Adapted from Jared M. Diamond's 'The third chimpanzee' which refelects on the puzzle of human evolution, on where we came from and where we may be heading.

Includes index.

A tale of three chimps -- The great leap forward -- Human sexuality -- The origin of human races -- Why do we grow old and die? -- 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 -- The last first contacts -- Accidental conquerors -- In black and white -- The golden age that never was -- Blitzkrieg and thanksgiving in the new world -- The second cloud -- Afterword nothing learned, everything forgotten?.