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Adaptable: The Surprising Science of Human Diversity
'Engrossing, richly informative . . . challenges us to rethink universal health benchmarks'
New Yorker
A new way of thinking about diversity and what really unites us, from the internationally renowned author of Burn
Real diversity isn’t skin deep. Over the past 100,000 years, as humans expanded into every biome on the planet, our bodies and our cultures have been fine-tuned to our local environments. Beyond the physical demands of our climate, we live our lives immersed in ideas and norms that affect what we eat, how we move and why we get sick – all of which, in turn, affect how our bodies work.
As an evolutionary anthropologist conducting ground-breaking research with human populations around the globe, Herman Pontzer has come to see much more clearly how our genes and environments combine to shape our bodies and our for better or worse. In this book, he takes us on a tour of the human body and the surprising ways it can change in response to its from the Andean groups who have developed increased lung capacity to the Sama divers who have larger spleens. He also highlights the critical ways we misinterpret biological in healthcare, public policy and individual choices.
With so much of our wellbeing and public discourse centred on human biology, a clear understanding of the distinction between socially constructed and genetic differences is more important than ever. This timely reappraisal of an overlooked science is an essential guide to our remarkable bodies.
A new way of thinking about diversity and what really unites us, from the internationally renowned author of Burn
Real diversity isn’t skin deep. Over the past 100,000 years, as humans expanded into every biome on the planet, our bodies and our cultures have been fine-tuned to our local environments. Beyond the physical demands of our climate, we live our lives immersed in ideas and norms that affect what we eat, how we move and why we get sick – all of which, in turn, affect how our bodies work.
As an evolutionary anthropologist conducting ground-breaking research with human populations around the globe, Herman Pontzer has come to see much more clearly how our genes and environments combine to shape our bodies and our for better or worse. In this book, he takes us on a tour of the human body and the surprising ways it can change in response to its from the Andean groups who have developed increased lung capacity to the Sama divers who have larger spleens. He also highlights the critical ways we misinterpret biological in healthcare, public policy and individual choices.
With so much of our wellbeing and public discourse centred on human biology, a clear understanding of the distinction between socially constructed and genetic differences is more important than ever. This timely reappraisal of an overlooked science is an essential guide to our remarkable bodies.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2025
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962 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 12, 2025
Adaptable is an interesting, entertaining, and extremely well-informed read. The author provided compelling insight regarding our body’s biology and how its interactions with our various environments and cultures shape not only our health span and life span, but our overall human experience.
Dr. Pontzer broke down the development and physiology of the major body systems through an evolutionary biological lens. This provides an essential and foundational understanding of how our bodies work, which is crucial to understanding the many wonders of the human experience. Conversely, the author also provided salient examples of how the misunderstandings of human biology have led to many of the shames of our past and present including the eugenics movement and the horrors it fostered, racism and slavery, sexism and anti-trans beliefs, and the anti-vax movement, to say a few.
The commonly referenced quote from evolutionary biologist, Theodosius Dobzhansky “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” really shines bright in this book. Furthermore, the author provides not only an evolutionary perspective, but a social anthropological perspective to further reinforce and expound upon the subject matter in Adaptable. By investigating how hunter-gather communities like the Hadza, and pastoralist communities live, one can understand how our current modern industrialized environment does not align with the environment we evolved to thrive in. This promotes many of the “industrialized diseases” such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia, and obesity.
As a physical therapist, I see every day how people have quite a poor understanding of how their bodies work. This undoubtedly affects their physical rehabilitation and typically is a contributing factor into the conditions and impairments that have prompted them to seek out treatment from myself and other clinicians in the first place.
If everyone read this book, and thereby obtained a greater understanding of how their bodies work, there would be less suffering and better health outcomes in the world. Additionally, it would help combat the misinformation that continues to fuel the aforementioned social constructs that plague our society and prevent equality and social progress. Many of these prejudices such as racism, sexism, and xenophobia are largely due to people being misinformed and ignorant. This book is an exceptional resource in informing oneself, and could hopefully allow people to be less ignorant, as well. This dovetails nicely with the concluding message of the book — we are social apes, and we have evolved to care for one another despite the few arbitrary differences we possess.
