The accepted wisdom is that humans rose to the top of the food chain because of our intelligence. It’s not just our big brains that made us winners, it’s our unmatched ability to generate, channel and harness physical power.

The Powerful Primate: How Controlling Energy Enabled Us to Build Civilization by Roland Ennos argues that humanity's rise wasn't just about intellect, but about our unique ability to harness and control energy, from fire and tools to fossil fuels, allowing us to overcome physical limitations and build civilization. The book blends anthropology, biomechanics, and history to trace how this energy control, through innovations like agriculture and industry, transformed us from hunter-gatherers to the dominant species, while also creating modern challenges like environmental degradation.