A groundbreaking book about how ancient DNA has profoundly changed our understanding of human history. Geneticists like David Reich have made astounding advances in the field of genomics, which is proving to be as important as archeology, linguistics, and written records as a means to understand our ancestry. In Who We Are and How We Got Here, Reich allows readers to discover how the human genome provides not only all the information a human embryo needs to develop but also the hidden story of our species. Reich delves into how the genomic revolution is transforming our understanding of modern humans and how DNA studies reveal deep inequalities among different populations, between the sexes, and among individuals. Provocatively, Reich's book suggests that there might very well be biological differences among human populations but that these differences are unlikely to conform to common stereotypes. Drawing upon revolutionary findings and unparalleled scientific studies, Who We Are and How We Got Here is a captivating glimpse into humankind-where we came from and what that says about our lives today.

Acknowledgments Introduction  Part I The Deep History of Our Species 1 How the Genome Explains Who We Are 2 Encounters with Neanderthals 3 Ancient DNA Opens the Floodgates  Part II How We Got to Where We Are Today 4 Humanity’s Ghosts 5 The Making of Modern Europe 6 The Collision That Formed India 7 In Search of Native American Ancestors 8 The Genomic Origins of East Asians  9 Rejoining Africa to the Human Story  Part III The Disruptive Genome 10 The Genomics of Inequality 11 The Genomics of Race and Identity 12 The Future of Ancient DNA  Notes on the Illustrations Notes Index