Humans: The Evolution of a Species

How can our ears listen to this audiobook with such precision, differentiating each specific word? How can we understand thoughts someone has transferred to the track?

With our union of dexterity and brain power, we discovered ways of finding food and beating the elements not only in our home on the African savanna, but in every habitat from jungle to Arctic tundra. Uncovering exactly how we did this is not easy. Each fossil or flint tool discovery seems to rewrite the human story.

This thought-provoking audiobook presents the latest advances in understanding, challenging old myths and baked-in misconceptions—all through the lens of the human body. Do women have hearts, lungs, and legs adapted to running down prey because they inherited their fathers’ hunting DNA, or because in fact, they did their share of hunting themselves? Humans tells the story of our evolution.


EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alice Roberts originally trained as a medical doctor, before becoming a university lecturer. She taught anatomy at Bristol University for 11 years, and developed a research interest in biological anthropology. She is currently Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham, and Director of Anatomy for the NHS Severn Deanery School of Surgery.

Part of the original team on BBC2's Coast, Alice went on to host a range of programs on BBC2, including Digging for Britain, Origins of Us, Prehistoric Autopsy, and Ice Age Giants. She joined the team for the new Inside Science series on Radio 4 last year. Alice is the author of the Sunday Times number one best seller, Crypt (February 2024), the third book in her bestselling trilogy.