Quest: The Essence of Humanity [Hardcover]

Charles Pasternak (Author), Baruch Blumberg (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470851449 | ISBN-13: 978-0470851449 | Publication Date: August 18, 2003 | Edition: 1

An intriguing work of history, philosophy, and popular science that explores the human desire to quest.

Scientists continually look for the genetic factors that make humans so very different in appearance and behaviour from most animals - the genes that are uniquely human. Respected biochemist and author Charles Pasternak argues that such genes do not exist. Instead, he suggests that it is our desire to quest - for food and shelter, for knowledge, for wealth, for adventure - coupled with our unique physical abilities to do so that have controlled our evolution and have led humans to develop away from closely related animals.

In this intriguing work of history, philosophy, and popular science, Pasternak uses his extensive biological knowledge to discuss man's nature and achievements, his genetic makeup, and his evolution.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…I can recommend Quest: The Essence of Humanity...one of the most thought-provoking books to come my way for some time…" (The Sunday Telegraph., 20 July 2003)

"…fluent, fast-moving…Quest is controversial…which all ambitious works like this one should be…" (New Scientist, 23 August 2003)

"…I really enjoyed this book…What impressed me throughout was Parsternak’s use of science…" (M2 Best Books, 7 December 2003)

From the Inside Flap

For years science, philosophy and religion have sought to find the single factor that makes humans different from other animals. Many confidently expected to find a human gene - a single element possessed by no other animal that made us unique. Charles Pasternak believes that such a gene does not exist. Humans differ from other primates only in small changes of genes that are common to both.

Pasternak argues that it is the heightened ability of humans to quest beyond their immediate needs that has driven human development. The upright human posture, together with physically skilful hands, a sophisticated vocal cord and three times as many cortical neurons as a chimpanzee, have put humans in their highly advantageous position.

This thoughtful work spans science, philosophy, religion and the arts, to examine the past and the future of the human race.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470851449
• ISBN-13: 978-0470851449
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,681,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING - PLACES EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT CONTEXT, March 23, 2008

By 

S. Daryanani (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Quest: The Essence of Humanity (Paperback)

I met Professor Pasternak a few years ago and looked up to him as an excellent researcher and lecturer. In London, I kept in touch with him, as my department and laboratory were on the same corridor. A very modest and charming person, with as everyone can see an eminent background. This book has come as a surprise. He has managed to make a compendium of all human knowledge in a very readable book. I may be biased by both knowing the author and by being a physician, but it places all things human in its own context and for the layman clarifies and dismantles a number of myths normally taken for granted. Being a fan of books like Cosmos by Sagan, a number of the Asimov books on general knowledge, Jared Diamond and Stephen J Gould, i have no reservation whatsoever to put Quest by Prof Charles Pasternak well ahead of all these other icons. I am sure it will be a pleasurable need for anyone interested and with an open mind

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book!, September 8, 2006

By 

Sally Quick (Salem, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Quest: The Essence of Humanity (Hardcover)

I love this book - I'm almost finished with it. In every chapter, I've been highlighting things. For me, this was easily understandable, not being a scientist myself, although I work with them everyday.
The whole idea, to me, was fascinating - you can't stop the progress of "man", once our species had speech, a bigger brain, hands to grasp, and upright posture. Sometimes, progress is not good, but it cannot be stopped - man will always "quest" for something new.
I often think these things are bad - cloning - why do we need any more people in the world? But, our species will do it, nonetheless!