Will Ayn Rand's Conjectures on Evolution Prove Right?
Nevertheless, whether or not Rand’s conjectures are proven right one day, we should seek a deeper comprehension of how self-reflective consciousness arose in human history, how it arises in children, and how such mental processes give rise to free will, morality, neuroplasticity, and self-actualization.
Meanwhile, there is a Gulch member who is a fan of JulianJanes, I have looked at the book and am still ambivalent.
The question of consciousness has been discussed by Richard Dawkins who says (from my memory), ~it is the big question, we do not know where to look for explanation, or what kind of questions to ask~ and it seems to relate not just to size of brain but number of interconnections.
The Dawn of Consciousness is the easier book to digest and is also much more recent. See the essay for the hyperlink.