Introduction
section I. Affiliation and recognition. What a society isn't (and what it is) ; What vertebrates get out of being in a society ; On the move ; Individual recognition
section II. Anonymous societies. Ants and humans, apples and oranges ; The ultimate nationalists ; Anonymous humans
section III. Hunter-gatherers until recent times. Band societies ; The nomadic life ; Settling down
section IV. The deep history of human anonymous societies. Pant-hoots and passwords
section V. Functioning (or not) in societies. Sensing others ; Stereotypes and stories ; The great chain ; Grand unions ; Putting kin in their place
section VI. Peace and conflict. Is conflict necessary? ; Playing well with others
section VII. The life and death of societies. The lifecycle of societies ; The dynamic "us" ; Inventing foreigners and the death of societies
section VIII. Tribes to nations. Turning a village into a conquering society ; Building and breaking a nation
section IX. From captive to neighbor...to global citizen? The rise of ethnicities ; Divided we stand ; The inevitability of societies
Conclusion: Identities shift and societies shatter
Acknowledgments
Notes
References
Index.