Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Dorling Kindersley (2011), Hardcover, 256 pages
Description
"This unrivaled illustrated guide to human evolution brings you face-to-face with your ancient ancestors. Traveling back in time almost eight million years, the book charts the development of our species, Homo sapiens, from tree-dwelling primates to modern humans. Evolution investigates each of our ancestors in detail and in context, from the anatomy of their bones to the environment they lived in. Key fossil finds are showcased on double-page feature spreads. Detailed maps show where each species has been found and plot the gradual spread of humans around the world. The book has been fully updated to include the latest discoveries and research--including the newly discovered species Homo naledi--and presents the latest thinking on some of the most captivating questions in science, such as whether modern humans and Neanderthals interacted with each other. Written and authenticated by a team of acknowledged experts and illustrated by renowned Dutch paleoartists the Kennis brothers, Evolution presents the story of our species with unique richness, authority, and detail."--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member rocketjk
Scientist Alice Roberts went on a journey around the world for a BBC multi-episode documentary tracing the history of origins of the human species and the theories regarding when, where and how our earliest ancestors journeyed out of Africa, where we evolved into being and eventually ended up
At any rate, I found the book to be interesting and certainly detailed enough to make me feel like I'd gotten a good picture of the evolution (you should pardon the expression) of the many theories about the timing and methods for the human species' arrival at our many global ports of call over the millennia. The science of it all is quiet fascinating, and Roberts does a good job describing competing theories without becoming doctrinaire about one or the other. There are some drawbacks to this kind of book, however, the main one being that theories in this field can become outdated quickly. The book was published in 2009, so we must assume the research and writing was accomplished a year or more before that. In the very section about our cousins, the Neanderthals, who were already established in Europe when humans arrived there, the topic of human/Neanderthal interbreeding comes up, along with the possibility that humans now carry Neanderthal DNA around in our genes. At that point, scientists were just beginning to map the Neanderthal genome from fossilized bones, and the consensus was that the likelihood was very small that any such ideas were valid. I remember my wife telling me recently that she'd read articles to the contrary, however. A google searched revealed, sure enough, that just a year after the book was published, the same scientists who'd been so skeptical on the subject had now been convinced of their earlier error. Don't get me wrong: I think it's to everybody's credit that these folks were willing to admit their errors when new information arose. It's just a cautionary tale that books on science can lose their currency fairly quickly. Nevertheless, I still think that the lion's share of the information in this book still presents currently active theories.
All in all, I thought the writing itself was good. Roberts doesn't mind using first person, of course, to describe her interactions with the various people she meets, from scientists to tribe members, but mostly she has a light touch and a down to earth point of view. One quibble is her overuse of the word "suggests." Scientists "suggest" things and evidence "suggests" things, and it seems to be the only word Roberts is comfortable with. Over and over again, sometimes five or six times a page. As a longtime copy editor, this sort of thing jumps out at me. Somebody find this woman a Thesaurus! Nevertheless . . . 4 stars.
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living on every continent save Antarctica. Along the way, Roberts visits with scientists doing important archeological work in many spots and also spends time with many tribal cultures, such as Bushmen in Africa, Aborigines in New Zealand and reindeer herders in Siberia, people who are living as closely as she can find to the manner in which the ancient inhabitants of those places might have lived. In short, as the book's subtitle puts it, Roberts did her best to present "the story of how we colonized the planet." This book was published in 2009 as a companion piece to the television series. The one published review of the book I found, from the Guardian, claimed that the book was in fact much more satisfying than the documentary, because it is more sober and much more detailed. That would not surprise me.At any rate, I found the book to be interesting and certainly detailed enough to make me feel like I'd gotten a good picture of the evolution (you should pardon the expression) of the many theories about the timing and methods for the human species' arrival at our many global ports of call over the millennia. The science of it all is quiet fascinating, and Roberts does a good job describing competing theories without becoming doctrinaire about one or the other. There are some drawbacks to this kind of book, however, the main one being that theories in this field can become outdated quickly. The book was published in 2009, so we must assume the research and writing was accomplished a year or more before that. In the very section about our cousins, the Neanderthals, who were already established in Europe when humans arrived there, the topic of human/Neanderthal interbreeding comes up, along with the possibility that humans now carry Neanderthal DNA around in our genes. At that point, scientists were just beginning to map the Neanderthal genome from fossilized bones, and the consensus was that the likelihood was very small that any such ideas were valid. I remember my wife telling me recently that she'd read articles to the contrary, however. A google searched revealed, sure enough, that just a year after the book was published, the same scientists who'd been so skeptical on the subject had now been convinced of their earlier error. Don't get me wrong: I think it's to everybody's credit that these folks were willing to admit their errors when new information arose. It's just a cautionary tale that books on science can lose their currency fairly quickly. Nevertheless, I still think that the lion's share of the information in this book still presents currently active theories.
All in all, I thought the writing itself was good. Roberts doesn't mind using first person, of course, to describe her interactions with the various people she meets, from scientists to tribe members, but mostly she has a light touch and a down to earth point of view. One quibble is her overuse of the word "suggests." Scientists "suggest" things and evidence "suggests" things, and it seems to be the only word Roberts is comfortable with. Over and over again, sometimes five or six times a page. As a longtime copy editor, this sort of thing jumps out at me. Somebody find this woman a Thesaurus! Nevertheless . . . 4 stars.
