Blending biology, history, economics, and more, this accessible work of popular science traces the epic story of human evolution through 16 thematic chapters.

Why did Homo sapiens come to dominate the planet? How did monogamy become the dominant form of marriage across cultures? What role did religion play in Europe's rise? Why didn't Zheng He's fleet discover the Americas? Will artificial intelligence one day replace us? And where is our species heading next?

Applying evolutionary logic to the development of human societies, this book uncovers the hidden forces behind our world—and offers a biological lens for rethinking what it means to be human.

SHI Jun, Ph.D., member of the Chinese Popular Science Writers Association, and faculty at Anhui University of Science and Technology, writes popular science on evolution and is the author of The Crazy History of Human Evolution and A Brief History of Love.