The Mammal in the Mirror: Understanding Our Place in the Natural World - Softcover

Barash, David P.; Barash, Ilona A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0716741660 ISBN 13: 9780716741664

Publisher: W.H.Freeman & Co Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

This is an overview of how the natural world works, seen in the context of how we - humans - fit into it. It begins with the micro issues, a close-up of DNA, genes, viruses and cells, and then moves out to explore the larger systems of human biology: sex and reproduction, the brain and behaviour, and energy. Finally, we stand back and take a look at the species Homo sapiens from the revealing viewpoints of ecology, evolution and sociobiology. The result is an accessible portrayal of ourselves that enables readers with an interest, rather than a background, in science to become "bioliterate" and able to understand the discoveries that are making headlines in the news today.

About this title

Review:

It's often all too easy to see our peers as the animals they are, but sometimes it's harder to see ourselves as biological specimens. The Mammal in the Mirror, by the father-daughter team of David P. Barash and Ilona A. Barash, is a literate and humane outline of life science for a general audience. Warm, funny and delightfully well-written, the book draws on the Barash's experience as teachers and researchers to explore and explain everything from the smallest strand of DNA to our planet's ecosystem in plain language. Few if any readers will feel out of their depth while perusing chapters on the nervous system, reproduction, the cell and evolution, among others. Though readers already conversant with the principles of the biological sciences will find little new to learn, the pleasure of reading is undiminished. The illustrative examples, metaphors and parallels with ordinary human life capture the excitement and interest of biology even for those with no scientific background or training. Understanding issues like AIDS, global warming and the Human Genome Project become more important with each passing day. With guides like The Mammal in the Mirror, there may be hope for us naked apes yet. --Rob Lightner

About this edition

• Publisher: W.H.Freeman & Co Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0716741660
• ISBN 13: 9780716741664
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384