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Thumbs, Toes, and Tears: And Other Traits That Make Us Human
The fascinating evolutionary links between six seemingly unremarkable traits that make us the very remarkable creatures we are. Countless behaviors separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom, but all of them can be traced one way or another to six traits that are unique to the human race―our big toe, our opposable thumb, our oddly shaped pharynx, and our ability to laugh, kiss, and cry. At first glance these may not seem to be connected but they are. Each marks a fork in the evolutionary road where we went one way and the rest of the animal kingdom went another. Each opens small passageways on the peculiar geography of the human heart and mind. Walter weaves together fascinating insights from complexity theory, the latest brain scanning techniques, anthropology, artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, and robotics to explore how the smallest of changes over the past six million years – all shaped by the forces of evolution -- have enabled a primate once on the brink of extinction to evolve into a creature that would one day create all of the grand and exuberant edifices of human culture. As the story of each trait unfolds, Walter explains why our brains grew so large and complex, why we find one another sexually attractive, how toolmaking laid the mental groundwork for language, why we care about what others think, and how we became the creature that laughs and cries and falls in love. Thumbs, Toes and Tears is original, informative, and delightfully thought-provoking.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
8 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Chip Walter
13 books81 followersI am an author, National Geographic Explorer, filmmaker and former CNN bureau chief. Mostly because of my irrational curiosity, I've developed an unusually broad background that spans both science and entertainment. I have written and sold multiple screenplays, but my sixth book, Doppelgänger, is my first novel, a science fiction thriller that explores a post-dystopian world where the main character is faced with solving his own murder, and where artificial intelligence approaches human consciousness. More details on that here: https://chipwalter.com/doppelganger.)
My earlier books include Immortality, Inc. -- Renegade Science, Silicon Valley Billions, and the Quest to Live Forever for National Geographic. It's available in bookstores everywhere. Salon's review: “Walter has clearly gained the trust of some of the most innovative and imaginative thinkers of the early 21st century, and in doing so he's able to offer the reader a glimpse inside their minds. And what we find there is certainly colorful. Whatever one thinks of the quest for immortality, it is impossible not to be intrigued by it”. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “While Immortality, Inc. is focused on aging and the efforts to defy it, the book is also a gripping chronicle of private-sector experimentation and ingenuity.” “Witty … worth the ride,” wrote Nature, and Publisher’s Weekly calls the book, “Fascinating.” It was chosen one of the nation’s top six science books by Malcolm Gladwell’s Next Big Idea Club.
Other books include Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived; Thumbs, Toes and Tears – And Other Traits That Make Us Human (Walker –– Bloomsbury Publishing); I’m Working on That with William Shatner (Simon and Schuster); and Space Age for Random House, the companion volume to the primetime PBS series that I developed back in the stone age.
I have been fortunate enough to have my books published in eight languages that have reached mainstream audiences from Kyoto to Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Krakow, God help them.
The New York Times Book Review, called Last Ape “a lively journey… that takes an antic delight in the triumphal adaptations and terrifying near misses of human evolution.” ”The New Yorker called it “engaging” and “fascinating.” And Booklist called it, “captivating, informative, exceptionally well-written and accessible.” Thumbs, Toes and Tears also received some nice reviews: Publisher’s Weekly wrote“fascinating and superbly written,” while Kirkus Reviews said, “Walter narrates with flair and enthusiasm.”
When I did a stint in Hollywood, I sold screenplays to Universal/Imagine Films, Tri-Star and Warner Bros. I've written tons of articles over the years for National Geographic, The Economist, Slate, the Wall Street Journal, and Scientific American, among many others covering subjects from the origins of kissing, laughter and human consciousness to the origins of human art and the development of futuristic technologies. My work as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, have taken me all over the place -- from the Amazon Rain Forest and Outback of Australia to the Serengeti and remote islands of the Pacific. Even Antarctica as part of my current project with his wife Cyndy to travel all seven continents, never by jet.
