From the Beginning: The Story of Human Evolution (Library Binding)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Examines the history of life on Earth and traces the course of human evolution.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co (April 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688094767
• ISBN-13: 978-0688094768
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #269,870 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, engrossing explanation, May 9, 2003

By	Mike Mcnally "SUPER DAD 103" (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book. It's like a very detailed version of the little "string art" animation of evolution in Sagan's "Cosmos" series. The book includes copious diagrams of species and their relationships, body morphology through successive species, and interesting drawings of many selected species along the ancestry of Hominids. It's geared for, maybe, 12 to 15 year old kids, though my five year old loves me to read sections, and I pore over it too!

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of Mammalian evolution, February 25, 2004

By	Brandon H. Einhorn (Millburn, NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm 41 and interested in Science. I was looking for a good overview of the evolution of Mammals and what were the important evolutionary developments. Some of the books I've read are very detailed, and take many pages discussing the evolution of a part of the skull, or a single bone in the wrist. I'm not a professional scientist and not interested in that much depth.

What I liked about this book is it touched upon many things, without being too detailed. It discusses the gradual development and improvement of animals. Such as the development of the mouth, gills, and finally jaws. How different types of teeth formed, and their function. How the skeletal structure of certain animals changed, allowing them to walk on lad, and then walk far or land. Some Mammals chew their food, allowing them to break it down faster than those that just swallow it. The Montremes (mammals that lay eggs like the Platypus) branched off around 200 million years ago, the Marsupials more recently.

Its got some nice charts, and will take a few hours to read.
After reading this book, you will have a general idea of Mammalian/Human evolution and can decide if you want to study it in greater depth and read other books on the subject.