Rating: 
Summary: In solitary splendour
Review: Coming from a man with Tattersall's qualifications, this book springs real surprises on the reader. Viewing the human evolutionary process in reverse, he begins with Paleolithic age art and retains a strongly European oriented view thoughout the book. Presented an image of "superior" European founders of our cultural heritage, it's almost impossible to shed the WASP image he conjures in the reader. While it's convenient to replace "Homo sapiens" with the [hopefully] less cumbersome "Cro-Magnon", Tattersall leaves us in no doubt that either label remains limited to the European scene.Confirming this narrow view in the first chapter, he offers the astonishing statement that "art, as such, is a concept invented by Western civilization." This proposal might be forgiven as an editing oversight, if the remainder of the book didn't sustain it. Conceding Australian Aborigine art as "curious", he fails to note it predates his beloved French gallery by ten millennia. Coming from a Curator of Anthropology, it's an astonishing submission. Broadening our view, readers are cautioned to spend time on Chapter 3, "Evolution for What?" A review of various renderings of Darwin's evolution by natural selection, the aim of the chapter is to disabuse readers of the idea that evolution has a purpose. However, there's a subtle agenda. Not hidden, subtle. He gives us the background of Darwin's thinking in developing the thesis, following that with 20th Century investigators possessing the tools of genetics. Assembling scholars from the mid-twentieth century, he builds what he labels the "Evolutionary Synthesis" which generally supported the idea of gradual change in species. Based on genetics, the Synthesis challenged patterns exhibited by the fossil record. A new challenge arose, this time against the Synthesis, in the form of the Eldredge-Gould idea of punctuated equilibrium, or "evolution by jerks." Tattersall abandons any remaining objectivity at this point to defend his chum Eldredge against critics. While granting absolution to Eldredge and Gould's "inevitable" overstatement of their case, he condemns George Williams and Richard Dawkins for their focus on genetic adaptation as the centrepiece of evolution's process. Labelling Dawkins a "reductionist" in proposing the gene drives evolution, he claims that such ideas are "always attractive to the human mind". Tattersall contends Dawkins' viewpoint "eliminates anything larger than the individual gene as an actor in the evolutionary process". Like most of Dawkins' critics, Tattersall deftly ignores Dawkins' repeated reminder that "the individual gene" works in concert with its fellows and its host organism within the broader environment. Although an interesting review of the evolutionary scenarios, this chapter is almost a non-sequitur to the remainder of the book. In a bizarre turn for an anthropologist, Tattersall blithely discounts the scope of studies in primate--human behaviour patterns. Having declared art an artefact of Western Civilization, he ignores the many examples of art by animals other than human. Elephants, chimpanzees and others have produced art that fooled even the critics, but Tattersall ignores its existence. Overlooking physical disparities between humans and other primates, he disparages claims that chimpanzees can develop even rudimentary language skills. In short, based on language, art and cognitive abilities, humans are simply too unique to be grouped with our primate cousins. Finally, Tattersall traces the hominid exodus from Africa. A single sentence acknowledges early hominids in eastern Asia. From that he gives extended attention to emigration into Europe. Contending with Neanderthal populations which preceded them, the Cro-Magnon directly overcame Neanderthal. How was this feat accomplished by a creature with a smaller brain than that of its adversary? He gives early hominid tool-makers enhanced cognitive skills instead of learning by sheer opportunism. In line with Eldredge's "evolutionary jerks," this grants these "Cro-Magnon" a sudden intellectual growth spurt leading to tool production, a questionable assumption. Once established, this process increased Homo sapiens' intellect giving them dominance over their larger but "dumber" fellows. Neanderthals at best were imitative, lacking originality and inventiveness. In a novel proposal for establishment of human communities, Tattersall suggests they're based on the human birth canal. Unlike other primates, the canal's position makes births difficult enough to require assistance. Gatherings of midwives led to interdependent communities of individuals. Contributing language skills enlarged the capacity of these communities to form more cohesive establishments - the village. Language is also granted the primary role for Cro-Magnon's elimination of Neanderthal - communication is a key military element. Conquest allowed the leisure for artistic skills to follow. While this book is offers many assertions departing from consensus paleoanthropology, perhaps it's that very aberration that gives it value. While the mainstream path of evolution clearly refutes the idea of punctuated equilibrium, there's no disputing the course of human evolution is abrupt and unique. No other species has achieved the intelligence level of Homo sapiens nor, as Tattersall reminds us, has any species established global occupation. This book is a valuable read for the novelty of many its assertions. It should not, therefore, be read and comprehended in isolation. Other studies on evolution's course and humanity's place on it should join this book on your shelves.