Sorry for piling all of that information on you, but there's just a bit more. I'm deeply fascinated with two seemingly unrelated subjects – human behavior, and the increasingly rapid advance of technology and its effect upon our lives and society. I believe no technology, no matter how powerful, can succeed unless it connects positively and effectively on a human level. (Thus Doppelgänger.) To smooth the immense and disruptive transitions that lie ahead, I feel it's crucial for us to not only understand the power of emerging technology, but also to better comprehend the core attributes that make human
My earlier books include Immortality, Inc. -- Renegade Science, Silicon Valley Billions, and the Quest to Live Forever for National Geographic. It's available in bookstores everywhere. Salon's review: “Walter has clearly gained the trust of some of the most innovative and imaginative thinkers of the early 21st century, and in doing so he's able to offer the reader a glimpse inside their minds. And what we find there is certainly colorful. Whatever one thinks of the quest for immortality, it is impossible not to be intrigued by it”. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “While Immortality, Inc. is focused on aging and the efforts to defy it, the book is also a gripping chronicle of private-sector experimentation and ingenuity.” “Witty … worth the ride,” wrote Nature, and Publisher’s Weekly calls the book, “Fascinating.” It was chosen one of the nation’s top six science books by Malcolm Gladwell’s Next Big Idea Club.
Other books include Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived; Thumbs, Toes and Tears – And Other Traits That Make Us Human (Walker –– Bloomsbury Publishing); I’m Working on That with William Shatner (Simon and Schuster); and Space Age for Random House, the companion volume to the primetime PBS series that I developed back in the stone age.
I have been fortunate enough to have my books published in eight languages that have reached mainstream audiences from Kyoto to Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Krakow, God help them.
The New York Times Book Review, called Last Ape “a lively journey… that takes an antic delight in the triumphal adaptations and terrifying near misses of human evolution.” ”The New Yorker called it “engaging” and “fascinating.” And Booklist called it, “captivating, informative, exceptionally well-written and accessible.” Thumbs, Toes and Tears also received some nice reviews: Publisher’s Weekly wrote“fascinating and superbly written,” while Kirkus Reviews said, “Walter narrates with flair and enthusiasm.”
When I did a stint in Hollywood, I sold screenplays to Universal/Imagine Films, Tri-Star and Warner Bros. I've written tons of articles over the years for National Geographic, The Economist, Slate, the Wall Street Journal, and Scientific American, among many others covering subjects from the origins of kissing, laughter and human consciousness to the origins of human art and the development of futuristic technologies. My work as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, have taken me all over the place -- from the Amazon Rain Forest and Outback of Australia to the Serengeti and remote islands of the Pacific. Even Antarctica as part of my current project with his wife Cyndy to travel all seven continents, never by jet.
Sorry for piling all of that information on you, but there's just a bit more. I'm deeply fascinated with two seemingly unrelated subjects – human behavior, and the increasingly rapid advance of technology and its effect upon our lives and society. I believe no technology, no matter how powerful, can succeed unless it connects positively and effectively on a human level. (Thus Doppelgänger.) To smooth the immense and disruptive transitions that lie ahead, I feel it's crucial for us to not only understand the power of emerging technology, but also to better comprehend the core attributes that make human
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 19, 2007
Woah.
Chip Walter's premise in Thumbs, Toes, and Tears, is pretty simple: What makes us different from other animals? Why and how did those differences evolve, and how does it affect us today?
The results are extraordinary. This is a rare book: an extremely informative and well-referenced book that is easy and fun to read, and will have your brain working overtime comprehending all that it's about. He breaks it down into chapters that sort of focus on each trait, and each one becomes more of a mystery as the book progresses, starting with our large toes being the precursor to us walking upright, our remarkably childlike appearance as compared to other animals, our opposable thumbs and long fingers, our huge an inefficient brains and the extremely efficient network of capillaries in our scalp that keeps it cool.
The last half progresses into the harder stuff: Why do we laugh? Why do we cry? Why do we kiss? Walter is quick to point out when noted scientists are really only guessing, and when they feel more confidant about their findings. He boils down what must be hundreds of behavioral studies into an easily-digestible format. The whole thing is utterly fascinating.
I'm sure the next time I see someone cry on TV I'll be thinking of the hormones that tears vent out of our body when we are sad. Or thinking of how strange laughter must seem to primates. The whole thing is an intriguing window on what makes us such unusual beasts.
Chip Walter's premise in Thumbs, Toes, and Tears, is pretty simple: What makes us different from other animals? Why and how did those differences evolve, and how does it affect us today?
