The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!!
Review: Informative, interesting, and contrary to what Anthony, ... said, a very enjoyable read. This book was recommended to me by one of my professors and was far beyond simply worthwhile; it was scientifically accurate and absolutely fascinating. Ian Tattersall's unique writing style is what makes it that way!!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on human evolution ever written!
Review: The author of this book writes a highly readable account on the history and biology of human evolution. I was captivated by his ability to make such a difficult subject so interesting and palatable. Tattersall eases through five million years of primate ancestry and a hundered and fifty years of convoluted theories on human evolution, hitting all of the highlights of important fossil discoveries. The author, however, approaches the human fossil record as a biologist, interpreting and reporting what he observes with lapidary skills that go unchallenged by any anthropologist. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in knowing more about human evolution than most anthropologists.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating history of ideas about human evolution.
Review: Too often we forget that what we believe today is heavily determined by what our predecessors thought. Nowhere is this more true than it is in the study of human evolution, as Ian Tattersall elegantly shows in this smooth-flowing and highly readable book. By blending an engaging account of the discovery of the human fossil record with the history of paleoanthropological analysis, the author shows how the variety of current interpretations arose, and offers an intriguing alternative of his own. If you want to understand where all the controversies that currently rage around the subject of human evolution originated, this lively and well-written book is the source for you.