Evolution of Human Cleverness

<p><em>The Evolution of Human Cleverness</em> presents a unique introduction to the way human cognitive abilities have evolved. The book comprises a series of mini-essays on distinct topics in which technical terms are simplified considering how humans made the long journey from our ape-like ancestors to become capable of higher-level reasoning and problem solving. </p><p>All the topics are cross-linked allowing the reader to dip in and out but certain key concepts run through the underlying reasoning. Chiefly these are adaptation and selection the distinction between ultimate and proximate causes of behaviour gene–culture co-evolution and <em>domain-general</em> versus <em>domain-specific</em> cognitive processes. The book should help the reader draw lessons for the human species as a whole especially in view of the environmental threats to its own existence.</p><p>Entries have been carefully crafted to cut through scientific jargon providing bite-sized and digestible chunks of knowledge making the topic accessible for students and lay readers alike. The author draws on research from diverse fields including Psychology Anthropology Archaeology Biology and Neuroscience to provide an unbiased account of the field making it an ideal text for students of all levels.</p>