Human origins. 7 million years and counting

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by New Scientist

Where did we come from? Where are we going?

Homo sapiens is the most successful, the most widespread and the most influential species ever to walk the Earth. In the blink of an evolutionary eye we have spread around the globe, taken control of Earth's biological and mineral resources, transformed the environment, discovered the secrets of the universe and travelled into space.

Yet just 7 million years ago, we were just another species of great ape making a quiet living in the forests of East Africa. We do not know exactly what this ancestor was like, but it was no more likely than a chimpanzee or gorilla to sail across the ocean, write a symphony, invent a steam engine or ponder the meaning of existence. How did we get from there to here?

The Story of Human Origins recounts the most astonishing evolutionary tale ever told.

Discover how our ancestors made the first tentative steps towards becoming human, how we lost our fur but gained language, fire and tools, how we strode out of Africa, invented farming and cities and ultimately created modern civilization - perhaps the only one of its kind in the Universe.

Meet your long-lost ancestors, the other humans who once shared the planet with us, and learn where the story might end.
 

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, History, Biology, Evolution, Audiobook

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Sindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the major facets of Human evolution, as was known up to 'Summer' of 2017 (it is unclear which hemisphere is referred to here lol). I used this text as a foundational review of the topic, and I feel that it did well in providing the scope of different ideas and models for the various aspects of evolution. It draws upon a wide range of scientific evidence - of the fossils, genetics, archaeology, geology, primatology, biology, and health sciences. Of course, since this text is meant to be an introductory overview, it gives superficial treatment of a number of hominin species (e.g. Homo heidelbergensis gets about a page and half).

I mostly appreciated the final few chapters, in which the book considers how evolution may have been very closely tied to major climatic and environmental changes - or not (e.g. the current debate over the scale and influence of the Toba eruption); and the big unanswered questions that still remain to be figured out (with consensus). The appendix is comprised of lists of questions and resources that encourage further exploration and research.

But mostly, for me, it is their emphasis that the study of human evolution is a science that is (1) dominated by uncertainty - because of how much we still don't know and the paucity of solid evidence for anything, despite just over 190 years since the discovery of the first hominin fossil! And (2), is characterised by multiple interpretations and debates - brought on by every little new discovery we make.

[Tiemu · Rating 4 out of 5]

To people who say "there is only one human race", thereby feeling thoroughly enlightened, progressive and non-racist about themselves, this book has some facts and theories that may disorientate you.

DNA analysis of ancient bones shows that most of us are part neanderthal. The only non-neanderthal people in this world are in sub-saharan Africa. But neanderthals are just one species that are our cousins. There are several other species of fossils with their own unique DNA blueprint, which people from only some parts of the world share with these ancient species.

Contrary to us being "one human race", we are more like several different species who are nevertheless compatible, like dogs, wolves and dingos are to each other.

This wasn't even the aim of the book, but I found it the most fascinating aspect of human evolution.

[Barbara Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summing up of the subject. But just a jumping off point for further study.

[Benedek Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anyone who has experienced firsthand the overwhelming power of the life-sized painted bulls and horses in the Lascaux Cave of south-western France will understand at once that their creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were in their skeletons."

[Benjamin Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book on sale in a bookshop for like $2 and I simply had to get. A full dive into the history of humanity (from like wayyyyyy back) until modern homo sapiens and the anthropocene today are in full tilt. This book was an excellent survey into the current state of evolutionary anthropology and the ever-changing landscape of the story of human evolution. It's a must read if you think the topic is cool - I had no idea that the evolutionary tree has been basically ripped apart in the last decade at it's quite unclear exactly how we came to be!

A few mind-blowing things I learned(in my rookie opinion):

1. It's quite possible that neanderthals were just as intelligent and social as humans - in fact, some 9of the earliest evidence of art is from potential neanderthal sites. Homo Sapiens have interbred with them and part of the reasons they may have died out are due to limited genetic diversity (too much inbreeding from small populations) or that they simply integrated into homo sapien lineages. In many areas, they coexisted with us for 1000s of years, so it's unlikely they were simply killed by us.

