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hades9stages's review against another edition
2.0
discovered that i literally couldn’t care less about human biological evolution or history
leemac027's review against another edition
4.0
I found this such a fascinating book! Adam Rutherford has produced a work that explains many complex and intricate subjects but in a way that lay people can understand, plus it is entertaining. This is probably due to his background as a scientist and a science writer.
Rutherford carefully takes us on the journey of how we became us - or the evolution of humans and a bunch of other species. If you happened to think that humans were the only violent, strange and slightly obtuse species on the planet, then you are wrong and this book has so many examples of behaviour that is odd, endearing but sometimes violent.
I loved learning about the many and varied behaviours of our ancestors but also of so many other species including the way bottlenose dolphins will use one species, the sea sponge, to hunt others, prickly sea urchins, crabs and other spikey creatures.
He also delves into genetics, speech development and self awareness - much of which separates humans from other animals.
Such an entertaining and educational book.
Rutherford carefully takes us on the journey of how we became us - or the evolution of humans and a bunch of other species. If you happened to think that humans were the only violent, strange and slightly obtuse species on the planet, then you are wrong and this book has so many examples of behaviour that is odd, endearing but sometimes violent.
I loved learning about the many and varied behaviours of our ancestors but also of so many other species including the way bottlenose dolphins will use one species, the sea sponge, to hunt others, prickly sea urchins, crabs and other spikey creatures.
He also delves into genetics, speech development and self awareness - much of which separates humans from other animals.
Such an entertaining and educational book.
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, the Experiment, and Adam Rutherford for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
Like:
- Opportunity to learn even more about evolution
- Shows the specific genetics and behaviors that contribute to evolutionary change
- Many visuals to help with understanding of the text
Love:
- Everyone can learn something from this book
- Complex information that’s written in an easy to understand way. You don’t need a college degree in science to understand the information
Dislike:
- Not so much a dislike, but more of a warning- there’s chapters on sexual activity ( because how else are new animals and humans created) It goes in depth into various sexual activities, mating practices, and genital touching. So heads up, if you end up listening as an audiobook without headphones.
Wish that: —
Overall, a well written, comprehensive book about the step by step process of evolution. Written in an interesting easily accessible manner. I definitely recommend if you’re interested in the topic!
Like:
- Opportunity to learn even more about evolution
- Shows the specific genetics and behaviors that contribute to evolutionary change
- Many visuals to help with understanding of the text
Love:
- Everyone can learn something from this book
- Complex information that’s written in an easy to understand way. You don’t need a college degree in science to understand the information
Dislike:
- Not so much a dislike, but more of a warning- there’s chapters on sexual activity ( because how else are new animals and humans created) It goes in depth into various sexual activities, mating practices, and genital touching. So heads up, if you end up listening as an audiobook without headphones.
Wish that: —
Overall, a well written, comprehensive book about the step by step process of evolution. Written in an interesting easily accessible manner. I definitely recommend if you’re interested in the topic!
mikecross's review against another edition
3.0
The first half of the book was very good, but then just wondered off into small specific topics with little cohesion. Could have been much better with more work. A good general introduction to the topic.
ela_35's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
I thought that this was an interesting book, but there were some parts that I wasn’t interested in.
The chapters that I liked the most were the ones that would talk about a behaviour and then show/compare it to that behaviour in other animals.
I didn’t really like the chapters that were solely focused on the tools and the different Homo species that used them in time as it was a bit boring.
There were definitely intriguing parts of this book, but there were also bits that I wasn’t too interested in.