Includes bibliographical references and index.

The journey to Brobdignag -- From centrality -- From centrality to periphery -- The meaning of life -- Well designed? -- The anthropic principle -- Tardigrades, Trisolarans, and the toughness of life -- Of humanzees and chimphumans -- Separateness of self -- Uniquely thoughtful -- Conflict between parents and offspring -- True or false? -- The myth of monogamy -- War and peace -- About those better angels -- Who's in charge? -- The paradox of power -- Conclusion : optare aude.

"Human beings are important, especially to themselves! But as science advances, it has become increasingly clear that we are less special and more natural than many people have long believed. This book shows how, as we finally look at ourselves honestly and accurately, we can identify ourselves as wonderfully natural, inseparable from the universe and other living things"-- Provided by publisher.