Explores how the field of paleoanthropology enables insights into some of the world's leading evolutionary questions, exploring such topics as the life cycles of ancient people, the origins of social nature, and the common traits between modern humans and Neanderthals.

Introduction: Let's take a journey together -- Are we cannibals? -- The birth of fatherhood -- Who were the first hominin ancestors? -- Big-brained babies give moms big grief -- Meat lovers R us -- Got milk? -- A gene for Snow White -- Granny is an artist -- Did farming bring prosperity? -- Peking man and the Yakuza -- Asia challenges Africa's stronghold on the birthplace of humanity -- Cooperation connects you and me -- King Kong -- Breaking back -- In search of the most humanlike face -- Our changing brains -- You are a Neanderthal! -- The molecular clock does not keep time -- Denisovians: the Asian Neanderthals? -- Hobbits -- Seven billion humans, one single race? -- Are humans still evolving? -- Epilogue: Precious humanity -- Epilogue 2: An invitation to an unfamiliar world of paleoanthropology -- Appendix 1: Common questions and answers about evolution -- Appendix 2: Overview of hominin evolution.