The results are extraordinary. This is a rare book: an extremely informative and well-referenced book that is easy and fun to read, and will have your brain working overtime comprehending all that it's about. He breaks it down into chapters that sort of focus on each trait, and each one becomes more of a mystery as the book progresses, starting with our large toes being the precursor to us walking upright, our remarkably childlike appearance as compared to other animals, our opposable thumbs and long fingers, our huge an inefficient brains and the extremely efficient network of capillaries in our scalp that keeps it cool.
The last half progresses into the harder stuff: Why do we laugh? Why do we cry? Why do we kiss? Walter is quick to point out when noted scientists are really only guessing, and when they feel more confidant about their findings. He boils down what must be hundreds of behavioral studies into an easily-digestible format. The whole thing is utterly fascinating.
I'm sure the next time I see someone cry on TV I'll be thinking of the hormones that tears vent out of our body when we are sad. Or thinking of how strange laughter must seem to primates. The whole thing is an intriguing window on what makes us such unusual beasts.
July 4, 2017
This was an interesting book all and all. The writing was engaging and informative, and seemed very well researched.
It reminded me of the book "Your Inner Fish", which I recommend over this one.
However, I have issues with some of the findings that are presented. For example, on the chapter about tears Walter cites that women cry more often than men, possibly due to more hormones that need to be released (specifically prolactin). He then states that children of the two genders cry about the same amount until puberty hits, where women begin to cry more.
While this is fine and all, his complete disregard for any social pressures on this finding was upsetting, especially as he later dismisses the 'need to release excess hormones' theory later on in the chapter.
There are small, but noticeable, comments in the foot notes, and inclusions of certain studies that show a certain bias with the author in terms of gender roles, attitudes, and behavior. (Another example was that when discussing what prehistoric women would look for in a man he lists honesty/reliability/power while a prehistoric man would look purely for "nice strings of DNA" and "ample breasts, shapely hips...", trivializing only women to sex objects/Or when he shared support that men "excel in tasks...like mathematics while women excel at... language")
His commentary and handling of autism was also misguided and distressing.
Besides that, each chapter is not solely based on its topic, it often wanders for more than necessary. For example, the chapter on kissing spends six pages on pheromones (out of twenty two pages).
While I found some of this distasteful, it didn't wholly ruin the book for me.
It reminded me of the book "Your Inner Fish", which I recommend over this one.
However, I have issues with some of the findings that are presented. For example, on the chapter about tears Walter cites that women cry more often than men, possibly due to more hormones that need to be released (specifically prolactin). He then states that children of the two genders cry about the same amount until puberty hits, where women begin to cry more.
While this is fine and all, his complete disregard for any social pressures on this finding was upsetting, especially as he later dismisses the 'need to release excess hormones' theory later on in the chapter.
There are small, but noticeable, comments in the foot notes, and inclusions of certain studies that show a certain bias with the author in terms of gender roles, attitudes, and behavior. (Another example was that when discussing what prehistoric women would look for in a man he lists honesty/reliability/power while a prehistoric man would look purely for "nice strings of DNA" and "ample breasts, shapely hips...", trivializing only women to sex objects/Or when he shared support that men "excel in tasks...like mathematics while women excel at... language")
His commentary and handling of autism was also misguided and distressing.
Besides that, each chapter is not solely based on its topic, it often wanders for more than necessary. For example, the chapter on kissing spends six pages on pheromones (out of twenty two pages).
While I found some of this distasteful, it didn't wholly ruin the book for me.
September 3, 2014
Anyone remember Desmond Morris’s The Naked Ape? This is similar … and similarly amazing. You’ll be surprised to learn how our bodies evolved to be what they are today, but even more amazed at the end of the book by what the author says is coming for our species. Startling! Things we take for granted — crying, kissing, how we talk, our unique way of reproducing — all have big consequences for our survival. It’s a fascinating account of the little things that make us “human.” How some embrace bogus stuff like “intelligent design” and ignore science is astounding to me. This is a fun read, and you’ll never think about your body the same way again. Rating: 4 out of 5 very essential big toes.
February 16, 2015
A wonderful tale that very successfully merges evolution and psychology. I have read this book in middle school, and to this day remember so many of the ideas discussed within. It blew my mind and literally changed my life, since it started a love of science that determined my choice of degree and - hopefully - a career. It is a very easy and fascinating read, always to the point and capable of surprising the reader with every chapter.
