A very earnest book that uses a chatty, discursive style (and several cartoons) to convey the whole science of evolution, with the ultimate aim being chapters on the non-science of race. Therefore everything is covered, from the Big Bang to the Zephyrosaurus, and from Linnaean dodginess to that there Floyd career criminal. We are shown the entire story of our existence, the evolution and movement of mankind, the Identical Ancestors Point (which hopefully shuts up that horrid actor whose name escapes me about how he's a descendant of a king), and why nasty colonial types were behind socially segregating our fellow humans based on their colour and where we found them when we were invading their parts.

I think this could have been horrific, but actually it is a commendable story, well told. Yes it builds up to the one sole point, and it might still seem like too big a swing between two covers, to go from biological classification to Rosa Parks, and to say 'this is a stereotype and it's bad, because this is what the DNA says'. It certainly might have laboured the 'white privilege' route, but doesn't mention it. A better sociology book (even one considering the target age-range here, of 9-14s) would know that that there career criminal Floyd and the whole BLM movement were not the perfect things to put uncritically in an anti-prejudice book, given the incredibly heinous results from the collective anti-police stereotype that all that fermented. But this generally is a very intelligent, multidisciplined read, and one that is inescapably well-intentioned and successful.

Incredible! An absolutely brilliant look at evolution and the history of who we are. This book is really engaging and full of fascinating snippets of information that you'll be desperate to share. This is a book that will be going straight onto the school library shopping list!

Absolutely fascinating. A fast and furious ride through human history to show exactly where we come from, the messy, magical mix we all are, and the interconnectedness of our world. As I was reading my review copy, I kept shouting out juicy facts because I couldn't hold them in and my kids (9 and 7) were hooked. I can imagine readers doing the same and that's the best reaction you can get to a non-fiction book.

Also 10/10 to Adam Rutherford and to the publisher for naming and spotlighting co-writer E.L. Norry within the book and including an intro from artist Adam Ming too. A fantastic acknowledgement of the fact that this was co-created (as all books are).

What an insightful, amazing book. I have a relatively good understanding about human evolution (as an adult!) but this book will make any child a whizz. Rutherford & Co, do an amazing job and summarising and pushing the story about ‘Us’ (our species) and what evolution shows right from the very beginning of our planet, to our species. Covering aspects of geography, history of science and racism - this should be a book in every school!!

Thanks to netgalley and Wren and Rook!

I do not often review non fiction but could not resist this one. It is such an important book. Covering science history and geography, it very thoroughly explains our origins as humans and how we all come from common ancestors. Most importantly it discusses in detail the origin of ideas of ‘race’, and of racism, fully refuting historical (and sadly some contemporary) ideas of comparative superiority/inferiority, not just morally but based on scientific fact. All of this is done in a lively way, often amusing, always entertaining, and enlivened by copious illustration and attractive page design. This book will give children and young people the knowledge and understanding they need to be able to challenge the prejudice they encounter and as such it is enormously valuable. It should be in every school and many homes. I hope it does really well.