This I believe is the most important and the best book ever written on the evolution of language. It is the most important because it integrates like never before the different perspectives of linguistics, psychology, primatology, evolutionary biology, and anthropology into a novel and compelling explanation of how language emerged and evolved. It is the best because, moreover, it achieves this level of integration with great simplicity and clarity. A must-read.' - Dan Sperber, Emeritus Research Professor, CNRS, Paris, France & Professor of Cognitive Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary Scott-Phillips has done an amazing job, combining approaches from fields as disparate as linguistics, cognition and evolutionary theory, to bring clarity to our understanding of human language. He explains what is special about human language, where it came from, and why it mattered for evolution. He has cut through the jargon to produce a highly readable book that will appeal to all users and students of communication, from humpty dumpty to eminent linguists. - Stu West, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, University of Oxford, UK Clear, engaging, both serious and yet fun to read, this book offers a fresh perspective on what often seems to be a well-worn topic. It will reinvigorate debate, and encourage new ways of thinking. - Louise Barrett, Professor of Psychology & Canada Research Chair in Cognition, Evolution and Behaviour, University of Lethbridge, Canada This is a highly accessible account of the nature of human language that challenges many common assumptions and makes a compelling argument for how we should approach language evolution. - Katie Slocombe, Evolutionary Psychologist & Senior Lecturer, University of York This book is very impressive. The spirit of scientific endeavour and the excitement of understanding a complex topic come across strongly. - Andrew Wells, formerly Senior Lecturer in Psychology at LSE, UK 'Speaking Our Minds' is an engagingly written and convincingly argued work that promises to stimulate much new research in the field. The book offers a unifying account that tackles many of the questions surrounding the evolution of language. - Journal of Language Evolution