March 10, 2009
I went into a bookstore, next door, and they get a bunch of books weekly, that have not been published yet. And they get to review them, and send in comments, corrections, and suggestions. Well, in that stack was this book, and I started reading it then and there. Great read. Smart, cohesive, and gripping. Let your kids read this book, and soon.
August 29, 2010
What a fun read. T,T and T focuses on certain adaptations that are purely human, roughly in the order they occurred (if scientists have thoughts on that), showing just how amazing they are and how they pushed us towards being human. It makes just walking down the street more inspiring when you're appreciating your big toe making it possible. Humans rock!
September 24, 2012
all in all, a very good overview of human evolution and what sets us apart from other animals. at times it seems like the author tried a little too hard to fit everything into neat little categories, but that's a small quibble, because the evidence is presented clearly and interestingly, and the reader is left in awe of nature generally, and humans in particular.
September 22, 2008
I love this book because it's based on science AND very readable. The thing I remember the most is learning about how the brain developed. I also learned about how and why our ancestors started walking upright, using their brains, and the subsequent challenges to birthing children.
March 17, 2009
I thought this book was very informative and well written. It was easy to understand all of the scientific information that the author had gathered and it was all very interesting.
January 14, 2010
VERY good book, so far. If you've ever wondered how humans came to speak, learn a language, and just evolved to be able to do such human things, this is a book with an answer.
February 6, 2011
Humans are awesome! A little repetitive, but otherwise interesting book on the theories about how we evolved specific traits and which came first. 4.5 stars
June 26, 2011
Gained an appreciation of the importance of our big toes (among other things).
August 11, 2025
This book, Thumbs, Toes, and Tears: And Other Traits, started very well. It begins with an analysis of toes and the evolution of the big toe in what would eventually become humans. The details are very clear, and the writing flows very smoothly. This is an excellent analysis and examination of how this trait provided the foundation for the evolution of humans.
Next, the book touches on the evolution of thumbs. And the author does a good job of showing how the evolution of toes allows for evolution of the opposable thumb. It also touches lightly on the evolution of thumbs in animals and how their progress does not match humanity's fully opposable thumbs.
Lastly, the book touches on the evolution of the pharynx and how this allowed for the evolution of speech in a practical way for humanity. The third section here seems less definite and conclusive than the first two sections. Since the origin and evolution of language is much less biologically based (at least in comparison to the evolution of the big toe and the opposable thumb), it is harder to decisively conclude how language evolved in relation to the pharynx and physiological abilities/traits of humans. Still, the author does provide good details and scientific evidence/basis for the proposed foundation for language and its advantages in the development of humanity.
The next three topics examined are laughter, tears, and kissing. Each of these is interesting, but they seem much more speculative. The writing here is interesting, but lacking physiological need and evidence, it seems harder to embrace these details. Well, the author does present a physiological basis for progress of these developments and their effect on the evolution of humans. And to the author's credit, the explanations do seem to make very good sense. I guess the difference is that I read about the physiological changes in the first three chapters and see them fitting very effectively into the current physiological state of humanity. These last three sections, though, seem a bit less certain. The author does a very good job presenting the ideas, and I do believe the ideas support the theories presented by the author. Perhaps they just seem a little less consequential than the first three sections!
The book reads quickly. The author style is very effective. And I will praise the length of the book. To effectively explore these six ideas, the author does it quite well in just over 200 pages. Trying to further detail the sections would exhaust the material already presented. Nothing more needed to be said, and the author did a good job of limiting the examination to the points presented.
Finally, the author does wrap the book with his proposed next stage of evolution for the human species. This is a reference to Ray Kurzweil, and the author seems to embrace Kurzweil's prediction. The final three sections along with the conclusion caused me to have to rate the book at only four instead of five stars. The book starts so very strong! The last three sections along with the conclusion at the end seem less definite and evident from the evidence provided. But perhaps it is also just the speculative nature of the conclusions presented therein? Lastly, the author does also seem to believe the prediction of Kurzweil happening in the late 2020s. That's only 3 or 4 years away... It frightens me to think about and consider actually happening so perhaps I will just continue to live in a state of fear and denial!
Next, the book touches on the evolution of thumbs. And the author does a good job of showing how the evolution of toes allows for evolution of the opposable thumb. It also touches lightly on the evolution of thumbs in animals and how their progress does not match humanity's fully opposable thumbs.