Dr. Pontzer broke down the development and physiology of the major body systems through an evolutionary biological lens. This provides an essential and foundational understanding of how our bodies work, which is crucial to understanding the many wonders of the human experience. Conversely, the author also provided salient examples of how the misunderstandings of human biology have led to many of the shames of our past and present including the eugenics movement and the horrors it fostered, racism and slavery, sexism and anti-trans beliefs, and the anti-vax movement, to say a few.
The commonly referenced quote from evolutionary biologist, Theodosius Dobzhansky “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” really shines bright in this book. Furthermore, the author provides not only an evolutionary perspective, but a social anthropological perspective to further reinforce and expound upon the subject matter in Adaptable. By investigating how hunter-gather communities like the Hadza, and pastoralist communities live, one can understand how our current modern industrialized environment does not align with the environment we evolved to thrive in. This promotes many of the “industrialized diseases” such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia, and obesity.
As a physical therapist, I see every day how people have quite a poor understanding of how their bodies work. This undoubtedly affects their physical rehabilitation and typically is a contributing factor into the conditions and impairments that have prompted them to seek out treatment from myself and other clinicians in the first place.
If everyone read this book, and thereby obtained a greater understanding of how their bodies work, there would be less suffering and better health outcomes in the world. Additionally, it would help combat the misinformation that continues to fuel the aforementioned social constructs that plague our society and prevent equality and social progress. Many of these prejudices such as racism, sexism, and xenophobia are largely due to people being misinformed and ignorant. This book is an exceptional resource in informing oneself, and could hopefully allow people to be less ignorant, as well. This dovetails nicely with the concluding message of the book — we are social apes, and we have evolved to care for one another despite the few arbitrary differences we possess.
July 10, 2025
interesting update on where we humans find ourselves on the evolutionary road to the future and a strong scientifically well-founded plea against racism ...the sorry thing - i'm afraid - is that this book will only be read and appreciated by readers who don't need to be convinced
January 9, 2026
optimistic outlook on mankinds future, with a refreshing reminder of complex, yet simple, principles behind how our species as gotten to where we are now
October 19, 2025
Breezy, accessible and moral account of our biology and how it (kind of) shapes us.
May 13, 2025
Maybe it’s the biology nerd in me, but I loved it. A good review of biology, dove into anthropology and evolution, and had some great discussion about sociological issues today. Really enjoyed listening!
April 5, 2025
Very well written, informative, and entertaining! Pontzer turns a complicated subject into a story: of science, of history, of people, and of life. I learned so much. Although some of the information wasn’t new to me, it was explained in a way that felt like a real breakthrough, using visual imagery and storytelling. It opened my eyes to fascinating facts about our biology that I never knew and corrected some of the myths I used to believe.
Pontzer elevates science from boring facts to real, lived experiences that affect our society and its people. It opened my eyes to how the distant past still shapes communities far into the future. Even if the people directly affected are no longer alive, their descendants still suffer from those earlier experiences and injustices. It’s literally written in their DNA. And as much as we’re different in our lived experiences, we’re so much alike in our genes.
The book ends with a hopeful and optimistic outlook for the future. Humanity has achieved so much. Many sacrifices were made in past centuries that have put us on this path, and our longevity is just a measure of how well we work together toward our common goals.
Pontzer elevates science from boring facts to real, lived experiences that affect our society and its people. It opened my eyes to how the distant past still shapes communities far into the future. Even if the people directly affected are no longer alive, their descendants still suffer from those earlier experiences and injustices. It’s literally written in their DNA. And as much as we’re different in our lived experiences, we’re so much alike in our genes.
The book ends with a hopeful and optimistic outlook for the future. Humanity has achieved so much. Many sacrifices were made in past centuries that have put us on this path, and our longevity is just a measure of how well we work together toward our common goals.
May 4, 2025
Pontzer seeks in Adaptable to wrench the concept of diversity back from racists and other proponents of bigotry, arguing for a population and individual view of human diversity, but one which embraces the social and biological ways in which humans infinitely vary.
Generally, he suceeds admirably. His sections examining IQ testing and cultural expectations, as well as how genetics might factor in, are some of the best I have read. He challenges effectively the idea that any given form of intelligence is universally desirable. His examination of how populations evolve is careful and nuanced.
