Exploring the Evolution of our Ancestors by Adriaens, Dominique;

Short description:

The main body of the book focuses on diet, brain, locomotion and skin. This book not only promises to enrich our understanding of human evolution but also challenges us to reconsider what it means to be human in the light of our ancient lineage and ongoing evolutionary journey.

Long description:

This is a captivating evolutionary narrative of the human body, exploring the pivotal traits that make humans unique as a species. It provides a better understanding of why we look the way we do, through an evolutionary morphological lens, by delving into the functional explanations for the unique characteristics of us and our ancestors and the evolutionary pathways that shaped them. It integrates changes in anatomy with functional shifts, but also with underlying genetic and environmental transformations that drove our evolution. The main body of the book focuses around four fundamental themes that have evolutionarily sculpted us into who we are today, ever since the shared origin with the chimpanzee: diet, brain, locomotion and skin. This book not only promises to enrich our understanding of human evolution but also challenges us to reconsider what it means to be human in light of our ancient lineage and ongoing evolutionary journey. It also:

• Provides a complete overview of the major events of human evolution;


• Helps readers understand why our body has been shaped the way it is;


• Integrates genes, anatomy, function, behavior and ecology, creating a more complete picture, written in an accessible text while incorporating many facts and figures building upon both historic and recent literature;


• Offers an up-to-date view of how anthropologists currently see our evolution;


• Focuses on four fundamental changes in the brain, diet, skin and locomotion;


• Explains some aspects of what humans are experiencing today (e.g., why some people are lactose intolerant).

Adriaens delivers an engaging and evidence-rich tour of human evolution that brings functional morphology to life. By tracing how diet, brains, skin, and locomotion interacted to shape the human body, this book offers a compelling synthesis of genetics, anatomy, behavior, and ecology. The result is a richly referenced and highly readable guide to both our evolutionary past and the biological realities we live with today—a superb bridge between textbook precision and popular-science storytelling.”

David Raichlen, Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology, University of Southern California

Table of Contents:

Introduction. 1. Fragments of our existence 2. What makes us unique? 3. The equatorial Eden 4. The human cradle 5. The forest opens up 6. Fully erect! 7. Conquer the world8. What now? References.