Lastly, the book touches on the evolution of the pharynx and how this allowed for the evolution of speech in a practical way for humanity. The third section here seems less definite and conclusive than the first two sections. Since the origin and evolution of language is much less biologically based (at least in comparison to the evolution of the big toe and the opposable thumb), it is harder to decisively conclude how language evolved in relation to the pharynx and physiological abilities/traits of humans. Still, the author does provide good details and scientific evidence/basis for the proposed foundation for language and its advantages in the development of humanity.
The next three topics examined are laughter, tears, and kissing. Each of these is interesting, but they seem much more speculative. The writing here is interesting, but lacking physiological need and evidence, it seems harder to embrace these details. Well, the author does present a physiological basis for progress of these developments and their effect on the evolution of humans. And to the author's credit, the explanations do seem to make very good sense. I guess the difference is that I read about the physiological changes in the first three chapters and see them fitting very effectively into the current physiological state of humanity. These last three sections, though, seem a bit less certain. The author does a very good job presenting the ideas, and I do believe the ideas support the theories presented by the author. Perhaps they just seem a little less consequential than the first three sections!
The book reads quickly. The author style is very effective. And I will praise the length of the book. To effectively explore these six ideas, the author does it quite well in just over 200 pages. Trying to further detail the sections would exhaust the material already presented. Nothing more needed to be said, and the author did a good job of limiting the examination to the points presented.
Finally, the author does wrap the book with his proposed next stage of evolution for the human species. This is a reference to Ray Kurzweil, and the author seems to embrace Kurzweil's prediction. The final three sections along with the conclusion caused me to have to rate the book at only four instead of five stars. The book starts so very strong! The last three sections along with the conclusion at the end seem less definite and evident from the evidence provided. But perhaps it is also just the speculative nature of the conclusions presented therein? Lastly, the author does also seem to believe the prediction of Kurzweil happening in the late 2020s. That's only 3 or 4 years away... It frightens me to think about and consider actually happening so perhaps I will just continue to live in a state of fear and denial!
August 8, 2024
Having enjoyed one of his other books, I picked up this one thinking I would like that just the same. I didn't.
The first part on toes and thumbs was good. The author is really good in explaining the archeological finds in the light of human evolution. But after these, more physical traits, he continued on a more psychological path. This part was a lot less comprehensive. It read like the ramblings of someone not knowing exactly what he is talking about, but throwing all ideas, beliefs and misconceptions into one big bowl. A lot of text, but not very interesting. He had better kept to his expertise.
The first part on toes and thumbs was good. The author is really good in explaining the archeological finds in the light of human evolution. But after these, more physical traits, he continued on a more psychological path. This part was a lot less comprehensive. It read like the ramblings of someone not knowing exactly what he is talking about, but throwing all ideas, beliefs and misconceptions into one big bowl. A lot of text, but not very interesting. He had better kept to his expertise.
July 5, 2017
This is generally about our evolution but with some of our Special traits that make us human
June 23, 2012
I think I need to get this part out of the way. The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal by Jared Diamond is one of my favorite books if not my favorite book, warts and all. When you know something good then you tend to be interested in other things similar, right? I heard about this book and decided that it was going to be good. Hell, the title is even similar to one of Diamond's other books, Guns, Germs, and Steel.
I am now reminded of that time I told someone that my favorite movie was Miller's Crossing. They showed up the next day with a movie to loan to me and said, "If you like Miller's Crossing you'll love Road to Perdition." It was all I could do to be polite and not say, "No, I said Miller's Crossing is my favorite movie . You can't just walk in here and presume to know me better than I know myself and dictate my tastes to me." I did end up watching Road to Perdition and honestly I can't remember any of it. Horrible movie, a flawed example of the genre.
Let me tell you ... with regards to this book the reviews - as well as my own expectations, because I was excited to read something new in the same vein - have totally Perdition'd me.
Of course truly it's an unfair comparison from the start. Here's the fastest way I know to break it down:
1.) Jared Diamond is a scientist.
2.) Chip Walter is a science journalist.
If I'd realized that at the beginning then I may never have started this book.
Walter really gets off on humanity. He loves exploring it, thinking about it, turning it over in his hands and trying to really understand it, to see how every last piece fits together. This is what he writes about, in some of the most purple prose ever. Let me quote from the chapter on laughter:
"Laughter is one of the great mysteries of human behavior. It evades understanding and resists analysis, partly because it thoroughly combines the primal and intellectual parts of us. Yet we barely acknowledge what an unusual behavior laughing is, mostly because it is so woven into the woof and weave of our lives. Like the noses on our faces and the lobes of our ears, it's familiar to the point of invisibility. Yet if it were suddenly plucked out of our existence, we would be lost because we use it constantly to send strange and mysterious signals to one another."