Rating:
Summary: In solitary splendour
Review: Coming from a man with Tattersall's qualifications, this book springs real surprises on the reader. Viewing the human evolutionary process in reverse, he begins with Paleolithic age art and retains a strongly European oriented view thoughout the book. Presented an image of "superior" European founders of our cultural heritage, it's almost impossible to shed the WASP image he conjures in the reader. While it's convenient to replace "Homo sapiens" with the [hopefully] less cumbersome "Cro-Magnon", Tattersall leaves us in no doubt that either label remains limited to the European scene. Confirming this narrow view in the first chapter, he offers the astonishing statement that "art, as such, is a concept invented by Western civilization." This proposal might be forgiven as an editing oversight, if the remainder of the book didn't sustain it. Conceding Australian Aborigine art as "curious", he fails to note it predates his beloved French gallery by ten millennia. Coming from a Curator of Anthropology, it's an astonishing submission. Broadening our view, readers are cautioned to spend time on Chapter 3, "Evolution for What?" A review of various renderings of Darwin's evolution by natural selection, the aim of the chapter is to disabuse readers of the idea that evolution has a purpose. However, there's a subtle agenda. Not hidden, subtle. He gives us the background of Darwin's thinking in developing the thesis, following that with 20th Century investigators possessing the tools of genetics. Assembling scholars from the mid-twentieth century, he builds what he labels the "Evolutionary Synthesis" which generally supported the idea of gradual change in species. Based on genetics, the Synthesis challenged patterns exhibited by the fossil record. A new challenge arose, this time against the Synthesis, in the form of the Eldredge-Gould idea of punctuated equilibrium, or "evolution by jerks." Tattersall abandons any remaining objectivity at this point to defend his chum Eldredge against critics. While granting absolution to Eldredge and Gould's "inevitable" overstatement of their case, he condemns George Williams and Richard Dawkins for their focus on genetic adaptation as the centrepiece of evolution's process. Labelling Dawkins a "reductionist" in proposing the gene drives evolution, he claims that such ideas are "always attractive to the human mind". Tattersall contends Dawkins' viewpoint "eliminates anything larger than the individual gene as an actor in the evolutionary process". Like most of Dawkins' critics, Tattersall deftly ignores Dawkins' repeated reminder that "the individual gene" works in concert with its fellows and its host organism within the broader environment. Although an interesting review of the evolutionary scenarios, this chapter is almost a non-sequitur to the remainder of the book. In a bizarre turn for an anthropologist, Tattersall blithely discounts the scope of studies in primate--human behaviour patterns. Having declared art an artefact of Western Civilization, he ignores the many examples of art by animals other than human. Elephants, chimpanzees and others have produced art that fooled even the critics, but Tattersall ignores its existence. Overlooking physical disparities between humans and other primates, he disparages claims that chimpanzees can develop even rudimentary language skills. In short, based on language, art and cognitive abilities, humans are simply too unique to be grouped with our primate cousins. Finally, Tattersall traces the hominid exodus from Africa. A single sentence acknowledges early hominids in eastern Asia. From that he gives extended attention to emigration into Europe. Contending with Neanderthal populations which preceded them, the Cro-Magnon directly overcame Neanderthal. How was this feat accomplished by a creature with a smaller brain than that of its adversary? He gives early hominid tool-makers enhanced cognitive skills instead of learning by sheer opportunism. In line with Eldredge's "evolutionary jerks," this grants these "Cro-Magnon" a sudden intellectual growth spurt leading to tool production, a questionable assumption. Once established, this process increased Homo sapiens' intellect giving them dominance over their larger but "dumber" fellows. Neanderthals at best were imitative, lacking originality and inventiveness. In a novel proposal for establishment of human communities, Tattersall suggests they're based on the human birth canal. Unlike other primates, the canal's position makes births difficult enough to require assistance. Gatherings of midwives led to interdependent communities of individuals. Contributing language skills enlarged the capacity of these communities to form more cohesive establishments - the village. Language is also granted the primary role for Cro-Magnon's elimination of Neanderthal - communication is a key military element. Conquest allowed the leisure for artistic skills to follow. While this book is offers many assertions departing from consensus paleoanthropology, perhaps it's that very aberration that gives it value. While the mainstream path of evolution clearly refutes the idea of punctuated equilibrium, there's no disputing the course of human evolution is abrupt and unique. No other species has achieved the intelligence level of Homo sapiens nor, as Tattersall reminds us, has any species established global occupation. This book is a valuable read for the novelty of many its assertions. It should not, therefore, be read and comprehended in isolation. Other studies on evolution's course and humanity's place on it should join this book on your shelves.
Rating:
Summary: High-brow but good ideas
Review: First the good new:
Mr. Tattersall has some interesting ideas and keeps them concise.
