resources are also provided. Visual material includes photographs of artifacts, drawings, and other artistic and scientific renderings of various species of hominins.   (Age 11 and older)

The epic story of our evolution in seven big steps!

How did we become who we are? With trademark wit, acclaimed science writer Pamela S. Turner breaks down human evolution into the seven most important steps leading to Homo sapiens. How, when, and why did we:

1.stand up,
2.smash rocks,
3.get swelled heads,
4.take a hike,
5.invent barbecue,
6.start talking (and never shut up), and
7.become storytellers?

This fascinating, wickedly funny account of our evolutionary journey turns science into an irresistible story. Vetted by experts at the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program, the book also features incredibly detailed portraits by celebrated paleo-artist John Gurche that bring our early ancestors to life.