This is a very good book - one of the very best. Simply stated definitely read this book if you are a serious student of human origins. I think you should consider buying the book; it's a good value and is a good summary reference book.
But - contrary to other reviewers - I don't think it's a good introductory text. it's basically well written and minimizes technical jargon, but if you are not familiar with the field you would get more from it and appreciate it even more from reading an introductory book(s) first. (E.g. a true introductory text like Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins by Carl Zimmer or slightly more advanced books by Chris Stringer or Ian Tattersall)
One reviewer called it A Hominid Family Photo Album - which is very apt - as it' subtitle says "A Guide to Twenty-Two Species of Extinct Humans". It's mostly presentations of the collective species - not about individual fossils but a generalization of the species as a whole.
The best part are the reconstructions - IMHO - the best out there. They are artistically and realistically portrayed - but most importantly, they don't over-humanize the soft features of the species before homo-erectus (a problem with other recent artistic representations). The author's credit Ian Tattersall with guiding their reconstructions, and it shows. They also include some interesting information about their reconstruction process and the history of representations of hominids. The reader should be aware that each of these reconstructions are based on the best current information possible, but still involve inferences and speculation. And the earliest species are very speculative (and the book should really make this point more apparent).
The book has a brief summary of basic facts about the species. The descriptions of the scientific data available on the different species was a good synopsis of the species bones, age, environment, possible diet and anything else that might be known.
But for me the greatest and under appreciated aspect of the book is that it gives a fairly objective evaluation of species and fossils status and what can reliably inferred from fossils and other evidence - and where some scientists are making weakly substantiated inferences or outright speculations. I don't think it's possible to find a better summary and it will give a serious student insight to the field. This book is full of such gems.
Creationist might jump at this because it exposes the uncertainty in the field, but the truth is - the field is far from set. It's in the process of unfolding - true of most sciences, but especially true of human origins which has only recently been able to locate and focus on the right locations of fossils in the right time periods. It's better that this information has been made accessible to us so we have a true picture of this interesting field.
You will find very little about evolutionary processes, genetics, determining age or related information and nothing about the field processes or fossil analysis but this doesn't appear to be the intent of the book - and a reader would benefit from other books more focused on those areas.
There is almost nothing about individual fossils or details about the collecting areas - beyond what is summarized for the species as a whole. But given the summary intent of the book, I am not certain this is necessary. Readers should just be aware that they will have to find that information elsewhere.
To the authors - Very good job. But as good as it is, the book can be significantly improved. Ralph D. Hermansen's review makes several valuable suggestion which I heartly endorse. In addition I would note that the book shows very few fossils - 15 total, mostly skulls and only one skeleton and could benefit from more. There is little about potential lineages and very little on interspecies comparisons and about the development of bipedalism and its relationship to the evolution of Hominids. Also I would have liked to know which specific fossils the reconstruction are based on and what assumptions and deductions/inductions did they make to develop the reconstructions. All of this would support the central purpose of the book, and I believe make it more beneficial.
Finally I join other reviewers who are not that enthusiastic about the little vignettes at the first of each chapter. Intriguing idea to give the reader insight into the lives of the hominids, but in executing them - less fantasy and more science might be better.
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Brilliant and beautiful, this book may be helpful to those who find human evolution difficult to understand or accept.The artwork is spectacular and succeeds at bringing long-extinct hominids back from the dead.I highly recommend this book for both casual science fans and serious students of human evolution.I recently gave a guest lecture on early hominids at my children's school and showed the students some of the art from this book in addition to my own replica skulls. They were blown away. The story of our origins--as described by the evidence--is fascinating and irresistible to virtually everyone who has a curious mind.I only wish I could give this gorgeous book more than five stars!I also recommend:Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It MattersEvolution Boxed SetWalking With Cavemen--Guy P. Harrison, author ofRace and Reality: What Everyone Should Know About Our Biological Diversityand50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God-
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Josquine
From a lay point of view...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 4, 2009Flemming Damgaard Nielsen
Really nice book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 29, 2013
