Geroulanos surveys many of the fantasies and self-serving myths that have been used to fill in the dangerously wide-open blank space between the emergence of humans and the invention of writing.

All of this is fascinating—or would be, but for major problems. For one thing, Geroulanos is not a congenial companion.

Original and exciting.

Accompanied by eye-catching illustrations, his study mulls over both "science and speculation".

A stunningly comprehensive work of epistemological research.

An incisive and captivating reassessment of prehistory.