The Complete World of Human Evolution

by Chris Stringer, Peter Andrews

A compelling, authoritative, and superbly illustrated account of the rise and eventual domination of our species. Human domination of the earth is now so complete that it is easy to forget how recently our role in the history of the planet the earliest apes evolved around twenty million years ago, yet Homo sapiens has existed for a mere 150,000 years. In the intervening period, many species of early ape and human have lived and died out, leaving behind the fossilized remains that have helped to make the detailed picture of our evolution revealed here.This exciting, up-to-the-minute account is divided into three accessible sections. "In Search of Our Ancestors" examines the contexts in which fossilized remains have been found and the techniques used to study them. "The Fossil Evidence" traces in detail the evolution of apes and humans, from Proconsul to the australopithecines, and Homo erectus to the Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The latest fossil finds at major new sites such as Dmanisi in Georgia and Gran Dolina in Spain are appraised, and new advances in genetic studies, including the extraction of DNA from extinct human species, are evaluated. "Interpreting the Evidence" reconstructs and explains the evolution of human behavior, describing the development of tool use, the flourishing of the earliest artists, and the spread of modern humans to all corners of the world. The book is superbly illustrated with hundreds of photographs, diagrams, and specially commissioned reconstruction drawings by the artist John Sibbick. 430 illustrations, 175 in color

Genres: Science, Evolution, Anthropology, History, Nonfiction, Biology, Prehistory

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2005

About the author

Professor Christopher Brian Stringer, Fellow of the Royal Society currently works at the National History Museum, London, as research leader in human origins.

Reviews

[Czarny Pies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I knew next to nothing about the current state of knowledge on the topic of human evolution and was delighted with what I found. The photographs and illustrations are outstanding. As always in the rapidly changing world of evolutionary theory, all conclusions are provisional.
Twenty years since its publication, this work is however showing its age. Something new will soon be needed.

[Siri Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always on the look-out for more books on human evolution to add to my collection and they very rarely disappoint. The Complete World of Human Evolution is a great introduction for the uninitiated and a fantastic read for the seriously interested (or the student-to-be, such as myself). I especially loved how it alternates between general and specific topics, i.e. between articles dedicated to the broader evolutionary questions and discussions and articles on specific discoveries, called Key Sites. Although much of the information was not new to me, I still really enjoy reading books on human evolution meant for a wider readership simply because everything is presented that much more succinctly, that much more crisply, that much more understandably. Highly recommended for anyone interested in human evolution.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Wonderful breakdown of all the species starting at the first primate and ending with H. sapiens. Part 1 is a nice refresh of paleo 101 and describes major fossil sites throughout the world. Part 2 has many chapters, each a small review of an ancestor from yore. Part 3 sums up the fossil evidence from part 2 with other avenues of inquiry such as behavior and locomotion, basically other aspects of human evolution to study besides the fossil record. This is a brilliant book, feels like an incredibly readable textbook. Excellent color, detailed photographs. It was intriguing for someone with a background knowledge in the area but I don't think it will be too much for the casual reader or general evolution enthusiast.

[Thijs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting book, though a bit dated at this point. But I guess that's my fault for not starting on it sooner.

The amount if detail and explanation in the fossil finds, including tools, is exaggerating. Unlike anything I have read before.

The book also does a good job in trying to stay away from guesses and indirect evidence.

However, I did find the parts in some stages, which I would concider key in Human evolution, rather lacking. For instance, Orrorin tugenensis and Sahelanthropus Tchadensis only get 1 single paragraph together explaining their finds, and a few references each after that. Even though these species appear in a critical time of human evolution.

[Riversue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very up-to-date with a section on evolutionary psychology as well as detailed looks at the various fossils of our ancestors.

[Mrs L Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard work but worth it.

[Alexander Theofanidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bam! Everything you ever wished to know about the evolution of the human species and its migrations (in prehistoric, almost geological timeframes), not to mention our close primate relatives—yet were too embarrassed to ask, lest you be branded a nerd since the ill-fated TV series Friends made palaeontology (which of course includes palaeoanthropology) utterly uncool and socially perilous.

This book serves as an excellent introduction to the history of primate evolution—foremost among them the naked ape—and it presents, with both clarity and detail, the odyssey of humankind: from the earliest hominins (call them proto-humans, australopithecines, proconsuls—get dirty with the terminology) to the modern Homo sapiens staring back at you in the mirror, now perilously close to wrecking the planet.

If you fear bone-dry content and barren diagrams, allow me to reassure you: this will brighten your day (your night I can’t speak for, as I don’t know when you’re reading). Beyond the up-to-date research (relatively speaking, for its time), the illustrations are jaw-dropping, quite literally—primate-style. Photographs, drawings, explanatory charts—you name it, it’s there, until even the most evolutionarily underdeveloped among us can comprehend how we got from a lemur with bug-eyes to Brangelina.