The bad news:
His language is alittle high-brow for me. Be sure you have a dictionary handy.
I also would have liked a chapter on the different kinds of dating methods.
I would recommend reading Richard Leakey's ORIGINS RECONSIDERED if you want something more accessible.
Rating: 
Summary: A very fine and detailed narrative of human evolution
Review: How long have we waited for such a comprehensive and detailed account of our evolutionary history, at last given by one of the world's leading authorities in the field of paleoanthropology. Ian Tattersall has dared to render a fascinating narrative, abandoning hundreds of tedious scientific references in favor of a fluent, yet personal account of how our "Becoming Human" may have progressed throughout history. The author leads the reader through a wealth of information available from fossil records. Starting with 20th century scientists, like Tattersall himself, who study and admire, yet puzzle over paleolithic cave art, Tattersall then trails backwards to our very earliest human ancestors to develope a cohesive explanation of how evolving hominids with their increasing brain capacities have finally, albeit almost certainly accidentally, given rise to who we are today. A fine work indeed, and a must-read for all those curious enough to seek answers as to the origins and evolutionary processes that lead to "our old familiar - and potentially dangerous - selves."
Rating:
Summary: Sweeping and coherent account of human development
Review: I enjoyed this book very much, not being a professional anthropologist. I understand the criticism that it may be elementary it its approach; however, there is an audience of intelligent people who need to be introduced to the subject in this way. I have been seeking such a work on human origins for several years. Many of them start well but soon soar into the stratosphere of technical overkill and lose me. For those who have a professional's understanding of the field, I am sure you can locate more in depth resources. For the rest of us, I highly reccomend this book. It is an up to date summary and a pretty good yarn as well.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but too shallow and mediocre authorship
Review: Ian Tattersall is a middle-of-the-road writer whose main fault is his failure to capture the public's imagination as Richard Leakey and Donald Johanson so skillfully accomplished. No doubt his book is geared for the beginner layman audience, with interesting and up-to-date facts, but for any individual who has prior experience concerning this topic, the book may prove a bit boring. If you're looking for a somewhat more in-depth and informative book, don't miss Tattersall's The Fossil Trail: How We Know What we Think We Know About Human Evolution. It has some very good pictures with good descriptions.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent, though somewhat flawed. erudition
Review: Ian Tattersall's discourse on what makes us (humans) unique - and the unincredulous evolutionary processes that worked to ensure that uniqueness - is remarkable. Doing so in 241 pages is equally impressive. Tattersall begins visiting various Cro-Magnon communities in an introductory chapter titled "The Creative Explosion". This creative end-around entices the reader to plug through the intervening chapters, which lay the foundation for a truly awe-inspiring final chapter on what it means to be human. If I were to summarize the second chapter, "The Brain and Intelligence: Humans and Apes", I would be remiss not to say that apes are, as is obvious to most, not our intellectual equals. In fact, according to Tattersall, apes are not in our intellectual and perceptual leagues. This thesis is supported ad infinitum by examples of linguistic and tool-manufacturing abilities of our closest extant relatives, the chimpanzee. And appropriately these themes follow in subsequent chapters. "Evolution - For What?" (the 3rd chapter) introduces the reader to the past as well as present evolutionary theories, and Tattersall does an adequate job of explanation. As the author so often did in this book, more will be said about his theory of evolution later. Chapters 4 and 5 are devoted to our ancestry, beginning with the australopiths and ending with the Neanderthals. This brief survey of about 5 millions years of human evolutionary history attempts to fill in the cognitive and behavioral gap that exists between ourselves and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. Very concise yet equally informative. Incredibly passionate, tempered with reason, Tattersall closes his discourse with what it means to be human, an elusive and often contradictory phenomenon. If you get bored with the chapters 2 - 5, skip to this chapter. It should make the previous four tolerable. Without giving away the ending, I would comment that most of Tattersall's conclusions are based on valid criteria. He also admits the limits of paleoanthropology, which leads him to hypothesize quite a bit. Such deduction, although unfortunate, makes for interesting reading. Simply put, though, this final chapter answered a lot of questions I had about the direction Tattersall was going. In its passion and science, it is remarkable. There are almost always points in a book where I either totally disagree with an author or where I think sufficient evidence is lacking for an author to derive his/her conclusions. This book is no different. I will start by noticing Tattersall's unending assurance that the great apes (along with the rest of the living creatures) are not to be viewed as our cognitive lessers. Yeah, right. Apparently, Ian was hoping that this bit of information would accord apes the humane treatment that they rightfully deserve. However, claiming that they just exploit their environments in other ways and that these ways are neither inferior or superior to ours does not hold much water. Secondly, Tattersall's assumption that evolution is a random event is equivocal at best, especially when viewed through the lens of physics. While evolution may be a chaotic event, it is, in my opinion, not random. Any undergraduate with an inkling of intelligence could surmise that. However, that is the prevailing thought, and who knows if I am right? Certainly, technology has not advanced to the point of adequately answering that question. My third beef with the author is his assumption that language is a necessary precursor to symbolic thought. Unaided by facts, he (correctly or incorrectly) assumes that because the necessary anatomical features requisite for speech are not found in Neanderthals, they (or any others) were not capable of symbolic thought. While this assumption has its gravitational allure, it is made with insufficient scientific data. The book was an excellent read, and I could say many more things about it, but instead I would encourage you to make your own conclusions. Happy reading.