The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the evolution of human intelligence, 5/31/1977

In [u]The Cosmic Connection[/u], Dr. Carl Sagan dramatized for the layman the search for life beyond the earth. Here he turns with the same lucidity and excitement to the equally fascinating inner world of the mind. In a breathtaking overview from prehistory to the present he explains how human beings evolved, genes and brains together; who our ancestors and their competitors were; how our brains and the brains of other animals work; and why other intelligent beings will be sufficiently like us to permit intersteller communication. Throughout the book there are quite literally mind-blowing revelations about what we have learned recently of the abilities of other animals to reason, what computers have taught us about the mechanism of our brains, and what the latest theories are about the functions of sleep and dreams and the storage of memory. There are also facinating excursions into myth and legend and their possible relationship to recent discoveries. And there are Dr. Sagan's bold speculations on the implications of these discoveries, and on what the next steps in human evolution may be. (taken from the book jacket). Signed by Carl Sagan.