Our true history began five million years ago, on the plains of Africa. And, argues Tudge, unless we take the long view of our history, we will miss the vital lessons it contains: for example, that the present collapse of our fellow species echoes that of 40,000 and 10,000 years ago when our ancestors in the Americas and Australia wiped out the mammoths, giant bears, nine-foot kangaroos and wombats as big as rhinos. Yet the fossil history of other animals suggest that homo sapiens, should last for another million years. Tudge explores the chances....