Other times I thought it struggled more - sex, gender and our bodies is a topic hard to do justice to in a short space of time, but I was irritated by his quoting of Carole Hooven's excellent T without pointing out that his simplification of some issues was precisely what that book was trying to deconstruct. The constant anecdotal references to fieldwork in Africa felt a tad token.
But I would still recommend this as an excellent all-round introduction to human biology and evolution, and a needed argument for embracing, rather than ignoring, the variation and adaptability in our species.
Generally, he suceeds admirably. His sections examining IQ testing and cultural expectations, as well as how genetics might factor in, are some of the best I have read. He challenges effectively the idea that any given form of intelligence is universally desirable. His examination of how populations evolve is careful and nuanced.
Other times I thought it struggled more - sex, gender and our bodies is a topic hard to do justice to in a short space of time, but I was irritated by his quoting of Carole Hooven's excellent T without pointing out that his simplification of some issues was precisely what that book was trying to deconstruct. The constant anecdotal references to fieldwork in Africa felt a tad token.
But I would still recommend this as an excellent all-round introduction to human biology and evolution, and a needed argument for embracing, rather than ignoring, the variation and adaptability in our species.
September 7, 2025
A pretty interesting book in a number of aspects. While primarily about the physiology and biology of the body, he ventures out into confronting related ideas like racism, the eugenics movement, sex and gender and vaccination, not from a politicization of the issues, but from an approach rooted in the complexities of biological science. While nothing in the book is revolutionary, I found something interesting in nearly every chapter, including some amazing facts about the biology of our bodies, how we got where we are today, and what impacts our health.
April 10, 2025
Boring. From the blurb I expected a book about the quirks of human evolution. There was a little bit of that, but also a lot of “how your body works” 101.
I also found the chapter long cringe about biological sex an amusing feature.
Finally, lots of moralising throughout. I would have preferred more science, less how humanity ought to behave.
I also found the chapter long cringe about biological sex an amusing feature.
Finally, lots of moralising throughout. I would have preferred more science, less how humanity ought to behave.
July 11, 2025
The author mentions interesting study but cites a Wikipedia article rather any actual journal articles. It is dismaying that anyone beyond a 5th grader would cite an encyclopedia rather than the actual study. Once I saw that, it called into question any of his points, as I wonder how deep his research actually went and how much he’s just making up the arguments as he goes.
October 11, 2025
I found many parts of this book interesting and enjoyable, however, there were some odd extrapolations and analogies that didn't quite work or simply weren't true. Therefore, this one was a mixed bag for me.
May 31, 2025
Adaptable by Herman Pontzer delivers a transformative journey through the remarkable tapestry of human biological variation that will fundamentally change how you view our species. This masterful work by the Duke University evolutionary anthropologist reads like a thrilling expedition across continents and cultures, revealing the extraordinary ways humans have adapted to thrive in every corner of our planet.
Pontzer's storytelling prowess shines as he guides readers from the highlands of East Africa to the coral reefs of Southeast Asia, introducing us to hunter-gatherers whose cardiovascular systems have evolved protective mechanisms and sea nomads whose genetic gifts allow them to hold their breath underwater for minutes at a time. Each example builds a compelling case that shatters our preconceptions about what it means to be human.
The book's greatest strength lies in its ability to weave complex scientific concepts into accessible, captivating narratives. Pontzer doesn't just present data—he illuminates the profound implications of human diversity for everything from medical treatment to social policy. His central thesis, that "there is no textbook human," emerges not as academic jargon but as a revelatory truth that demands we reconsider the foundations of healthcare, education, and social systems.
What makes Adaptable truly exceptional is its practical urgency. Pontzer demonstrates how our outdated assumptions about human uniformity actively harm communities worldwide, while offering a hopeful vision for more inclusive, effective approaches to human welfare. This isn't merely an academic exercise—it's a call to action wrapped in fascinating science.
The author's expertise as an evolutionary anthropologist provides unshakeable credibility to his arguments, while his engaging prose ensures that complex concepts remain digestible for general readers. Adaptable succeeds brilliantly as both rigorous science and compelling storytelling, making it essential reading for anyone interested in human potential, medical ethics, or social justice.
This book will leave you marveling at human resilience while questioning everything you thought you knew about our species. Adaptable is nothing short of paradigm-shifting—a rare work that manages to be both intellectually rigorous and deeply humane.
