The origin of humankind cover

The origin of humankind

by Richard E. Leakey

The Origin of Humankind is Richard Leakey's final statement on human evolution. Deriving its power from the author's unquestioned authority in the field of paleontology, and enriched by his new interest in wildlife, this book answers the question: What made humans human? Leakey argues that when one of our hominid ancestors acquired the ability to walk upright (called "bipedalism"), the evolution of modern humans became possible, perhaps even inevitable. All other human evolutionary refinements and distinctions can be seen as related to this one dramatic step. In fascinating sections on how and why modern humans developed a social organization, culture, and personal behavior, Leakey enhances our understanding of the nature and evolutionary role of art, language, and human consciousness.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?