Aside from the bizarre inaccuracy, what with me being almost completely unfamiliar with the lobes of my own ears, the phrase "it is so woven into the woof and the weave of our lives" is so gushingly dramatic it makes me kind of queasy.
Another tidbit, this one from the chapter on lips:
"It would be an altogether different and considerably less violent world if the limbic systems of every child emerged into adulthood untrammeled. On the other hand, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Woody Allen, and Alfred Hitchcock all would have been robbed of the fascinating, conflicted, obsessed characters they created to keep us in our seats and turning the pages of their unforgettable works. All of literature and entertainment has been built on the backs of our limbic systems and the conflicts they create."
I'm not interested in Mr. Walter's "My Top Five (Okay, Six) Writers Who Created Complex Characters", I'm interested in why humans use their lips the way they do. Unfortunately by the end of the chapter I felt no better educated.
Okay, I realize it's a popular science book. I'm just spoiled - by whom? Yes. Jared Diamond. Let me go ahead and beat that horse one more time - and expect my popular science to be served up in legible form without a heavy dose of English major. Fast, full of facts, and with conclusions that make me say, "Oh HOLY CRAP I never realized that's why X is like that!" I want my popular science to clarify and de-mystify the world around me. I can't say that happened to me once while reading this book. I know that Walter meant to make it accessible but to whom? Clearly to someone that is not me.
I am now reminded of that time I told someone that my favorite movie was Miller's Crossing. They showed up the next day with a movie to loan to me and said, "If you like Miller's Crossing you'll love Road to Perdition." It was all I could do to be polite and not say, "No, I said Miller's Crossing is my favorite movie . You can't just walk in here and presume to know me better than I know myself and dictate my tastes to me." I did end up watching Road to Perdition and honestly I can't remember any of it. Horrible movie, a flawed example of the genre.
Let me tell you ... with regards to this book the reviews - as well as my own expectations, because I was excited to read something new in the same vein - have totally Perdition'd me.
Of course truly it's an unfair comparison from the start. Here's the fastest way I know to break it down:
1.) Jared Diamond is a scientist.
2.) Chip Walter is a science journalist.
If I'd realized that at the beginning then I may never have started this book.
Walter really gets off on humanity. He loves exploring it, thinking about it, turning it over in his hands and trying to really understand it, to see how every last piece fits together. This is what he writes about, in some of the most purple prose ever. Let me quote from the chapter on laughter:
"Laughter is one of the great mysteries of human behavior. It evades understanding and resists analysis, partly because it thoroughly combines the primal and intellectual parts of us. Yet we barely acknowledge what an unusual behavior laughing is, mostly because it is so woven into the woof and weave of our lives. Like the noses on our faces and the lobes of our ears, it's familiar to the point of invisibility. Yet if it were suddenly plucked out of our existence, we would be lost because we use it constantly to send strange and mysterious signals to one another."
Aside from the bizarre inaccuracy, what with me being almost completely unfamiliar with the lobes of my own ears, the phrase "it is so woven into the woof and the weave of our lives" is so gushingly dramatic it makes me kind of queasy.
Another tidbit, this one from the chapter on lips:
"It would be an altogether different and considerably less violent world if the limbic systems of every child emerged into adulthood untrammeled. On the other hand, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Woody Allen, and Alfred Hitchcock all would have been robbed of the fascinating, conflicted, obsessed characters they created to keep us in our seats and turning the pages of their unforgettable works. All of literature and entertainment has been built on the backs of our limbic systems and the conflicts they create."
I'm not interested in Mr. Walter's "My Top Five (Okay, Six) Writers Who Created Complex Characters", I'm interested in why humans use their lips the way they do. Unfortunately by the end of the chapter I felt no better educated.
Okay, I realize it's a popular science book. I'm just spoiled - by whom? Yes. Jared Diamond. Let me go ahead and beat that horse one more time - and expect my popular science to be served up in legible form without a heavy dose of English major. Fast, full of facts, and with conclusions that make me say, "Oh HOLY CRAP I never realized that's why X is like that!" I want my popular science to clarify and de-mystify the world around me. I can't say that happened to me once while reading this book. I know that Walter meant to make it accessible but to whom? Clearly to someone that is not me.