Pontzer's storytelling prowess shines as he guides readers from the highlands of East Africa to the coral reefs of Southeast Asia, introducing us to hunter-gatherers whose cardiovascular systems have evolved protective mechanisms and sea nomads whose genetic gifts allow them to hold their breath underwater for minutes at a time. Each example builds a compelling case that shatters our preconceptions about what it means to be human.
The book's greatest strength lies in its ability to weave complex scientific concepts into accessible, captivating narratives. Pontzer doesn't just present data—he illuminates the profound implications of human diversity for everything from medical treatment to social policy. His central thesis, that "there is no textbook human," emerges not as academic jargon but as a revelatory truth that demands we reconsider the foundations of healthcare, education, and social systems.
What makes Adaptable truly exceptional is its practical urgency. Pontzer demonstrates how our outdated assumptions about human uniformity actively harm communities worldwide, while offering a hopeful vision for more inclusive, effective approaches to human welfare. This isn't merely an academic exercise—it's a call to action wrapped in fascinating science.
The author's expertise as an evolutionary anthropologist provides unshakeable credibility to his arguments, while his engaging prose ensures that complex concepts remain digestible for general readers. Adaptable succeeds brilliantly as both rigorous science and compelling storytelling, making it essential reading for anyone interested in human potential, medical ethics, or social justice.
This book will leave you marveling at human resilience while questioning everything you thought you knew about our species. Adaptable is nothing short of paradigm-shifting—a rare work that manages to be both intellectually rigorous and deeply humane.
August 14, 2025
I discovered Dr. Herman Pontzer watching an episode of Star Talk show hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tayson. I was impressed by how educated and well knowledgeable Dr. Pontzer was so I went right away after the show ended and got his book, and I wasn't disappointed a bit.
A biologist myself, the book was a great review of the human body anatomy and biology, but with a very sweet touch from Dr. Pontzer covering a lot of history, anthropology and sociology, even philosophy.
I highly recommend this book.
A biologist myself, the book was a great review of the human body anatomy and biology, but with a very sweet touch from Dr. Pontzer covering a lot of history, anthropology and sociology, even philosophy.
I highly recommend this book.
January 17, 2026
This book is a hard one to review as when the author is communicating scientific consensus on non-controversial subjects (e.g. how the heart works) the work is useful and the writing lucid but this book's most controversial thesis is that all measures of intelligence that result in different measures for different races (the work surprisingly doesn't spend so much time on purported sex differences in intelligence) are necessarily merely tracking the socioeconomic conditions of the individuals involved. To be more explicit the author thinks that it is impossible for black people anywhere at any level of wealth to do as well as white people similarly situated because of the racism black people experience.
It's not even that I couldn't be convinced that this thesis is true. I could! But the author totally fails to convincingly argue this point. At the close of the book the author says that the real IQ is that evidenced by hunter gatherers' ability to track prey. This is as convincing as rejecting the view that stabbing yourself increases your likelihood of denying by saying that real mortality never comes so long as we live forever in the hearts of our friends. Like???
Redefining IQ doesn't solve the issue. We can imagine a society which administers a test involving having someone guess three random numbers between 1 and 1000. If we discovered that certain patterns of answers are reliably correlated with academic success, career success, and aptitude in a variety of domains I don't really much care that the test itself is a strange one. I only care whether it reliably measures something. It doesn't matter to me whether or not the questions that result in an IQ score are meaningful in and of themselves; I only care whether or not they reliably correlate with a variable or variables of interest.
I haven't spent almost any time reading about IQ so I don't know if IQ serves in this way. Neither have I spent a lot of time investigating whether or not racism is so omnipresent and omnipotent that we can simply a priori reject any evidence of racial differences as being the result of oppression so I cannot adequately asses whether or not the author's conclusion is true. I can certainly say that the author fails to make his way to that conclusion convincingly. It could be that IQ reliably measures socioeconomic status which would be a very, very interesting thesis but the author fails to reckon with such a possibility fully or explore how the research could potentially support such an inclusion.
It's not even that I couldn't be convinced that this thesis is true. I could! But the author totally fails to convincingly argue this point. At the close of the book the author says that the real IQ is that evidenced by hunter gatherers' ability to track prey. This is as convincing as rejecting the view that stabbing yourself increases your likelihood of denying by saying that real mortality never comes so long as we live forever in the hearts of our friends. Like???
