After the Ice : A Global Human History 20,000-5000 BC

Rating:
Summary: Ticked at the author for mentioning Bryan Sykes
Review: Bryan Sykes is a scientist and bad egomaniac. This book speaks of Sykes's work on mtdna studies without mentioning what a conceited jerk Sykes really is. As fort other parts of rthis book: it is wrong the way this other author takes it for granted that we have no neanderthal genes in our dna (science hasn't quite proven that).

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant work of analogy - that works!
Review: I found this book in the University of Glasgow library for a paper I was writing on the complexity of early ceramic cultures (Jomon and Eastern Sahara). At first glance, it looked intriguing. At a closer look, it was simply stunning. Simple, yet elegant narrative pulls you into archaeological reference. All his facts are backed up in a smart, organized way - and better yet, are not suggested to be the ONLY thing to think.

If any book could so artfully show middle-range theory and analogy in an almost novel-like read, it is this one. Mithen has blown me away.