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Francis Pryor is a well known archaeologist who, in spite of 30 years of work, came to fame through appearances on Channel 4's 'Time Team.'  His archaeological work in 'Flag Fen' in the er, Fens, near Peterborough, brought him fame in the prehistory world.  It is amazing how opinions can change when a bit of digging in mud, scraping her, scraping there, and pondering on the finds found bring about a new view of the world. 
This book concerns the authors belief that the real stabilising effect down the millennia has been the basic family unit.  From the time after the last ice age, some 8000 BC in these parts, to the day the Romans arrived, and indeed afterwards, the most important pillar was the family unit.  He has a point.
After the vegetation had taken root and the animals had wondered across man followed.  The hunter-gatherers came, probably following the herds of deer, and when farming arrived some 4000 years later and movement lessened it was always the family group, small at first but in contact with others, that was societies base.  I myself suggest that the Stonehenge, and later 'henges,' were places where such groups met for solstice gatherings, worship of their gods, exchange of goods, wives, learning and news and returned to their home area.  As the population grew it appears such behaviour changed in time, beliefs may have altered, possibly though the numbers growth, possibly by new ideas coming in. But whatever the changes, even by the time of the Romans, at heart all societies are formed of families, that is the root of them all.
Pryor has a bias against a strong leader emerging in these groups but I fear human nature is not made to just work together in the manner he envisages.  Families require a head, a leader, small groups do also, a number of groups/families working together always have a leader among them whether they like it or not.  Large populations require one, the UK certainly does today as from today it has no leadership, and while Francis portrays people happily working together in days of yore I see them working together but leaders always at the forefront encouraging them on.
This is a good and interesting book.  The second of his I have read, and recommend it for any wishing t understand prehistory in the UK.
One thing that stands out is the mind of man was no less powerful 10,000 years ago than it is today.  The world he lived in made him work for his dinner, work for his shelter, work to care for his family.  All the family had to work together just to exist.  Human nature does not change so the soap opera of lives in small or large groups would be no different.  Add to this poor food in famine, sickness and snake oil salesmen who must have existed then as now reveals a world no different from ours, just slightly more basic in the various aspects thereof.

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A different version of the ancient world, told in their own voice.  Most of prehistory comes down to us via digs in mud or reading scratched signs on walls however by 3000 BC Egyptians had concocted their own version of writing and their tombs were used to inform the world of their opinions. 
Toby Wilkinson has translated many such inscriptions from tombs, coffins or papyrus remnants to bring tales of battles, disasters, tales, hymns, satires and indeed Egypt type proverbs.  All give us an insight, mostly from those at the top naturally, of life in Egypt before the Romans landed there also.
Many of these are worth a read revealing the heart of the one causing the inscription to be written and once again all show just how similar we are to those who lived so far away and so long ago.  Human nature does not change wherever we are.  Our concerns remain the same, cultures adapt because of the land and situation but at heart we remain the same.  This is one way to understand the past life of Egypt.
Also worth a look are the lively Armana letters between subjects and their King.

The temperature reached 93% outside, similar inside when I was burning my dinner.  I went early to Tesco and it was very warm then.  After lunch I toured the shops, it was very quiet, and found only Iceland worth visiting.  A good place today I thought.  
Naturally all around people are complaining!
It is too hot yet they go to foreign countries for this heat, and mutter they cannot sleep in the heat.  Funnily enough it has not bothered me at night, quite warm but facing north I catch any wind there is making the warmest day less of a problem until I go out.  Next week, when normality returns they will be complaining it is too cold!   
No wonder Boris got in!