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Richard Leakey

The Origin Of Humankind (Science Masters Series) Paperback – August 23, 1996

by Richard Leakey (Author)

56 ratings

Part of: Science Masters (14 books)

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"The name Leakey is synonymous with the study of human origins," wrote The New York Times. The renowned family of paleontologists -- Louis Leakey, Mary Leakey, and their son Richard Leakey -- has vastly expanded our understanding of human evolution. The Origin of Humankind is Richard Leakey's personal view of the development of Homo Sapiens. At the heart of his new picture of evolution is the introduction of a heretical notion: once the first apes walked upright, the evolution of modern humans became possible and perhaps inevitable. From this one evolutionary step comes all the other evolutionary refinements and distinctions that set the human race apart from the apes. In fascinating sections on how and why modern humans developed a social organization, culture, and personal behavior, Leakey has much of interest to say about the development of art, language, and human consciousness.

Print length

190 pages
Language

English
Publication date

August 23, 1996
Dimensions

5 x 0.48 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

9780465053131
ISBN-13

978-0465053131
Lexile measure

1280L
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Origin of Humankind is Richard Leakey's final statement on human evolution. Deriving its power from the author's unquestioned authority in the field of paleontology, and enriched by his new interest in wildlife, this book answers the question: What made humans human? Leakey argues that when one of our hominid ancestors acquired the ability to walk upright (called "bipedalism"), the evolution of modern humans became possible, perhaps even inevitable. All other human evolutionary refinements and distinctions can be seen as related to this one dramatic step. In fascinating sections on how and why modern humans developed a social organization, culture, and personal behavior, Leakey enhances our understanding of the nature and evolutionary role of art, language, and human consciousness.

About the Author

Richard Leakey is the author of People of the Lake, The Making of Mankind, One Life, Conservation: Save the Elephants, Origins, and Origins Reconsidered (the latter two with Roger Lewin).

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0465053130
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; Reprint edition (August 23, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780465053131
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465053131
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1280L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.48 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #889,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #371 in Scientific Reference
- #384 in Physical Anthropology (Books)
- #736 in Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychology

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Customer reviews

5 star		57%
4 star		26%
3 star		12%
2 star		4%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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hijodeganas

A lot more readable than I expected

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2013

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I cannot comment on this particular subject matter or this particular author, as I am fairly new to them both, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised at how readable this piece of academia was. While it often fairly tediously covers the different species of homo throughout natural history, it does so in a way that is fairly engaging and by no means incomprehensible to the layman (such as myself). It's also a fairly short read, and I found myself even more interested in this particular subject and quite intrigued by just how complex a subject human evolution is by the end of it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is already very interested in this particular area of study, but a novice at it.

3 people found this helpful

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eagerreader

origin of humankind

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2014

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Everything went smoothly up to the arrival
the content of the book is a very good star for all who are interested in humanities
It's good to do business the way it goes
So I recommand to everybody

One person found this helpful

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Susan

Anything Leakey is 5 stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017

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Anything Leakey is superb. The parents were true heroes in helping us understand our past. Richard is an amazing role model of what is best in Homo Sapiens. He lives what he preaches.

One person found this helpful

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oscar mc donald

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2017

good

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2014

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good

One person found this helpful

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William olkowski

The Origin of Human Kind

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2011

Book Review: The Origin of Humankind, by Richard Leaky. 1994.
171 pp. Perseus Book Group.

Tags: Leakey, archeology, human origins, bipedalism, Australopithecines.

When I saw this book among the list produced by E.R. Hamilton Book Sellers I knew it would be good because I knew the name of Leakey as being a family of archeologists who had made pioneering discoveries of fossil humans. This small, inexpensive book (ca. $5.) is special because it explains how archeologists think about their discoveries of skeletons, tools, drawings, etc. and what they tell us about the history and development of Homo sapiens. Leaky has the great ability to tell the story without loosing the interest of the reader, even though the subject is complex. His enthusiasm for his subject is contagious.

One of the great things about this book is opposite the credit page - a diagram that synopsizes the main events in the origin story starting in Africa at 10 to 5 million years back. I wish I had this drawing when reading the books by Fagan about early human archeology, e.g., CroMagnon). Between 10-5 mya was a time when we became bipedal. Bipedalism was a response to the change in Africa that went from almost total forest to savannah. Bipedalism means a greater home range as a two legged animal can run faster and longer than a four legged animal. This was a necessary step in leaving trees and Africa.

The synoptic diagram covers up to the current time which is labeled as the "technological revolution". The evidence as we progress through the different species and tool makers is presented to the reader for examination. The story starts as what maybe the earliest known fossil primate/Homo sp?, called Australopithecus afarensis, on the line to H. sapiens. But see the book "The Link" which carries the story much further back to about 70 million years ago. Leakey's story is about how we became who we are, particularly as tool makers, artists and organisms that speak, and evolve social civilizations.

