Mothers and Others

Why us? What made one particular ape evolve into what we now are? Hrdy convincingly argues that cooperative parenting is what set the stage. A baby with many carers needs to grasp critical social skills. Hrdy draws upon evidence from the usual suspects: human hunter-gatherer societies and other primate species. Plus present-day and historical research demonstrating the importance of maternal grandmothers to infant survival and success rates.

Winding but always gripping, this is another important book for understanding who we are. It builds upon much of the latest understanding of human evolution. If you haven't been keeping up-to-date, prepare to have some of your fundamental preconceptions tossed out.