The Human Odyssey: Four Million Years of Human Evolution [Paperback]

Ian Tattersall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2001

This newly updated text chronicles a history of human evolution starting three and a half million years ago, when two upright figures walked together across the Laetoli desert in Tanzania, and their footsteps were captured forever in volcanic ash. Were these remarkable footprints made by one of our earliest ancestors, and what can they tell us about the human evolutionary journey?This is just one of me puzzles of the compelling story of human evolution explored in this volume. Based on the new Hall of Human Biology and Evolution at the American Museum of Natural History, the most extensive exhibition of the subject ever designed, The Human Odyssey examines how both significant fossil finds and startling new theories have been used by scientists to trace the path of human evolution.Here are the stories behind such famous fossil discoveries as Gigantopithecus, the "Black Skull," "Java Man," and "Lucy," and the surprising clues they reveal about the date and place of human origins. Here too are the bold theories and controversies that have influenced the field of evolution, from the idea of natural selection put forth by Charles Darwin to the new role that DNA analysis plays in fossil research.Illustrated throughout with more than a hundred photographs, drawings, maps, and stunning artistic re-creations of early humans and their environment. The Human Odyssey is virtually a portable museum devoted to this fascinating subject. Drawing from the latest research in both the laboratory and the field, it clearly illuminates some of the most provocative questions scientists have ever asked: Where did we come from, and how did we become what we are today?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Intended as a companion volume to the newly opened Hall of Human Biology and Evolution at the American Museum of Natural History, this book stands well alone. Opening chapters survey life's diversity, highlight human biological systems, and define the place of humankind within the animal kingdom. Upon this foundation, Tattersall--a noted anthropologist and a curator at the museum--interweaves information on fossil finds, artifacts, climate, geology, biology, and sociology to create a vivid depiction of the evolution of primates into Homo sapiens. Current mainstream opinions, alternate views, and earlier theories are explained in a well-balanced fashion. The addition of top-quality photos, maps, charts, and artist's reconstructions makes for an inviting package accessible to both young adult and lay readers. The result is similar in scope and quality to Roger Lewin's In the Age of Mankind: A Smithsonian Book of Human Evolution ( LJ 12/88). Highly recommended for general collections.
- Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Ian Tattersall received his Ph.D. in Geology and Geophysics from Yale University and has been a curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York since 1971 and chairman of the Department of Anthropology since 1990. His articles have appeared in Nature, Scientific American, Natural History, and other journals. His books include The Monkey in the Mirror and Becoming Human. He has hunted fossils and studied primates around the world, and in 1974, he discovered a new Lemur species in Madagascar, which was subsequently named Propithecus tattersalli. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059518698X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595186983
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,207,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Human evolution for the common man, August 11, 2004

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Human Odyssey: Four Million Years of Human Evolution (Hardcover)

Ian Tattersall does a marvelous job of setting forth four million years of human evolution. He covers the disagreements among paleontologists and their colleagues, offers up competing theories and, on the whole, does a wonderful job of explaining what we think we know about human evolution.

While not overly complex, the book does require fairly intense reading. The illustrations are extremely well selected and presented. I highly recommend this for anyone with an interest in exploring human evolution.

Jerry

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Informative, February 7, 2012

By 

MJM "An informed liberal" (PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Human Odyssey: Four Million Years of Human Evolution (Paperback)

I'm a 69yo college graduate. I certainly have had exposure to human evolution theory all my life. However, there are holes in my knowledge and this book wonderfully and entertainingly fills in these gaps. Tattersall not only informs but also knows how to teach. It is fun and exciting to read his book. I highly recommend it. I also thank the author.

4 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 billion years of human evolution, November 28, 2002

By 

Anthony M. Frasca (East Setauket, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Human Odyssey: Four Million Years of Human Evolution (Hardcover)

Since Tattersall starts his book with the formation of the first living cells, the book actually encompasses 4 billion years of evolution. Nonetheless, this is a nice entry level book for a high school student interested in learning about the basics of paleontology and paleoanthropology. The chapters are short and crisp. The illustrations are well thought out and appropriate. Tattersall also nicely ties the book into the goings on at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, a great place to see some of the exhibits about which he writes. Some of Tattersall's information is stale because advances in paleoanthroplogy are happening so quickly.
There is one rather bizarre comment in the foreword by Donald Johanson. He writes, "Like no other species that has ever lived, we control the life of all living things -- including ourselves...Extinction is forever. We must not let it happen." This is surprising coming from such an educated man. Every good student of evolution knows that every species, including Homo sapiens, is destined for extinction. To suggest that Homo sapiens can exert some control over this process is egotistical nonsense.