Would you know a human being if you saw one? This is not as frivolous question as it might seem. Recent scientific discoveries from many disciplines have painted a new picture of what it means to be human-a picture that may literally cause you to see yourself and others in a new way. Using the format of a natural history field guide, the author, Ron Smith, takes the reader into previously uncharted terrain of our human nature. A naturalist's perspective reveals surprising aspects of our uniqueness among the millions of other species with whom we share the planet, and explains how, despite our vast numbers, we have become an endangered species. Prepare to "know thyself" in a new and compelling way.