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Product Description
Scientists believe that every human on the planet is descended from a woman who lived in Africa 100,000 years ago. "Origins" tells the incredible story of homo sapiens - where we came from, why we made it (and why 20 human-like species didn't) and what it means to be 'human' anyway. Part one takes us back through evolution to meet our ancestors. From the ape-like Proconsul who lived in Africa 17 million years ago to Homo floresiensis, the dwarf human species which survived on the Indonesian island of Flores until 18,000 years ago. The most accurate facial reconstructions available bring us up close with these familiar yet alien relatives, and artworks give a compelling insight into their lives - where they lived, what they wore, whether they spoke, what they ate, what animals existed. Graphical timelines untangle the relationships between the different species and highlight our remarkable evolutionary journey. The second part shows how humans spread across the planet to form the diverse races and peoples we know today, from our first steps out of Africa 100,000 years ago to our arrival in New Zealand as recently as 1,000 years ago.
About the Author
Dr Douglas Palmer is a science writer and lecturer. His books include The Neanderthal, which accompanied the acclaimed Channel 4 series, Earth Time, The Atlas of the Prehistoric World and Prehistoric Past Revealed (MB). He is a contributor to a variety of publications including New Scientist, Science and BBC Wildlife Magazine. He is currently working on Evolution for Mitchell Beazley (2009).
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3 reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Well done overview
26 Feb 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Origins: Human Evolution Revealed is a large format "coffee table" style overview of the current scientific thinking with respect to human evolution. There are many colored photographs, diagrams and maps. A striking reconstruction of Lucy peers out from the dust jacket. Origins is an introduction, aimed at a general audience. The many illustrations make it highly accessible. Nonetheless, the text is not "dumbed down" and packs in considerable information. Origins need not be read as a narrative, in fact each chapter can be read as a "stand alone" and there is some repetition across chapters.
The book is divided into two sections, the first consisting of a series of short (10-15 page) chapters each focusing on a specific early hominid species. Starting with Proconsul africanus (about 18 million years ago) through Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and ultimately Homo sapiens, each chapter describes circumstances surrounding the initial and subsequent finds, the resulting scientific debate and discussion, and our current thinking with respect to where each species fits in the primate evolutionary "bush". Provided are brief sketches of the key scientific figures associated with each species (e.g. - the Leakey's). John Gurche contributed interesting artistic reconstructions of each species' appearance, reflecting current thinking.
The second section focuses on the global migration of Homo sapiens and his predecessors, tracing multiple waves of migration from Africa throughout the world. Separate chapters focus on the dispersion from Africa, and the migrations into Europe, Australasia, and the Americas. There are also chapters on art and tool making. These latter are understandably limited given that they must cover vastly complicated subjects in just a few pages. This section too is well supported with maps and photographs.
I had a few negative impressions: First, the aerial overview maps illustrating key archeological sites were not particularly helpful. Second, as noted above, the sections on art, tool making, and climate change (1 page plus a diagram!) are disappointingly sketchy. Finally, there is no bibliography or suggestions for further reading, something such a lavish overview cries out for. Overall, Origins is a well done introduction to human evolution. Four stars.
The book is divided into two sections, the first consisting of a series of short (10-15 page) chapters each focusing on a specific early hominid species. Starting with Proconsul africanus (about 18 million years ago) through Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and ultimately Homo sapiens, each chapter describes circumstances surrounding the initial and subsequent finds, the resulting scientific debate and discussion, and our current thinking with respect to where each species fits in the primate evolutionary "bush". Provided are brief sketches of the key scientific figures associated with each species (e.g. - the Leakey's). John Gurche contributed interesting artistic reconstructions of each species' appearance, reflecting current thinking.
The second section focuses on the global migration of Homo sapiens and his predecessors, tracing multiple waves of migration from Africa throughout the world. Separate chapters focus on the dispersion from Africa, and the migrations into Europe, Australasia, and the Americas. There are also chapters on art and tool making. These latter are understandably limited given that they must cover vastly complicated subjects in just a few pages. This section too is well supported with maps and photographs.
I had a few negative impressions: First, the aerial overview maps illustrating key archeological sites were not particularly helpful. Second, as noted above, the sections on art, tool making, and climate change (1 page plus a diagram!) are disappointingly sketchy. Finally, there is no bibliography or suggestions for further reading, something such a lavish overview cries out for. Overall, Origins is a well done introduction to human evolution. Four stars.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A Fantastic Survey of Our Origins
17 May 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book provides a beautifully illustrated thoughtful and sympathetic treatment of our most significant prehuman, near human and direct human anticessors. Dr Palmer provides a brief panoramic overview of the scope of the text and then dives deep into the details of the focus species. In the first part of the book:Meet the Ancestors, he lays out the latest findings from the various disciplines and provides a vivid profile of each of his subjects. In the second part: The Human Odyssey, he starts with our dispersion from Africa and traces the uniquely human evolution of art, sophisticated tool making,and weaponry.
One comes away with a sense of close familiarity and connectedness with our distant past and an appreciation for the multifaceted developments which make us so unique in our humanity.
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable and very enlightening read
One comes away with a sense of close familiarity and connectedness with our distant past and an appreciation for the multifaceted developments which make us so unique in our humanity.
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable and very enlightening read
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful, easy to understand book on human evolution.
8 Mar 2012
Format:Hardcover
If you want to learn more about the origins of the human species and our extinct relatives without spending too much time and energy trying to understand a strictly academic read, this is the book for you.
It has wonderful artwork by renown paleoartist, John Gurche, and also has tons of information from the vigorous research done by the author, Douglas Palmer, so you will definitely learn a thing or two about where we came from as a species and how we possibly migrated out of the African continent to become one of the most dominant species on the planet. You will become acquainted with the various members of our unique offshoot of the great ape family; from the Neanderthals of ice age Europe and the Middle East, to the diminutive Indonesian Hobbits.
For me, I'm a very visual individual and I love looking at pictures and great artwork (as I'm an illustration student who loves his prehistoric animals),and this book certainly delivers. From pencils sketches to immensely detailed sculptures (like the one on the cover), you will not be disappointed. Crisp and gorgeous pictures are also provided of the, fossils, localities and countries where these creatures were discovered.
The only fault I can find with this book is its size and weight. It's best read sitting down.
It has wonderful artwork by renown paleoartist, John Gurche, and also has tons of information from the vigorous research done by the author, Douglas Palmer, so you will definitely learn a thing or two about where we came from as a species and how we possibly migrated out of the African continent to become one of the most dominant species on the planet. You will become acquainted with the various members of our unique offshoot of the great ape family; from the Neanderthals of ice age Europe and the Middle East, to the diminutive Indonesian Hobbits.
For me, I'm a very visual individual and I love looking at pictures and great artwork (as I'm an illustration student who loves his prehistoric animals),and this book certainly delivers. From pencils sketches to immensely detailed sculptures (like the one on the cover), you will not be disappointed. Crisp and gorgeous pictures are also provided of the, fossils, localities and countries where these creatures were discovered.
The only fault I can find with this book is its size and weight. It's best read sitting down.
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