Ridley, according to the review, suggests that our ancestors advantage over Neanderthals was commerce. "..after millions of years of indulging in reciprocal back-scratching of gradually increasing intensity, one species, and one alone, stumbled upon an entirely different trick. Adam gave Oz an object in exchange for a different object.” The evidence for this trick is in perforated seashells from more than 80,000 years ago that ended up far from the nearest coast, an indication that inlanders were bartering to get ornamental seashells from coastal dwellers."
Ridley then shows how all of history is an evolution growing out of commerce. Right on, brother.
I'll get the book and see if there is more I need to report.