Books by John S. Allen

Though we have other distinguishing characteristics (bipedalism, relative hairlessness, etc.), the brain and the behavior it produces are what truly set us apart from the other apes and primates. How this three-pound organ composed of water, fat, and protein turned a mammal species into the dominant animal on earth is the story Allen tells.

In this gustatory tour of human history, Allen suggests that the everyday activity of eating offers deep insights into our cultural and biological heritage. Beginning with the diets of our earliest ancestors, he explores eating's role in our evolving brain before considering our contemporary dinner plates and the preoccupations of foodies.