Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived by Chip Walter (Author). Over the previous one hundred eighty years scientists have sifted by means of evidence that at the least twenty-seven human species have evolved on planet Earth. And as you'll have observed, twenty-six of them are now not with us, finished in by their atmosphere, predators, illness, or the unlucky shortcomings of their DNA. What enabled us to outlive when so many other human species have been proven the evolutionary door? Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived by acclaimed science journalist Chip Walter tells the intriguing tale of how in opposition to all odds and despite nature's brutal and capricious ways we stand right here at the moment, the one surviving humans, and the planet's most dominant species.
Drawing on a wide variety of scientific disciplines, Walter reveals how a uncommon evolutionary phenomenon led to the uniquely long childhoods that make us so resourceful and emotionally complex. He appears to be like at why we developed a brand new sort of thoughts and how our extremely social nature has shaped our moral (and immoral) behavior. And in exploring the traits that enabled our success, he plumbs the roots of our creativity and investigates why we became self-conscious in ways in which no other animal is. Along the way in which, Final Ape Standing profiles different human species who developed with us and who have additionally formed our kind in startling methods - the Neanderthals of Europe, the "Hobbits" of Indonesia, the Denisovans of Siberia, and the recently discovered Purple Deer Cave individuals of China, who died off just as we stood on the brink of civilizations eleven thousand years ago.
Last Ape Standing is an interesting and accessible story that explores the forces that molded us into the peculiar and astonishing creature that we are.
I discovered "Last Ape Standing" to be a nicely-written complete story of what's at the moment identified about human evolution. The title was written to make it catch the attention, however the major focus of the e-book is on hominids fairly than apes. I know humans and apes had a typical ancestor, however consider the two traces separating as soon as our department assumed an erect posture. This book additionally has the problem that it could quickly change into outdated as new fossil or DNA discoveries are made, but that may be a great excuse for a sequel. Nevertheless a ebook definitely price reading, because it reflects the rather messy and confusing evolutionary pathways not solely typical of hominids, but of most creatures on Earth.
This new ebook on human evolution dares to tread some new theories primarily based on current research, and I give it massive applause for doing so.
I've read quite a few books that delve into the theory of neoteny, and how prolonging our childhoods, humans have discovered an edge over different lifeforms. This new ebook by William Walter goes into plenty of informative depth on neoteny and taught me many issues I hadn't heard earlier than or had been given as much element on the subject. That is where this e book really shines, in my opinion.
Author William Walter has a novel present for popularizing science and making it accessible for a common audience. In our age, I feel that this is important today. This author, like few others can, has a real expertise for taking very advanced ideas and explaining them in a manner that is straightforward to know and fascinating, somewhat than intimidating.
I learn by way of this book in its entirety in a short time (usually always my benchmark for a well-written work). I found the experience to be enlightening in addition to entertaining and I feel you will too. I additionally give this ebook factors for retaining as up-to-date with the latest finds and analysis as well. New discoveries such as the Red Deer Cave Persons are lined and other newly found hominids.
An interesting new take a look at an outdated, previous matter that tells us much about ourselves. I extremely suggest!
Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived
Chip Walter (Author)
240 pages
Walker & Company; 1 edition (January 29, 2013)
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