Children Of Prometheus: The Accelerating Pace Of Human Evolution

by Christopher Wills

Are we still evolving? Scientists have grappled with this question since the time of Darwin. Now, in this provocative book, biologist Christopher Wills argues that we are not only continuing to evolve but that our pace of change is accelerating. He examines the rapid, short-term evolutionary change taking place in people living at the earth’s extremes (even as babies, Tibetans can draw in more oxygen than lowlanders), and the new physiology of those who participate in extreme sports. But the more we shape our environment, the more it seems to shape us: Whether the future has us wiring our brains into vast electronic databases, or popping “smart drugs” that alter the brain’s very biochemical structure, new environmental pressures are speeding up our evolution in ways that we cannot now predict but that will help us to survive the future.

Genres: Science, Evolution, Biology, Nonfiction, Genetics

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 1998

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wills sheds his bright and steady light on some thorny questions: what is the nature of the difference between humans and our animal relatives? What is the nature of evolution in modern society? What mechanisms of evolution caused our path to diverge so widely from other animals?

With a cool scientific mind and very light wit Wills guides us through the mechanisms of evolution in imagined jungles past, with early humans, and into the present. He even casts his imagination toward the future, reminding us that selective pressure will always shape the future of our species.

The message I take away from this lovely book, a few days after I've finished it and the technical details have faded from my memory, is that genetic diversity is important. For a species to survive, it must have a broad range of genetic choices within the gene pool to select for or against. And racist prognostications notwithstanding, we are not getting dumber as a species. In fact, due to better prenatal early childhood health our brains are suffering less damage than ever before.

Really a fantastic book-- one that whets my appetite for more information, and shoves me along to ask more questions and understand the processes and implications of human evolution.

[Jef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asks the question, 'are humans still evolving?' and then answers with a resounding 'yes!'.

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! Brought about new perspectives.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of claims, flimsy supporting evidence. I didn't enjoy the writing style.

[JP · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish -- some interesting parallels but a bland, repetitive presentation with little original content. It doesn't stretch one's thinking and it doesn't make a very clear case.