The Last Neanderthal: Understanding How Humans Die

by Ludovic Slimak, Andrew Brown (Translator)

It’s August 2015. After twenty-five years of archaeological research in a secluded cave overlooking the Rhône Valley in southern France, Ludovic Slimak uncovers the remains of a Neanderthal, frozen in time – a discovery that casts fresh light on a critical turning point in human history. Could these remains belong to one of the last Neanderthals? As scientists from around the world analyze the site, their findings disrupt everything we thought we knew about the final days of these ancient humans. This discovery takes us to the defining threshold when multiple human species, once coexisting in the same world, are wiped from history—leaving Homo sapiens as the sole human survivor.

Slimak takes the reader on an extraordinary journey of discovery that is both scientific and profoundly human, blending rigorous research with evocative storytelling. This breathtaking exploration of the past not only unearths the lost world of the Neanderthals but forces us to confront the unspoken is this how humanity dies? 

A compelling narrative spanning millennia, The Last Neanderthal is both a groundbreaking scientific revelation and a profound reflection on the fragility of humanity and the threads that connect us to the distant past.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2023

Reviews

[Vincent GAILLARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre passionnant dans la description du processus de découverte des reste d'un néandertaliens, de l'analyse de ces restes a l'aide de nombreuses techniques physique et génétiques avancées et de surtout de logique historique (ce qu'appreandent mal les sciences dures). Mais le livre est aussi une réflexion sur l'alterité et sur les biais qui entravent notre perception du monde. Les paradigmes de khun ?

[Monteiro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pas pour moi, la couverture est sublime, l'auteur intéressant du moins en interview/vidéos mais à l'écrit ce n'est pas pour moi, son style familier ''m'a soulé'' toutes ces questions métaphysiques certes intéressantes mais qui font diversion et diluent l'idée alourdissant le texte et les chapitres. Ces tentatives cool et de pop-culture puis le mélange scientifique pour moi une lecture lourde ennuyante et crevante même grosse déception presque énerver envers ce livre qui aurait pu aurait du être bon finalement j'ai appris trop peu de choses sur les Néandertaliens que des divagations existentielle qui tournent en rond sans jamais réussir à "m'entrancer". Dommage grosse déception, échappe à 1 étoile car le livre est surement okay ou bon mais ma lecture pour moi ce ne fût que mauvais long et pire ennuyeux.

[mag.escales_littéraires · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lecture assez ardue mais très interessante et instructive.

[Bruce Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book puts me to sleep. The author is a master at extending an article, at most, into a book by long repetitive ramblings. I found myself skipping page after page trying to get to the meat of the matter. The subject is interesting, but the lengthy stream of consciousness of his writing was quite off-putting. I was hoping for something more academic in it's approach.

[Audrey Avrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

La découverte de Thorin, Néandertalien, rabat les cartes de ce que l'on pensait connaître des Néandertaliens, des Sapiens et de leur coexistence. Une plongée dans la recherche présentée comme une enquête.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting...or how to understand today's man and guess tomorrow's man

[Greta Gaddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avendo l'aspettativa di un saggio che raccontasse informazioni sui Neandertal in base alle varie scoperte scientifiche fatte fin'ora, mi ha lasciata perplessa in molti punti. Il tono è molto lirico e spesso si fa più filosofia sulla natura dell'essere umano e sulla morte invece di parlare dei Neandertal.
Le riflessioni sono comunque interessanti, anche quelle con cui ero profondamente in disaccordo.

Sarei curiosa di sapere se la mia opinione sarebbe diversa avendo potuto leggere per primo il suo primo libro (che invece non è ancora stato tradotto) dato che viene citato spesso nel testo e sembra concentrarsi di più su ciò che sappiamo dei Neandertal, quasi come se questo fosse un seguito?

[Alice Piacenza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saggio molto interessante che apre nuove porte sulla ricerca archeologica e su ciò che sappiamo dei Neanderthal e della loro scomparsa.