Ancestors: In Search of Human Origins [Hardcover]

Donald Johanson (Author), Lenora Johanson (Author), Blake Edgar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 1994

Recounts the world-famous paleoanthropologist's attempts to solve the mystery of human evolution, using evidence uncovered during his recent forays into the fossil-rich regions of Eastern Africa. TV tie-in. 35,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This copiously illustrated companion to a PBS-TV Nova series stands on its own as an exciting, balanced survey of raging controversies in the study of human origins. Paleoanthropologist Johanson, famed for his 1974 discovery of "Lucy," an Ethiopian hominid fossil, takes readers to Australia to assess significant new fossil evidence supporting the "Multiregional Model," which holds that modern humans arose in various parts of the world over the last million years (as opposed to the rival "Out of Africa," model which posits Africa as the single geographical source for our species). Writing in the first person in collaboration with his scientist-filmmaker wife Lenora and science writer Edgar, Johanson ( Lucy ) re-creates field expeditions and interviews scientists as he scrutinizes such questions as why hominids bothered to walk erect and whether Neanderthals coexisted (and interbred) with Homo sapiens . Newbridge Natural Science Book Club main selection; BOMC alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A companion volume to the PBS Nova television series, this book reads much like a nature documentary soundtrack. Johanson, the paleoanthropologist world famous for his discovery of the "Lucy" Australopithecine fossil and director of the Institute of Human Origins, ably guides the reader on a quick tour of our hominid ancestors. Along the way we visit several current controversies, including the evolution of bipedalism, Homo sapiens ' place of origin, and the question of whether Neanderthals are ancestral to modern humans. Johanson does a good job of sketching conflicting interpretations of the fossil record, giving time to differing viewpoints while being honest about his own beliefs. This book's readability and nontechnical, chatty, yet authoritative tone make it an excellent choice for school and public libraries.--Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/93.
- Eric Hinsdale, Trinity Univ. Lib., San Antonio
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 339 pages
• Publisher: Villard; 1st edition (February 8, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679420606
• ISBN-13: 978-0679420606
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,144,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to paleoanthropology, April 22, 2003

By 

Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancestors: In Search of Human Origins (Hardcover)

Although this book is the "companion" to the Nova TV series it stands well on its own, in a conversational style. The book does a good job of introducing human ancestors, starting with Lucy - the female Australophitcus afarensis, that launched Dr. Johanson's career and fame. Perhaps what the book does best, is introduce the study of paleoanthropology and archeology by presenting both sides of topics. For example: did modern humans all came out of Africa or evolve in separate places throughout Europe and China?; when and why did hominids first walk on two legs (scavenger or hunter)?; are Neanderthal's our ancestors? He presents how studying anatomy helps understand the physical changes needed to walk on two feet and to give birth to a large brained baby. He also introduces the recent idea of "experimental archeology" that conducts trials on current landscapes or prey to see how early hominids may have lived. At the time of the book were the beginnings of studies with mitochondrial DNA. His conclusion about the birth of art, may be tentative, but should provoke interesting thoughts. If you can see the TV special, it also includes conveys a better feel of the conditions the archeologists are working under, and also vintage film of some of the finds.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully done..., December 18, 2010

By 

Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ancestors: In Search of Human Origins (Hardcover)

As a companion book to a NOVA is was well made. Wonderful cover, tons of photos, many in color, good paper, and Donald Johanson and Lenora Johanson, with help from Blake Edgar, are wonderful authors. They know how to bring a story to life, to make you feel the heat, the sand in your shoes, the people they meet.
The only real problem with it all is it was published in 1994 right on the edge of the next stage of revolutionary discoveries that will rock the very foundations of anthropology. The information collected since then, the ideas that have been born, lived, and died. Our knowledge about Neanderthals alone has shot off like a rocket. Just this YEAR alone, we have learned about the DNA within ourselves that came from them. And also found artwork by them in Spain!
So, it you wish to bring yourself up to date here is some books I would suggest.
First, a old one to read is The Hunters or the Hunted?: An Introduction to African Cave Taphonomy which is also cited in the book. I would also read From Lucy To Language which is a wonderful book that allows you to see the fossils themselves. For the DNA side of the history of humankind I would suggest both The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey and The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry. To round it out, to fill in the details, I would also suggest Extinct Humans, along withThe Mind in the Cave: Consciousness and the Origins of Art and the newest What Does It Mean to Be Human?. Funny enough, even they are outdated by this year's discoveries.