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LibraryThing member pierthinker
This book accompanies a BBC TV-series of the same name, examining how modern humans expanded from their African origins to inhabit the world. I found the TV series to be excellent - clear, visually stunning and genuinely interesting and exciting - so I had high hopes for the book. Rather than an
Roberts is a scientist and provides a fairly technical discussion of the subject. She is very clear in pointing out what is established or generally accepted fact and what is speculation. Given the scarcity of archeological evidence this results in a work that does not reveal much in the way of 'what we know' and plenty in the way of 'what we think'.
Well-written, technical without being incomprehensible (although sometimes assuming a bit too much knowledge from the reader) and with just enough personal observation and anecdote to maintain the story I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding where humans came from and how we came to cover the planet.
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edited version of the TV scripts with lots of pictures, this book takes a different approach. Alice Roberts provides considerable depth in the text and examines aspects of the whole project that could not be covered in the programmes, for example, her potted analyses of the various experts she contacts moves them forward from just 'talking heads' to be real people with likes, dislikes, obsessions and all.Roberts is a scientist and provides a fairly technical discussion of the subject. She is very clear in pointing out what is established or generally accepted fact and what is speculation. Given the scarcity of archeological evidence this results in a work that does not reveal much in the way of 'what we know' and plenty in the way of 'what we think'.
Well-written, technical without being incomprehensible (although sometimes assuming a bit too much knowledge from the reader) and with just enough personal observation and anecdote to maintain the story I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding where humans came from and how we came to cover the planet.
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LibraryThing member oataker
We evolved in Africa somewhat less than 2000k years ago. There were already Neanderthals and perhaps other human sub species about. By 12k years ago Clovis man had covered the Americas but there were other inhabitants of America before them. This book summarises the latest results of not just
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traditional archaeology but especially genetic studies, in particular those on the Y chromosome and mt DNA. It also makes use of more and more ways of dating, using luminescence not just radio carbon, and dental and language studies. I didnt read it all, it is rather detailed and seems repetitious at times, the clear story of human origins and spread being broken up into a series of accounts of the different archaeological or primitive native sites Alice visited. However that serves to give an impression of the uncertainty and confusion there is about the details of the story, nevertheless the broad outlines seem clear. Show Less
LibraryThing member vguy
Fresh and fun. Presents human origins as an ongoing enquiry rather than set of facts. As a doctor herself, able to grapple with the controversies and the multiple disciplines (genetic, anatomical, linguistic, carbon and other dating techniques) while bringing it to life for the reader. also has fun
Seems a tad more optimistic about hunter gatherer survival than Sara Walker. Hangs out with them in several continents.
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travelling and meeting people whether scientists or hunter-gatherers. gives some space to the multi-origin thesis (beloved of the Chinese state), though it makes little sense to me and was part of what Darwin already set out to disprove. Taken as audio book read by author; her enthusiasm comes across.Seems a tad more optimistic about hunter gatherer survival than Sara Walker. Hangs out with them in several continents.
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LibraryThing member passion4reading
This book has been on my reading list for years: not only did I watch the original TV series, I also briefly met the author after an event in 2017, and the wait has been absolutely worth it! She writes with clear enthusiasm and a passion for her subject, and her scientific analysis cum travelogue
The book is divided into five parts (each focusing on a different region of colonisation) and in each she meets with local experts in the field to be shown artefacts and to discuss theories, as well as with locals to experience the different culture and language.
Sadly the book is now somewhat dated in places, especially where the question of interbreeding with archaic humans (in this case Neanderthals, and possibly also Denisovans) is concerned: the general consensus at the time of writing was still that it didn't take place, or only to such a limited extent that genetics shows no trace of it today; I believe the revelation came shortly after the book's publication in 2009. I found out recently that I have 2 per cent Neanderthal DNA myself! It would be great if Alice Roberts could write updates for a second edition at some point, as I believe there have been further advances in genetics and archaeological discoveries since then.
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is always very readable and often incredibly fascinating, even if she sometimes forgets that not all her readers will be familiar with some of the specialist terminology; fortunately, there are only a few instances scattered throughout the book, and while the general gist is (mostly) clear, a more detailed description or illustration would have been helpful.The book is divided into five parts (each focusing on a different region of colonisation) and in each she meets with local experts in the field to be shown artefacts and to discuss theories, as well as with locals to experience the different culture and language.
Sadly the book is now somewhat dated in places, especially where the question of interbreeding with archaic humans (in this case Neanderthals, and possibly also Denisovans) is concerned: the general consensus at the time of writing was still that it didn't take place, or only to such a limited extent that genetics shows no trace of it today; I believe the revelation came shortly after the book's publication in 2009. I found out recently that I have 2 per cent Neanderthal DNA myself! It would be great if Alice Roberts could write updates for a second edition at some point, as I believe there have been further advances in genetics and archaeological discoveries since then.
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Language
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
256 p.; 10.28 x 0.91 inches
ISBN
1405361654 / 9781405361651