The Monkey in the Mirror : Essays on the Science of What Makes Us Human

An "absorbing" look at how our species evolved, from the curator of human evolution at the American Museum of Natural History ( Kirkus Reviews ). What makes us so different from those other animals? How did we get this way? How do we know? And what exactly are we? These questions are what make human evolution a subject of general fascination. Ian Tattersall, one of those rare scientists who is also a graceful writer, addresses them in this delightful book. Tattersall leads the reader around the world and into the far reaches of the past, showing what the science of human evolution is up against—from the sparsity of evidence to the pressures of religious fundamentalism. Looking with dispassion and humor at our origins, Tattersall offers a wholly new definition of what it is to be human. "Unparalleled insight." —Donald C. Johanson, author of Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind

An American Museum of Natural History curator offers eight loosely interconnected essays on the multidisciplinary scientific quest to decipher human origins via studying nonlinear evolutionary patterns and Neanderthal technology. There are no references and no index or illustrations. Tattersall's On Becoming Human won an award from the American Anthropological Association. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Library Journal

In eight essays, anthropologist and American Museum of Natural History curator Tattersall (Becoming Human) explores the current understanding of organic evolution in terms of science and reason. He stresses the creative diversity of life forms throughout biological history, including the past existence of different hominid species. His own interpretation of evolution maintains that there have been three major episodic innovations in the emergence of humankind (each separated by about two million years): upright bipedality, Paleolithic technology, and the modern bodily anatomy. Of special interest is Tattersall's critical analysis of the so-called Neandertal problem. Oddly, he does not discuss space travel or genetic engineering in regard to the future of our species. Furthermore, Tattersall does not rigorously emphasize the power of scientific inquiry and the fact of organic evolution in the face of ongoing threats to empirical explanations, e.g., postmodernism, biblical fundamentalism, and religious creationism. Consequently, this is not the groundbreaking and helpful book it could have been. Even so, it is suitable for large science collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/01.] H. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Nothing fascinates us more than explorations of human origins, and nobody tells the story better than Ian Tattersall. What makes us so different? How did we get this way? How do we know? And what exactly are we? These questions are what make human evolution a subject of general fascination. Ian Tattersall, one of those rare scientists who is also a graceful writer, addresses them in this delightful book. Writing in an informal essay style, Tattersall leads the reader around the world and into the far reaches of the past, showing what the science of human evolution is up against, from the sparsity of evidence to the pressures of religious fundamentalism. Looking with dispassion and humor at our origins, Tattersall offers a wholly new definition of what it is to be human. Delightful stories, scientific wisdom, fresh insight, the perfect science book. An American Museum of Natural History curator offers eight loosely interconnected essays on the multidisciplinary scientific quest to decipher human origins via studying nonlinear evolutionary patterns and Neanderthal technology. There are no references and no index or illustrations. Tattersall's On Becoming Human won an award from the American Anthropological Association

Nothing fascinates us more than explorations of human origins,
and nobody tells the story better than Ian Tattersall.

What makes us so different? How did we get this way? How do we know? And what exactly are we? These questions are what make human evolution a subject of general fascination. Ian Tattersall, one of those rare scientists who is also a graceful writer, addresses them in this delightful book.

Writing in an informal essay style, Tattersall leads the reader around the world and into the far reaches of the past, showing what the science of human evolution is up against-from the sparsity of evidence to the pressures of religious fundamentalism. Looking with dispassion and humor at our origins, Tattersall offers a wholly new definition of what it is to be human.

Delightful stories, scientific wisdom, fresh insight-the perfect science book.

Ian Tattersall is widely regarded as one of the rare eminent scientists who is also a graceful and engaging writer. In this extraordinary new work he attempts to answer the most controversial questions on human origins: What makes us so different? How did we get this way? How do we know? Guiding readers around the world and far into the past, Tattersall examines and explores evolutionary theory, a science based not on a finite set of conclusions drawn from overwhelming evidence, but rather our evolving effort to make sense out of a handful of incomplete fossil remains. Brimming with delightful stories and scientific wisdom, this exquisite book offers fresh insight into the fundamental questions of our origins--and our evolutionary future. Chapter 1 What's So Special about Science? 1 -- Chapter 2 Evolution: Why So Misunderstood? 29 -- Chapter 3 Monkey in the Mirror 56 -- Chapter 4 Human Evolution and the Art of Climbing Trees 79 -- Chapter 5 Enigmatic Neanderthals 107 -- Chapter 6 How Did We Achieve Humanity? 138 -- Chapter 7 Written in Our Genes? 169 -- Chapter 8 Where Now? 185. "The fundamental questions of our origins - and our evolutionary future - find new life in this extraordinary book, full of delightful stories, scientific wisdom, and fresh insight."--Jacket. Just south of Tanzania's border with Kenya, the teeming Serengeti Plains are sundered by a giant thirty-mile-long and three-hundred-feet-deep gash.