A journey to uncover the evolution of ideas, from the wheel to the wearing of moustaches

Adopting the part of a cultural Darwin, science writer and filmmaker Jonnie Hughes goes on a road trip through the exotic American Midwest to observe the natural history of ideas. As he dissects the variation and inheritance of odd bits of culture, he examines the fashion for low-riding jeans and moustaches, the wording of successful jokes, the battle between competing shoelace-tying techniques, why Coke wins the cola wars (it's the label), and, naturally, the distinctive features of various tepees. Original, witty, and engaging, On the Origin of Tepees will change how we view the evolution of ideas and ourselves.

Jonnie Hughes is a filmmaker in the BBC Natural History Unit and Head of Development for BBC Earth. His documentaries have been shown on the BBC, Discovery, and National Geographic Channel. He studied ecology and evolution at the University of Leeds. He lives in Bristol and this is his first book.