Mithen's last book, After the Ice (2003) was longlisted for both the 2004 Aventis Prize for Science Books and the 2004 British Academy Book Prize. The Prehistory of the Mind (1998) has been a strong backlist title since publication and has reprinted several times New cover for paperback 'In his extraordinary book, Steven Mithen uses anecdotes and a panoply of forensic evidence from linguistics, paleoanthropology, archaeology, psychology and neuroscience to present a new and controversial theory of the origins of language and music' Sunday Telegraph 'Mithen's rich, dispassionate study of the origins of music, language and mime goes back to music-making among primates as the basis for understanding what role music might play in the human mind' Evening Standard 'A long overdue book, which approaches human evolution from an intriguing as well as entertaining angle' TLS

'An interesting attempt to probe the long-term history of feeling as well as of thought... [This] book is intelligent, important and clear. Anyone who likes to ask broad questions about intelligence, religion and experience, as well as anyone interested in long-term human history, will be able to read and argue with [this] book with enjoyment and profit.' THES (3/3/06) 'There is much illuminating and thought-provoking material.' -- Ross Leckie THE TIMES 'Wonderfully evocative... a highly original view of our musical origins.' GUARDIAN (1/4/06)

Steven Mithen is Professor of Early Prehistory and head of the School of Human and environmental Sciences at Reading University. Author of numerous books and articles, he has also consulted and appeared on TV and radio programmes about prehistory around the world. He has directed fieldwork in Western Scotland and is currently co-directing excavations in Wadi Faynan, southern Jordan.