It is not often that readers are offered a new theory of human existence encompassing our origins, our unique properties as biological creatures, the agricultural revolution, and the rise of modern states, but this book promises just that. The authors argue that the first humans of two million years ago evolved the capacity to throw stones accurately and thus kill conspecifics from a distance. This capacity for "law enforcement" allowed unrelated individuals to cooperate in ever larger aggregates, thus forever altering the social environment and paving the way for democratization on a global scale. Such bold claims require strong support. The authors are diligent in building their foundation, even if some of their premises can be challenged. This book is surely provocative. Reading it carefully is well worth the effort.