Toward Human Emergence is a helpful and positive analysis from a behavioral science viewpoint of various stages in our long journey from hunter-gathers and agriculturalists, to industrialists and technological advances, knowledge workers. It examines the why, what, and how for perfecting human endeavor within a global society characterized technological advances, knowledge expansion, and economic turmoil. This mind-stimulating volume offers a hopeful vision of humanity, so HRD practitioners and educators may inspire learners to utilize today's opportunities for improving the human condition and quality of all life. ""Toward Human Emergence"" will motivate those who seek to be world shapers, rather than mere squatters. Within the framework of human evolution, it offers planners and doers thoughtful insights on how to capitalize on human assets, while curbing our tendencies toward destruction, violence, and self-abuse. The text's major themes are coping with accelerating change, making knowledgeable choices and decisions, and influencing the future through self-knowledge and self-control. The last of its twelve chapters discusses the convergence of these key concepts of culture, change, choice, and control. The prologue considers humanity's prospects for emergence, while the epilogue projects the offworld possibilities for our further emergence as a species. This volume provides people in transition with ways to positively influence our collective future.