+100 for "The Ancestor's Tale". There's a nice illustration there regarding the existence of Henry, a shrew who must have been the ancestor of all humans, and h

+100 for "The Ancestor's Tale". There's a nice illustration there regarding the existence of Henry, a shrew who must have been the ancestor of all humans, and his brother Eric, who might well have been the ancestor of all aardvarks (but not any humans). Dawkins has written better books - The Greatest Show on Earth is perhaps the best introduction to evolution - but I have a special affection for Ancestor's Tale, because it was while reading it that I finally 'got' evolution, and experienced a sort of minor enlightenment. You know, the one where you stare into space with a foolish grin, as answers to a hundred questions which have been at the back of your mind ever since you could remember suddenly start pouring in.