The Ancestor's Tale (A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Life)

"The Ancestor's Tale" is a pilgrimage back through time; a journey on which we meet up with fellow pilgrims as we and they converge on our common ancestors. Chimpanzees join us at about 6 million years in the past, gorillas at 7 million years, orang utans at 14 million years, as we stride on together, a growing band. The journey provides the setting for a collection of some 40 tales. Each explores an aspect of evolutionary biology through the stories of characters met along the way or glimpsed from afar - the "Elephant Bird's Tale", the "Marsupial Mole's Tale", the "Lungfish's Tale". Together they give a deep understanding of the processes that have shaped life on Earth: convergent evolution, the isolation of populations, continental drift, the great extinctions. The tales are interspersed with prologues detailing the journey, route maps showing joining lineages, and life-like reconstructions of our common ancestors. "The Ancestor's Tale" represents a pilgrimage on an unimaginable scale: our goal is four billion years away, and the number of pilgrims joining us grows vast - ultimately encompassing all living creatures. At the end of the journey lies something remarkable in its simplicity and transformative power: the first, humble, replicating molecules. One Of The Most Brilliant Scientists Of Our Age Gives Us His Definitive Work: A Synthesis Of His Comprehensive Vision Of Life. The Ancestor's Tale Is A Pilgrimage Back Through Time; A Journey On Which We Meet Up With Fellow Pilgrims As We And They Converge On Our Common Ancestors. Chimpanzees Join Us At About 6 Million Years In The Past, Orang Utans At 14 Million Years, As We Stride On Together, A Growing Band. The Journey Provides The Setting For A Collection Of Some 40 Tales. Each Explores An Aspect Of Evolutionary Biology Through The Stories Of Characters Met Along The Way. The Tales Are Interspersed With Prologues Detailing The Journey, Route Maps Showing Joining Lineages, And Life-like Reconstructions Of Our Common Ancestors. The Ancestor's Tale Represents A Pilgrimage On An Unimaginable Scale: Our Goal Is Four Billion Years Away, And The Number Of Pilgrims Joining Us Grows Vast - Ultimately Encompassing All Living Creatures. At The End Of The Journey Lies Something Remarkable In Its Simplicity And Transformative Power: The First, Humble, Replicating Molecules. *The Ancestor's Tale* describes the various processes involved in the development of life on Earth. Enormously rich and diverse, it includes the results of recent research that, using dna analysis, has led to some surprising insights into evolutionary history. The fundamental, unifying principle of evolution underlies this unique history - our history, and that of all living things. This masterpiece by Dawkins shows us how special we are, how amazing our history is, and how closely related we are to the rest of life on Earth. This journey through the theory of evolution begins millions of years ago, exploring the processes that have resulted in homosapiens as we know him