2. It's unclear if there was one distinct homo sapien lineage - it's potentially possible that we evolved in several strands in eurasia or africa/ and were close enough to interbreed.

3. It is beyond incredible to me that creatures in the homo genus (some before homo sapiens!) made it to australia and the indonesian islands AT LEAST 70 - 100 thousand years ago. Like WHAT?? how!? huge swatchs of ocean and disparate environments. Just insane!

[xyz · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book against the simplified linearity evolution concept (search : the March of Progress picture from 1965—which that was the first things came through my mind when i heard 'evolution')

in fact, the evolution of modern human is not as simple as it is. new discoveries and DNA evidence add more complexity and argue all of the hypothesis which had been made before.

i love the way this book describes all of the possible theories and how they argue each other with their newest evidence. i love how this book objectively written, without any tendencies towards some theories. i love how this book fully embrace all of confusing things gathered from current discoveries and all of the uncertainties answer from the unanswerable questions.

this book is like an unfinished puzzle, but i really love it! those pieces that placed in the board doesn't need to be forced to be fitted each other with some pseudoscience or any unevidenced argument.

this book drives my curiosity towards another hominin species & our ancestor behaviour. how they could migrate to one and another continent? how they could survive that long considering their short lifespan (compared to modern human), their lower birth rate and probably higher death rate (because no medicine or healthcare). there was so much unanswered question and i want to read more about these historical stuff.

thank you NewScientist, amazing work!

[Haya Dodokh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, though it was like a quick, satisfying reminders of a topic I’ve read about before whether from Charles Darwin, Richard Dawkins, Yuval Noah Harari or Klim Hill.
A topic I’ll always be curious about and wants to know more.

So, the book is very interesting and very up-to-date overview of human origins. However, because it is so up-to-date, it is also speculative in places. Readers who dislike uncertainty may want to choose an older and more certain treatment of this subject.

[Erica Wildwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

It does exactly what it says on the tin: it's a brief overview of human origins as seen by current science. That means there is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of 'maybes', but that is how it should be. Science is only true until next discovery. That makes the book a little confusing towards the end, but on the whole it's an engaging gallop through what we used to know, what we think we know now, and what we will probably never know for sure. Clear and well-written.

[Anmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched material with the evidence presented around the fossil record and the genetic evidence on our shared primate ancestry. Summarizes the important points on most of the 28 major hominid species. Together with Dr Alice Roberts Book "Evolution the human story" a well formed picture of the fascinating legacy can be pondered.
Recommended reading.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super interesting overview of the history of humankind. Explained through following the fossil record, it offers a more nuanced understanding of human evolution, in particular its graduality and relation to other species. It highlights groundbreaking developments like bipedalism, cooking, agriculture, language and culture

[Magnolitaz]

“It seems virtually certain that there are more species to be found - perhaps many more. DNA will continue to reveal more about how and when our species' traits appeared. And the picture will keep changing. Unlike sone branches of science, human evolution has not yet figured out its central message.”

[Nigel McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's as if someone took all those fragments gleaned from years of new Scientist articles and showed how they fit together into one big picture. Or don't fit together in some cases. An excellent summary of what we know, and bang up-to-date to boot.

[Ash Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little overview on our current understanding of human evolution, covering repercussions on said understanding as a result of recent discoveries.

Highly enjoyable reading with the science being delivered in a very approachable manner.

[Bob Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough review of our current understanding of human evolution. Well written with an interesting style as well as informative.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I would give it a 4.0 if not for a few bad maps.

[Pablo Corcuera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una muy buena síntesis sobre la evolución de nuestra especie

[Daniel Bayliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. New enough to cover the key topics like H. Naledi and H Floresiensis. Well set out. Interesting sets of issues addressed. Balanced views on the controversial ideas.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. I've read it in paper and listened to the audiobook at least five times. *The* primer on paleoanthropology.

[Kieran Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good overview of human origins. Clear and concise and not overloaded with complexity. Gets a little repetitive towards the end but does a good job of unravelling a field which resembles a knotted ball of wool.