What is consciousness? What is it for? What is its function? These questions and several more observations concerning the uniqueness of Homo sapiens are explored with clarity by Richard Leakey in his recent book The Origin of Humankind. The son of the renowned Louis and Mary Leakey writes for the lay-person without compromising his unquestioned authority as a paleontologist. In less than 160 pages he covers the fascinating 2.5 million years of human evolution, it social organization, culture, personal behavior and the development of consciousness.

Whatever your level of interest, education and background, you'll be rewarded for the time spent reading this book and, in the vernacular of our local culture, "Your testimony of humanism will be strengthened."

--Flo Wineriter