Amazon.co.uk Review
Most evolutionary biologists agree that what makes humans unique among animals is our brainpower. But why--and how--did we evolve our oversized brains? Craig Stanford dusts off theold "Man the Hunter" theory, roundly criticised as replete with bad (and sexist) assumptions, and finds a thick, juicy, postmodern steak at the heart of it. He argues: "The origins of human intelligence are linked to the acquisition of meat, especially through the cognitive capacities necessary for the strategic sharing of meat with fellow group members."
Stanford studied the great apes, especially chimpanzees, and came to the conclusion that among primates, meat is a valuable commodity both nutritionally and socially. Although many other foods are nutritionally desirable, meat is unique in its social desirability and for males, it represents power:
Underlying the nutritional aspect of getting meat, part of the social fabric of the community is revealed in the dominance displays, the tolerated theft, and the bartered meat for sexual access. The end of the hunt is often only the beginning of a whole other arena of social interaction.
In Stanford's view, females play a crucial role in keeping groups together and cementing individual relationships. Meat plays an important role in the way males fit in to a society and the ability of males to get meat readily may very well explain their societal dominance. These conclusions are not liable to be nearly so controversial as the way Stanford gathered his data--he drew broad parallels between chimps and modern hunter-gatherer societies. Stanford also admits that a lack of fossil evidence supporting his meat/brain link is problematic.
The Hunting Apes is an interesting look at what is likely the worthwhile centre of a discredited evolutionary theory. --
Therese Littleton, Amazon.com
Review
A provocative, eminently digestible book... Stanford writes clearly and often deftly, and with admirable concision... [A] marvelous exploration of evolutionary hypotheses ... fascinating stuff. -- Michael Pakenham The Baltimore Sun Anyone who would like to review all of the arguments on human origins should read The Hunting Apes... This book will go a long way in explaining why physical anthropologists and their colleagues fight so much. -- Deborah L. Manzolillo Times Literary Supplement A brave academic endeavour and a fine piece of popular science writing... Stanford's book summarises a huge body of evidence in a pleasing, coherent and non-polemic way. You'll feel that you're talking with a learned ... dinner companion, rather than enduring a lecture or hectoring sermon from an academic pulpit. -- Adrian Barnett New Scientist Stanford's ideas, while controversial, are amply documented by behavioral studies of nonhuman primates, anthropological studies of a number of human societies and archeological studies of early and pre-humans. Publishers Weekly [A] provocative new look at what made people so smart... This is a fascinating book, written for the nonspecialist. Booklist An unabashed celebration of the carnivorous tendencies of early humankind. Virtually every aspect of Stanford's thesis about the importance of meat acquisition and sharing among early humans is steeped in controversy. Kirkus Reviews [An] admirable little book... [Stanford's] meticulously constructed study is both readable and thought-provoking and gives fascinating insights into the behaviour of our species. The Tablet The Hunting Apes is a very enjoyable and quick read, written for a broad audience... These are well-written synopsesAigood for students, the general informed public, and those in anthropology and other sub-disciplines who want to keep up on these topics. -- M. Tappen Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
See all Product Description