In a new story about the birth of our species, The Origin of Language argues that it was not hunting, fighting, or tool-making that forced early humans to speak, but the inescapable need to care for our children.
The evidence to support Beekman’s theory isn’t entirely lacking, though a lot of it is, necessarily, circumstantial ... Alas, Beekman takes a very long time to get to...[her] exciting idea. She spends about half the book laying the groundwork, padding it out with superfluous vignettes as if she is worried the centre won’t hold. Once she gets there, she makes some thought-provoking observations.
Lucid ... Throughout, Beekman showcases her knack for making complex ideas accessible ... An edifying and original foray into a critical aspect of human evolution.