Redefining IQ doesn't solve the issue. We can imagine a society which administers a test involving having someone guess three random numbers between 1 and 1000. If we discovered that certain patterns of answers are reliably correlated with academic success, career success, and aptitude in a variety of domains I don't really much care that the test itself is a strange one. I only care whether it reliably measures something. It doesn't matter to me whether or not the questions that result in an IQ score are meaningful in and of themselves; I only care whether or not they reliably correlate with a variable or variables of interest.
I haven't spent almost any time reading about IQ so I don't know if IQ serves in this way. Neither have I spent a lot of time investigating whether or not racism is so omnipresent and omnipotent that we can simply a priori reject any evidence of racial differences as being the result of oppression so I cannot adequately asses whether or not the author's conclusion is true. I can certainly say that the author fails to make his way to that conclusion convincingly. It could be that IQ reliably measures socioeconomic status which would be a very, very interesting thesis but the author fails to reckon with such a possibility fully or explore how the research could potentially support such an inclusion.
June 28, 2025
I listen to A LOT of books re nutrition, health, living longer, new studies… This book was just NOT all that interesting. I know this is a little controversial, but I’m a huge believer in the blood type diet, which the author doesn’t believe in. But, then the author tells us HRT “increases the likelihood of …breast cancer.” Shame that the author doesn’t know that the WHI study was debunked.
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May 14, 2025Not sure how to rate nonfiction but I really enjoyed this, and would recommend. I appreciate the authors humor throughout so much science. Factual but not heavy, and I really enjoyed him completely shutting down racism as he goes.
May 22, 2025
Reminded me of outlive! Love that the author rooted all the information in straight fact, but cut it with humor for digestible pieces. Very factual but lighthearted and intriguing! Great rec by KW, would recommend to anyone else!
June 29, 2025
Interesting walk through different systems of the human body, often focusing on how different systems have adapted to the challenges of our environment. Nice use of examples from own research, other studies and issues taken from the headlines.
April 24, 2025
Really interesting!
May 13, 2025
Maybe too much focus on social issues (like race) but was still good
June 23, 2025
I give this book 4.5 stars
July 18, 2025
Good book, but a little overkill on the anti racism messaging
July 27, 2025
Packed full of good information and studies. A little bit of everything. I appreciated his take on ageing, race, evolution, the environment. Worth a second read maybe.
July 29, 2025
Not as in depth as Burn, but rather an overview of human development and anatomy. Very readable.
August 16, 2025
a masterpiece
the best and simplest way to understand the human body and anatomy
the best and simplest way to understand the human body and anatomy
August 19, 2025
very informative
Extremely well written covering every aspect of human development! Anyone interested in human history as it relates to evolution must read it.
Extremely well written covering every aspect of human development! Anyone interested in human history as it relates to evolution must read it.
December 11, 2025
Суперова аудіокнижка - голос розповідача (P. J. Ochlan) був дуже динамічний. Книжка наполовину розважає, наполовину навчає біології людського тіла. Жодної скучної глави!
October 21, 2025
Very interesting read although somewhat dry. Always looking foe what makes me tick.
June 3, 2025
Knowing how our bodies work feels like turning on the lights in the middle of a scary movie. The monsters lose their heft. Yes, today’s societal divisions are stark, but we now know they’re born from cultural inventions that can change, not from unbridgeable biological differences.
Slim Goodbody, eat your skin-tight heart out: Pontzer takes us through a fantastic tour of the first-and-last vehicle we'll ever own--one system at a time--through the lenses of genetics, biology and anthropology. After establishing a scientific basis for how your body functions, Pontzer unpacks several current-day hot topics--race matters, vaccinations, pharma, diet, and the like--with aplomb.
All of a sudden, I'm pining to read some Asimov in due time. Cheers to the miracle of the human body.
Slim Goodbody, eat your skin-tight heart out: Pontzer takes us through a fantastic tour of the first-and-last vehicle we'll ever own--one system at a time--through the lenses of genetics, biology and anthropology. After establishing a scientific basis for how your body functions, Pontzer unpacks several current-day hot topics--race matters, vaccinations, pharma, diet, and the like--with aplomb.
All of a sudden, I'm pining to read some Asimov in due time. Cheers to the miracle of the human body.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews