All animals communicate with each other in one form or another, but humans are unique in that we have been able to go much further, creating languages and symbols to share and explain ideas, feelings and abstract concepts. Communication has allowed us to make breakthroughs in science and convey emotions through art and music, and in order to communicate faster and farther, we have created technologies ranging from writing to the Internet.

Almost everything we do during the day is a form of communication – not only when we speak, listen, read or write, but also when we see road signs or read each other’s body language. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of communication in all its many forms, from ancient times to AI.