The Growth of Humanity [Hardcover]

Barry Bogin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471354481 | ISBN-13: 978-0471354482 | Publication Date: March 13, 2001 | Edition: 1

The Growth of Humanity Barry Bogin The growth of human populations and human physical growth are intimately related, and their combined study links several fields including anthropology, demography, economics, and history. The Growth of Humanity provides an introduction to key concepts, methods of research, and essential discoveries in the fields of human demography and human growth and development, particularly in relation to disease, nutrition, and aging. This book explains the evolution and significance of human life history, especially human childhood and adolescence, and shows how new stages of human development lead inextricably to the growth of the entire human population. Providing a comprehensive and exciting biocultural perspective into the uses of demography in the real world, this first volume in the new Wiley series, Foundations of Human Biology, explains how and why the way people grow leads to greater human reproductive success than that of any other mammal. Written in an appealing, accessible style, The Growth of Humanity reviews such topics as:
* How populations grow: history, methods, and principles of demography
* Basic principles of human growth and development
* Evolution of human life history
* Food, demography, and growth
* Migration and human health
* Anthropometric history
* The aging of humanity
* And much more
The Growth of Humanity is appropriate as an introduction for graduate students and advanced undergraduates studying human growth/development and demography while also proving to be a fascinating read for demographers, anthropologists, and human biologists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...using historical and archaeological evidence unavailable to the bards, Bogin...shows that both the human population and the human body are getting larger, and argues that the two phenomena are intimately linked..." (Reference & Research Book News, Vol. 16, No. 3, August 2001)

"...this book would be a wonderful text...it could be used for a wide array of courses...reflects the breadth of human biological research and...provides an important and exciting step in building a much-needed theoretical framework..." (American Journal of Human Biology, Vol. 1, January/February 2002)

"...excellent, skillfully written volume...It will serve as a valuable textbook for many courses...In fact, anyone with intellectual curiosity about the biological and social history of human populations will find a wealth of authoritative information...a novel approach to many subjects familiar to demographers, evolutionists, developmental biologists, and other life scientists. They should read it." (The Quarterly Review of Biology, June 2002)

this book should be an integral part of reading lists of all population-related courses (Population and Development Review, Vol. 28, No. 3, June 2002)

Review

The Growth of Humanity provides a unique and compelling perspective on human demography by placing it firmly in the broader context of human ecology and biology. It is a beautifully written work that should be equally stimulating to students, teachers, and anyone interested in either the human past or the human future. -- Peter T. Ellison, Harvard College Profesor of Anthropology, Harvard University, and author of On Fertile Ground

This text will provide students with a broad vision of the interactions between the growth of humans (in size) and the growth of humankind (in numbers). It is written in the matter-of-fact style that characterizes Bogin's work, and is full of great examples. -- Darna L. Dufour, Chair,Anthropology Department, University of Colorado, Boulder

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Liss; 1 edition (March 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471354481
• ISBN-13: 978-0471354482
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,904,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ecellent synthesis, July 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Growth of Humanity (Hardcover)

Bogin, who is quickly becomming a very important anthropologist and scholar in general, has written a fine book combining work in growth, ecology, and population studies. Written in his usual terse but quick style, this is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the future of humanity.