Becoming Human: Evolution and Human Uniqueness - Hardcover

Tattersall, Ian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0151003408 ISBN 13: 9780151003402

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1998

Synopsis

Tying together research from the fields of fossil remains, primate behavior, brain psychology, and archaeology, an anthropologist explores the evolution of humankind--who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. 20,000 first printing.

About this title

Review

Monogamy. Bipedalism. Tools. Language. Intelligence. Why on earth did we develop all those tricks? Though it's trendy to underplay the differences between humans and other species, most of us just can't help noticing our often-striking peculiarities and wondering how they arose. Palaeontologist Ian Tattersall's story of human origins is as compelling as a well- designed museum exhibit--no surprise, as he is Curator of Anthropology for the American Museum of Natural History. His prose, while not flashy, is satisfyingly clear and unapologetically fascinated with its topic. Covering genetics, evolutionary theory, primate anatomy and archaeology, Becoming Human explains how and why our ancestors adapted to their surroundings to produce such clever, talented, immodest progeny. If you find it preposterous that a dumb, skinny ape can go from foraging for fruit and fleeing from lions to splitting the atom and solving Rubik's cube in just five million years, this book might change your mind. --Rob Lightner

Review

"Tattersall's most recent contribution is the most concise, most readable, and most thoughtful treatment available on the subject of human evolution. This is a must-read for everyone intrigued by their origins and place in nature." -- Donald Johanson, Professor of Anthropology, Arizona State University

"The best book on human evolution I've ever read." -- Niles Eldredge, Curator, Department of Invertebrates, American Museum of Natural History

"the most concise, most readable, and most thoughtful treatment available on the subject...a must-read" -- Donald Johnson, Professor of Anthropology, Arizona State University

Edition details

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0151003408
• ISBN 13: 9780151003402
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 258