We human beings share 98 percent of our genes with chimpanzees. Yet humans are t
he dominant species on the planet -- having founded civilizations and religions,
developed intricate and diverse forms of communication, learned science, built
cities, and created breathtaking works of art -- while chimps remain animals con
cerned primarily with the basic necessities of survival. What is it about that t
wo percent difference in DNA that has created such a divergence between evolutio
nary cousins? In this fascinating, provocative, passionate, funny, endlessly ent
ertaining work, renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning author and scientist Jared Diamo
nd explores how the extraordinary human animal, in a remarkably short time, deve
loped the capacity to rule the world . . . and the means to irrevocably destroy
it.
