Two factors - upright and the origin of thinking - once became a powerful impetus for the evolution of our species. Judge for yourself: just a couple of million years ago, we chewed roots and just learned to walk straight, and now we fly airplanes, an instant message helmet and explore the water on Mars. Leonard Mlodinov - with his great sense of humor and the gift of explaining complex things in simple language - invites readers of all ages on an exciting journey through the history of our civilization.