July 18, 2019
This is fascinating reading if you are curious about human evolution, and how we became who we are. The author's unfortunate bias showed through in his discussion of gender in the chapters about tears. Most women would probably take offense at his needless stereotyping.
Chip Walter also discusses some possible futures of our species, and makes some pretty outrageous speculations seem almost plausible. Most of this book is very enjoyable reading and very informative.
Chip Walter also discusses some possible futures of our species, and makes some pretty outrageous speculations seem almost plausible. Most of this book is very enjoyable reading and very informative.
October 12, 2008
This book was full of interesting tidbits of information. The author outlined what he felt were the key characteristics that make us human, such as opposable thumbs and laughter, and how they evolved. He manages a good balance between scientific research and simple language that makes his theories seem believable and easily understood. My favorite sections were those dealing with laughter, language, and the ability to cry actual tears. I have always wondered how aspects such of these could have come about during the evolutionary process. It's hard to imagine how we made the leap from communicating with hand gestures to a complex system of language. Or how tears and laughter could have gained enough of a foothold to be passed down to future generations.
February 22, 2013
I first spoke with Chip Walter about Thumbs, Toes, and Tears for episode 13 of the C-Realm Podcast. I just put out episode 349, so Chip is one of the foundational guests of the podcast. I can't wait to speak with him about his new book, Last Ape Standing.
Here is a list of links to all of Chip Walter's appearances on the C-Realm Podcast:
http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/13...
http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/14...
http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/90...
Thank you, Chip!
Here is a list of links to all of Chip Walter's appearances on the C-Realm Podcast:
http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/13...
http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/14...
http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/90...
Thank you, Chip!
January 19, 2011
3.5 stars. This book was really interesting, and helped me remember how truly amazing our bodies really are. Also it had lots of cool info on early child development, and I had fun looking for the traits they talked about in my one year old.
Only 3.5 stars because I have a hard time deeply loving non-fiction books. Also, I felt like some of the points were made again and again and again and again. I got it the first time. It is a good read though.
Only 3.5 stars because I have a hard time deeply loving non-fiction books. Also, I felt like some of the points were made again and again and again and again. I got it the first time. It is a good read though.
March 13, 2012
A nice description of evolutionary theory framed around a few particularly human traits.
Our ability to learn outside the womb (vs instinct-only behaviour on account of genetics) is a big deal. This theme makes the epilogue's notion of cyber sapiens a bit less silly than usual because I happen to see culture as fitting well with technology to enable more changes. That's changes and not advances.
Our ability to learn outside the womb (vs instinct-only behaviour on account of genetics) is a big deal. This theme makes the epilogue's notion of cyber sapiens a bit less silly than usual because I happen to see culture as fitting well with technology to enable more changes. That's changes and not advances.
April 3, 2013
Thumbs, Toes and Tears covers one of my favorite areas--science, most specifically science that looks at some of the traits of humans, and why we do what we do. Chip Walter looks at our thumbs, big toes, pharynx, laughter, tears and kissing.
The book is full of great information, and the author has distilled a lot in order to keep the book a reasonable length.
I found myself looking to know more. I will have to track down other materials to satisfy my curiosity.
The book is full of great information, and the author has distilled a lot in order to keep the book a reasonable length.
I found myself looking to know more. I will have to track down other materials to satisfy my curiosity.
March 19, 2016
This book explores a number of traits that are unique (or at least semi-unique) to humans. The book flows smoothly enough, and explains concept in easily digestible terms. Towards the later chapters the content becomes a bit more speculative and far less technical. It’s almost as if some of the weaker chapters were saved for the end. Still, overall the book gives good insights into human evolution and explores multiple theories about how these evolutionary traits came to be.
July 26, 2014
I did not find this book very exciting to read; I have read Desmond's book which Walter referenced extensively so it did not turn out to be a treat. I felt that Walter wandered off the topic throughout the book. After a while, the lack of focus became really annoying.
March 3, 2007
A look at the traits that make us uniquely human. Interesting facts and information interspersed with boring parts. I felt like it was real work to read this.
May 18, 2007
Some interesting biology, some a bit 'overextended', some interesting speculations, some purple prose.
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