Even though this book is over 15 years old Leakey's presentation brings a clarity because it has maps, diagrams of skulls and skeletons for comparisons, family trees, photographs of tools, special bones with the signs of butchery, but above all his clarity of thought. As someone presenting scientific ideas the reader can judge for themselves based on the evidence which Leaky presents.

What seems so odd is that so many people today do not know this story and seem to work hard to avoid learning about where they came from. Will further evolution of humans lead to a variety of humans who do not think rationally; and then a new species of irrationals? Or has that always been the case? But as more and more humans learn more and more will this mounting irrationality finally stop? Maybe it's not just the amount of learning but the type of learning. Let's hope the latter is the case as we are now in a race to catch up to an environment we have created that threatens our existence. Big changes ahead no matter what future awaits.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Quick read that stay with you forever

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2011

If you want to meet Richard Leakey, you must read his short little summative book, The Origin of Humankind (Perseus Books 1984). In this manuscript, he explains in plain English so all of us non-doctoral candidates can understand what he has concluded after a lifetime of research it is that differentiates you and I from other animals. Much has been made of the human-ness of our close cousins, the Great Apes. Between chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, even orangutans, we see a lot of ourselves in their actions, decisions, parenting, culture. These blur the line between what really makes us human and them not. Heck, genetically, there is only 1.2% difference in our DNA--how different could we really be?

There have been tests to answer that very question. Those tests are what drove Jane Goodall into the field to see how exactly chimps were animals while she was human. Every test she ran them through, they passed. What happened when she returned from the field to show this to her scientific colleagues? They changed the tests--moved the goal posts.

At one time, the hurdle was that the animal species must be able to use tools. That fell to Goodall's first fieldwork research in Tanzania. Then it was they must be able to use tools to make tools. That fell, too--I believe again to Goodall's research. Then it was they must be able to identify themselves (Sue Savage-Rumbaugh crushed that one?), problem solve, visual thinking--what about symbolic thinking? I come away shaking my head, trying to clear out the multiplying requirements.If we are all part of the same human bush, I want to know. You should want to know, too.

Richard Leakey tackled that complicated problem in this 170-page book. He starts by discussing human evolution, how we differ from other primates in unique ways. He then discusses several areas that anthropologists have a difficult time finding in other species--art, language, ethical judgments, and mental skills. Yes, anthropologists do find them in other species, but not consistently and not the way man uses these. You'll find the discussion fascinating.

He does skip one trait I think has never been refuted: Man is the only species I know that chooses to think rather than sleep or eat. Most animals spend their days hunting or resting up to hunt. The great apes throw play into the mix, but are there any species that choose to think about their future, problems, create solutions, explore for the sake of adventure in the way we do?

You can read this book in a weekend. It'll change your thinking for a lifetime. Don't miss it.

3 people found this helpful

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Pen Ten

A very fine reading

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2013

There are great books on the subject but this is one of the most fertile. Starting from here, you can explore modern anthropology based on steady grounds, even if you disagree with Leakey. A must.

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Top reviews from other countries

S P Mead

a good book about human evolution

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2016

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This is a book about the evolution of humankind. It applies Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection to the evidence (then available), i.e. early human fossils, and seeks to outline the state of anthropological knowledge as it existed in the mid-1990's. While further evidence has subsequently come to light, allowing for new developments and insights, the theory of evolution and the broad approach offered by anthropology remains the same ... indeed, the theory has been increasingly tested by the new evidence, and in consequence it has been vindicated. So, although aspects of this book are now somewhat dated, the underlying theory and arguments remain sound.

This is a well-written book, with a popular readership intended. The author, Richard Leakey (a respected scientist within anthropology), presents his ideas with clarity and precision, and as such this book is a highly useful educational tool. It explores human prehistory, from approx. 7 million years ago to approx. 100,000 years ago - i.e. from when there were several species of bipedal ape through to the origin of modern humans. Leakey examines the evolutionary changes that occurred - and in so doing draws, in part, on ecology and psychology. The book examines language, art, and the Mind.

For the most part, this book is a summary of the work and findings of anthropologists during the 20th century. These aspects of the book remain relevant. As such, if you're studying the history of science then this might well be an important book. But I also recommend this book to anyone fascinated by the story of human evolution. Given that the book is so easy to follow and understand, it's a rewarding read.

3 people found this helpful

Miss Alison Houghton

Great condition

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2019

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Arrived promptly and in great condition. Perfect for A level studies. Thank you!

Katey S

Accessible anthropology

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2012

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Excellent read. Written in Leakey's usual informative but approachable style. The book explores the development of modern humans by examining different strands of anthropological thought and study but at no point does it overburden the reader with scientific jargon or hypothesis.

John L.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 29, 2016

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Thanks

Niu Khaihua

Beautifully written

Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2017

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One of the most engaging account of not only the origin of human but also how scientists struggle to understand it.

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