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A review by uditnair24
Tamed: Ten Species That Changed Our World by Alice Roberts
4.0
This book is enlightening and really well researched. The biggest advantage is that its updated with all the recent research and hence it makes it a one stop solution with respect to the species mentioned. The book might be little overwhelming because of the information present but its worthwhile to go through till the end which talks about humans.
The most incredible insight I gathered from the book is that we humans tend to create boundaries and distinctions. But biology seems to break those barriers again and again. The book starts with the most beautiful alliance man had that is dogs. It's really interesting how the eurasian wolf exerted selective pressure on humans and we did vice versa. So that terrier, that german shepherd, that labrador and all other breeds we know so well are technically a wolf at heart but one which is more friendlier and less dangerous than its wild cousins.
Then the author goes on to explain the evolutionary history of wheat and maize. Wheat played a pioneer role in neolithic revolution and then maize also took over in many regions.
The evolutionary history of potatoes and other tubers was very insightful and interesting. The need to dig up tubers and the relative advantage it offers in terms of energy was immense in earlier times. Along with wheat rice also played a key role in neolithic revolution and all has been mentioned very nicely in the book.
Another interesting species were the horses.
Humans and horses have a long history of interspecies cooperation. One which is often neglected if compared to species like dogs. The origin and further evolution of horses and the selective pressures on both species is indeed a treat to read and the author keeps it very interesting amidst giving out scientific details about it.
The last chapter of the book is actually the most insightful one. Not only because it deals with humans but it gives us a larger picture. The larger picture is that all biological species are interlinked and to assume that we are at the helm of everything would be demeaning and ofcourse would be arrogance. This could be elaborated with respect to natural and artificial selection. This very distinction is artificial to be precise. Because humans are not the only species which affect the evolution of others. Our very existence depends on interdependency. For eg bees have affected the evolution of so many other species and just because they cant sit and reflect on it doesnt mean they didnt drive the change in ecosystem.
The final blow to our mastery of nature comes when we consider the relatively small number of species that we have been able to recruit as our allies. For a species to become a successful ally it had to possess a certain qualities which would - when the occasion presented itself - act as predispositions to become human domesticates.
Also while domesticating other species we also got domesticated in the long run. This was done in order to live cohesively in a society where communication and cooperation was the key to survival.
The book ends with beautiful lines which kind of summarises the whole point which is " There are divisions here between the wild and the domesticated, the untamed and the tamed. But in the end, it's all one : a tangled bank, beautifully intertwined for eternity.
The most incredible insight I gathered from the book is that we humans tend to create boundaries and distinctions. But biology seems to break those barriers again and again. The book starts with the most beautiful alliance man had that is dogs. It's really interesting how the eurasian wolf exerted selective pressure on humans and we did vice versa. So that terrier, that german shepherd, that labrador and all other breeds we know so well are technically a wolf at heart but one which is more friendlier and less dangerous than its wild cousins.
Then the author goes on to explain the evolutionary history of wheat and maize. Wheat played a pioneer role in neolithic revolution and then maize also took over in many regions.
The evolutionary history of potatoes and other tubers was very insightful and interesting. The need to dig up tubers and the relative advantage it offers in terms of energy was immense in earlier times. Along with wheat rice also played a key role in neolithic revolution and all has been mentioned very nicely in the book.
Another interesting species were the horses.
Humans and horses have a long history of interspecies cooperation. One which is often neglected if compared to species like dogs. The origin and further evolution of horses and the selective pressures on both species is indeed a treat to read and the author keeps it very interesting amidst giving out scientific details about it.
The last chapter of the book is actually the most insightful one. Not only because it deals with humans but it gives us a larger picture. The larger picture is that all biological species are interlinked and to assume that we are at the helm of everything would be demeaning and ofcourse would be arrogance. This could be elaborated with respect to natural and artificial selection. This very distinction is artificial to be precise. Because humans are not the only species which affect the evolution of others. Our very existence depends on interdependency. For eg bees have affected the evolution of so many other species and just because they cant sit and reflect on it doesnt mean they didnt drive the change in ecosystem.
The final blow to our mastery of nature comes when we consider the relatively small number of species that we have been able to recruit as our allies. For a species to become a successful ally it had to possess a certain qualities which would - when the occasion presented itself - act as predispositions to become human domesticates.
Also while domesticating other species we also got domesticated in the long run. This was done in order to live cohesively in a society where communication and cooperation was the key to survival.
The book ends with beautiful lines which kind of summarises the whole point which is " There are divisions here between the wild and the domesticated, the untamed and the tamed. But in the end, it's all one : a tangled bank, beautifully intertwined for eternity.