Now, if you're a zealot, a creationist, or a Disraeli devotee (“I would rather be descended from an angel than a monkey”), feel free to ignore this accumulated body of knowledge and continue believing that man was fashioned from clay, upon which an almighty being sneezed, and then took a rib to create woman (he evidently didn’t sneeze again, having taken some celestial antihistamine, or perhaps he was simply too weary to mould a second clay figure). But by doing so, you will never be able to explain Eve’s XX chromosome—or why humanity comes in such fascinating variety (I shan’t use the word “race”, as it has been grossly abused).

Of course, all of this would be utterly futile if the book were dry, dense, and strictly academic—but alas, no such excuse for evasion remains. It is eminently accessible—assuming you’re not a complete ape—with only the occasional passage demanding slightly more from the uninitiated reader. Yet even those, with a little effort, can press on.

A single star is docked precisely because in some parts the reader might experience a minor mental chasm and feel a bit weary, but the rest of the book more than compensates for this.

[Russell Ince · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book which succinctly illustrates human evolution over the last 20 million years which I would recommend to anyone interested in human evolution, especially at a beginners level.

Just about every topic in palaeoanthropology is covered by Stringer and Andrews and, although they are proponents of the 'Out of Africa' or 'Recent Single-Origin Hypothesis' at the expense of the Multi-regional Model of modern human evolution, they do at least give credence to differing opinions and make it known that they are not independent observers in the debate (pp. 140-143). The authors also win my respect for admitting when there is uncertainty on a particular point. The section on the decline of the Neanderthals (pp. 164-165), for example, openly admits that there are a range of possibilities here.

The only downside to this work is that archaeology develops so quickly and, consequently, a printed work is often out of date as soon as it is published, although the authors can hardly be blamed for not peering into the future. Although Homo floresiensis (the Hobbit) is discussed here, the recent work on the Neanderthal genome is not.

I would recommend 'The Complete World of Human Evolution' as an introductory text book.

Second edition please...

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sort of annoyed me. There are few technical terms applied here, the purpose being so that anyone can read the book and know what Stringer is referring to. Which is sort of nice, except for the actual scientists themselves. Stringer would say “thigh bone” and I would say “are you talking about the femur and if so which part of the femur?” He confused me more than helped me in a few instances. But I’m sure that is mostly just annoying to me. The majority of people probably appreciated it. Besides this, the book is very informative. It’s a must read for anyone interested in human evolution. It’s good basic information. There are plenty of good pictures, both black and white and colored, of maps, reconstructions, bones, sites, etc. I would have loved to see more pictures of the skulls and the variation between male and females in each species. Interesting and worth the read, but I’m definitely going to have to find a more technical overview.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the strongest recent books on human evolution for students and non-experts like me. I was surprised to see the multiple ancestry theory given so much credence, i.e., that modern humans are descended from homo erectus in different regions of the earth, because of facial features in the fossil record when erectus roamed the earth that are similar to modern races. Every DNA study seems to show that the out of Africa model stands firm and that modern humans evolved from homo erectus or homo ergaster in Africa or from homo heidelbergensis then left to colonize and displace other species. The facial differences could be adaptations later repeated in the specialization of homo sapiens to different regions. They do say that the multiple origins theory is a minority view.

[Ralph Hermansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Stringer and Peter Andrews did a superlative job with the book. It is the best one I have read on the subject. It is beautifully illustrated with copious colored photos and drawings. The pages are of thick quality paper. The topic is covered thoroughly and competently. It is very up to date and educational. It would make a great gift, a great reference book, a great textbook for an anthropology course, or just a great read for yourself. I think that it is priced at only one-fourth of its real value and I love bargains.

Ralph Hermansen, March 7, 2007

[Perry Krasow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful addition to the general public’s knowledge. It is factual, rational and clear; providing a picture of human evolution based strictly on the empirical evidence available. The book was written in 2005, and updated in 2011 to include recent finds, so is fairly contemporary. This is a highly user-friendly book. It does not assume that the reader is an expert in the field, so defines new and difficult scientific terms in parentheses. Full review of this and additional titles at greatnonfictionbooks.blogspot.com

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a layman to this topic. Though some Amazon reviews point out that the book is not detail enough, I do feel content on the information it provides.

Scientists spent so many man-hours in searching the origin of human being; on the other hand, some sacred text said woman was made by a bone. Which one is more creditable? You have your own answer, but I am fully respected the hardworking of scientists. For those who just turn pages and speak what is written - hardly respectable.

[Paul Comac]

If you interested in human evolution, this is for you. Full of amazing illustrations, the book covers millions of years up to our nearest ancestors. The last section has a significant warning about climate change.

[Mackenzie Mick · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had this book for a class. I ended up reading the whole book a few days before the exam. Evolution is real and this book was very helpful in giving a clear explanation of what evolution really is and how it has worked.

[Gary Stocker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a long slog. Does go into a lot of detail. Probably more for the serious reader. It is relatively user friendly in that the information is given in smallish sections and it is quite pictorial.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice graphics, very up-to-date. I didn't like the organization scheme, though - and I think it would have been hard to follow if you didn't already know something about the subject.

[Jean-michel Pigeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonne synthèse sur l'évolution de la famille des Hominidae

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple but decent overview with lots of fairly helpful pictures and charts.

[Steven Heywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible, wide-ranging and not patronising