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, though somewhat flawed. erudition
Review: Ian Tattersall's discourse on what makes us (humans) unique - and the unincredulous evolutionary processes that worked to ensure that uniqueness - is remarkable. Doing so in 241 pages is equally impressive. Tattersall begins visiting various Cro-Magnon communities in an introductory chapter titled "The Creative Explosion". This creative end-around entices the reader to plug through the intervening chapters, which lay the foundation for a truly awe-inspiring final chapter on what it means to be human. If I were to summarize the second chapter, "The Brain and Intelligence: Humans and Apes", I would be remiss not to say that apes are, as is obvious to most, not our intellectual equals. In fact, according to Tattersall, apes are not in our intellectual and perceptual leagues. This thesis is supported ad infinitum by examples of linguistic and tool-manufacturing abilities of our closest extant relatives, the chimpanzee. And appropriately these themes follow in subsequent chapters. "Evolution - For What?" (the 3rd chapter) introduces the reader to the past as well as present evolutionary theories, and Tattersall does an adequate job of explanation. As the author so often did in this book, more will be said about his theory of evolution later. Chapters 4 and 5 are devoted to our ancestry, beginning with the australopiths and ending with the Neanderthals. This brief survey of about 5 millions years of human evolutionary history attempts to fill in the cognitive and behavioral gap that exists between ourselves and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. Very concise yet equally informative. Incredibly passionate, tempered with reason, Tattersall closes his discourse with what it means to be human, an elusive and often contradictory phenomenon. If you get bored with the chapters 2 - 5, skip to this chapter. It should make the previous four tolerable. Without giving away the ending, I would comment that most of Tattersall's conclusions are based on valid criteria. He also admits the limits of paleoanthropology, which leads him to hypothesize quite a bit. Such deduction, although unfortunate, makes for interesting reading. Simply put, though, this final chapter answered a lot of questions I had about the direction Tattersall was going. In its passion and science, it is remarkable. There are almost always points in a book where I either totally disagree with an author or where I think sufficient evidence is lacking for an author to derive his/her conclusions. This book is no different. I will start by noticing Tattersall's unending assurance that the great apes (along with the rest of the living creatures) are not to be viewed as our cognitive lessers. Yeah, right. Apparently, Ian was hoping that this bit of information would accord apes the humane treatment that they rightfully deserve. However, claiming that they just exploit their environments in other ways and that these ways are neither inferior or superior to ours does not hold much water. Secondly, Tattersall's assumption that evolution is a random event is equivocal at best, especially when viewed through the lens of physics. While evolution may be a chaotic event, it is, in my opinion, not random. Any undergraduate with an inkling of intelligence could surmise that. However, that is the prevailing thought, and who knows if I am right? Certainly, technology has not advanced to the point of adequately answering that question. My third beef with the author is his assumption that language is a necessary precursor to symbolic thought. Unaided by facts, he (correctly or incorrectly) assumes that because the necessary anatomical features requisite for speech are not found in Neanderthals, they (or any others) were not capable of symbolic thought. While this assumption has its gravitational allure, it is made with insufficient scientific data. The book was an excellent read, and I could say many more things about it, but instead I would encourage you to make your own conclusions. Happy reading.
Rating:
Summary: A lively and personal view of human evolution
Review: Many books on human evolution cite authority after authority and end up confusing the reader without developing a consistent point of view. Not this one. The author has clear and consistent view of the human past -- and future -- and articulates it in lively language. From his considerations of the differences that separate Homo sapiens from their nearest living relatives, the apes, to his account of how those differences were acquired, this is the most thoughtful treatment of the subject yet available. This book is for everyone who takes an interest in how humans got to be the way they are.
Rating: 
Summary: straightforward intro
Review: Read as part of barnes-noble online classes in human evolution. A good pick for an intro textbook on rise and evolution of us. Last chapter with required scientist speaks out on revelance of his work was the only chapter that i found myself skimming rather then reading. nothing spectacular or controversial, careful analysis with nicely written prose makes it a natural for a general text on the subject.
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