Humans are recognized for our intelligence and creativity, but where do these stand-out smarts come from? Our celebrated brains play a role, but it turns out something else altogether unexpected is going on.

Bioinspired is a fascinating natural history of modern humankind that lays out a compelling case for Nature playing an outsized, yet unsung, role in human advancement. From the famous inventor who traveled with a dismembered ear in his suitcase, to how the internet is organized based on the human brain, to why popular music makes us get up and dance, Stier’s exploration of how various aspects of technology and culture came to be will astonish readers, one fresh revelation after another. A paradigm-shaking analysis of our technological history and what truly drives innovation, and a guide map pointing towards enduring human prosperity, Bioinspired will sweep you up, enthrall you as the pages go cascading by, and ultimately deposit you before a profoundly new horizon.