A review by lokroma
First Steps: How Upright Walking Made Us Human by Jeremy DeSilva

5.0

What a good book! Well sourced and scientifically accurate, it is also very accessible. DeSilva traces the history of bipedalism, including the interesting theory among some that the chimpanzees and great apes evolved into quadrupeds rather than that humans evolved from quadrupeds. He credits tool use, trade, language, and even empathy to upright walking. Since evolution is not perfect, there are also downsides to walking on two feet, like inguinal hernias, pinched nerves, sprained ankles and other injuries. But in the end, good and/or bad, walking upright is why we are homo sapiens.