The human brain evolved to become an organic computer without rival in the known universe. To explain how, neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis reevaluates the entirety of our history, culture, and civilization in light of recently uncovered key principles of brain function. Gathering insights from math, art, and philosophy, Nicolelis explores three fundamental properties of the human brain: its ability to adapt and learn; its capacity for abstraction; and its exquisite ability to allow multiple individuals to synchronize their minds around a task, goal, or belief.