The product of over twenty years of research, Reed traces the origins of the "incest taboo", blood rites, marriage, and the family. In this expedition through prehistory from cannibalism to culture, she uncovers a world of ancient matriarchy.

Reed pinpoints relatively recent factors that led to patriarchal domination and refutes the myth that "human nature" is to blame for male supremacy, greed, wars, and inequalities of modern society.