The reasons for most of the changes from Paleolithic to the Neolithic ages are widely debated by most scholars. The changes are leaps and bounds between the two ages. From my reading, I feel one of the main reasons for the changes would be population and a need for more abundant food sources. Although it is stated in the textbook that most Paleolithic societies were slow to progress to agriculture, there had to be a need for the change, and logically a growing population and a growing need for food seems to fit.
One of the first things to change in the Paleolithic age to Neolithic age was the progression to agriculture, and the ability to craft better tools. The better tools now would make farming easier, something that would have been very difficult during the Paleolithic age. Farmers set up permanent living due to the constant care required for the crops, and usually had larger families. Having a large family, and trying to go out and find crops and bring enough back was no doubt a grueling task. By domesticating plants for harvest, it would allow one to stay in one place while multiplying their harvest.
There was also the creation of pottery that was used to store extra food so it could be consumed later. It was also used to cook food that was hard to eat or digest raw. It was also very easy to transport food and liquids with the newly invented pottery. Carrying water for a long distance was likely just as hard as with crops. So, migrating to an area where there was an abundant source of water would make the air tight pottery much more effective.