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The Origin of Humankind: Unearthing Our Family Tree (Science Masters)
 
 
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The Origin of Humankind: Unearthing Our Family Tree (Science Masters) (Paperback)

by Richard Leakey (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Phoenix; New edition edition (4 Sep 1995)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1857993349
  • ISBN-13: 978-1857993349
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 13 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 793,135 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Product Description

Leakey has always been interested in far more than the mere physical features presented by fossils, and here he is particularly concerned with non-tangible human attributes, such as art, language and consciousness itself. Leakey's personal involvement in many of the key discoveries of hominid fossils, and his friendships and rivalries with his fellow fossil hunters, add more than a dash of spice to his narrative. 'An outstanding account of our current understanding of human evolution' Sunday Times 'An elegant summary of what is currently known about human evolution' Observer


About the Author

Richard Leakey, the son of leading paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey, was Director of the National Museums of Kenya for twenty years and more recently has served his country in a more political role as Director of the Wildlife Service. He made the important discovery of the 'Turkana Boy', a virtually complete skeleton, and his popular books include Origins, The People of the Lake and The Making of Mankind. Sean Barrett narrated the BBC Modern History series, People's Century and appeared in television productions of Twelfth Night and Father Ted.
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A useful and interesting introduction to anthropology, 7 Jan 2001
By A Customer
The Origin of Humankind is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the subject of anthropology. The book covers the author's personal views and opinions and gives a broader introduction to the subject in general. Well-written and easy to read, Leakey really brings his subject to life. His chapters on language and art, and the relationship between the two subjects are vibrant and griping. He speculates about how prehistoric art came to be and its significance in the lives of its creators. Leakey combines solid scientific facts and figures with a more romantic speculation about the lives of our ancestors, resulting in a book that reads like a novel in places and a textbook in others. However, far from being detrimental to the book, this adds to it's appeal, anthropology being a subject which will always result in some blurring of the otherwise sharp lines between science and art. His flight of fancy about the daily routine of our ancestor the hunter gatherers in a river side settlement is either gloriously evocative or ridiculously unlikely, depending on how cynical you are feeling when you are reading it. I found it initially to be the former, and on re-reading to be the later. The book never goes into a great deal of depth, which is unsurprising considering the difficulty of the task Leakey has set himself; compressing millions of years of human evolution into a few hundred pages. It is therefore ideal as a 'beginner's guide to anthropology' but scholars may find that some parts are over-simplified or important issues passed over. All in all I found the book thoroughly enjoyable, intriguing, and exciting. It is interesting to compare this book to 'Adam's Ancestors' written by Richard Leakey's father LSB Leakey; I found the style of writing to be very similar. The Origin of Humankind, however, has the obvious advantage of being the more modern publication, and is therefore more adapted to our television generation, being more dynamic and visual.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to the subject, 11 Dec 2008
By John Hopper (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Origin of Humankind (Science Masters) (Hardcover)
A very readable basic introduction to the key issues and debates in this field, and pointers to more detailed reading. The author has his own opinions, but sets out the terms of the debate in a fair way. The only specific point I would question is the use of the term "human" to describe all bipedal homin(o)ids, even those living before any use of stone technology or language. The book could also usefully have had some more illustrations, especially in the chapter on art.
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