John H. Relethford

Gebundenes Buch

50 Great Myths of Human Evolution

Understanding Misconceptions about Our Origins

Beschreibung

50 Great Myths of Human Evolution uses common misconceptions to explore basic theory and research in human evolution and strengthen critical thinking skills for lay readers and students.
_ Examines intriguing--yet widely misunderstood--topics, from general ideas about evolution and human origins to the evolution of modern humans and recent trends in the field
_ Describes what fossils, archaeology, and genetics can tell us about human origins
_ Demonstrates the ways in which science adapts and changes over time to incorporate new evidence and better explanations
_ Includes myths such as "Humans lived at the same time as dinosaurs;" "Lucy was so small because she was a child;" "Our ancestors have always made fire;" and "There is a strong relationship between brain size and intelligence"
_ Comprised of stand-alone essays that are perfect for casual reading, as well as footnotes and references that allow readers to delve more deeply into topics

Autor

John H. Relethford is Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the State University of New York College at Oneonta, USA, where he has taught since 1981. He is a biological anthropologist specializing in human population genetics, human variation, and the evolution of modern humans. He is a former President and Vice-President of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, former Vice President and President of the American Association of Anthropological Genetics, and a Fellow and Former Chair of Section H (Anthropology) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has over 170 publications, including several books, over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, and over 25 book chapters. Most recently, he is the author of The Human Species: An Introduction to Biological Anthropology (9th edition, 2013), Human Population Genetics (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012), and co-author of Human Biological Variation (2nd edition, 2011).

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley & Sons / Wiley-Blackwell
• Artikelnr. des Verlages: 1A470673910
• 1. Auflage
• Seitenzahl: 302
• Erscheinungstermin: 13. Januar 2017
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 231mm x 150mm x 20mm
• Gewicht: 522g
• ISBN-13: 9780470673911
• ISBN-10: 0470673915
• Artikelnr.: 45713899

Rezensionen

"As that rare scholar who is well-versed not just in paleoanthropology, living human biological variation, or genetics/genomics, but in all three, John Relethford gives us a concise, authoritative, and highly readable account of the most common misperceptions or 'myths' concerning human evolution. Whether the reader wants to know why there are still apes if apes evolved into humans, whether Neanderthals could speak, if extraterrestrials influence human civilization or almost anything else connected with human biological history, the answer is in this book!" - Fred H. Smith, Illinois State University

"John Relethford's 50 Great Myths of Human Evolution is a novel, ingenious, and effective format for presenting what we know and, in

some cases, what we do not know about human evolution. The authoritative, well-judged, and carefully-crafted essays guide the reader through this controversial field in a way that helps readers not only appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, but it will also help them understand how science is done." - Bernard Wood, George Washington University

"Relethford has identified a series of myths surrounding the study of human evolution, capturing many of the incorrect perceptions, misunderstandings, and bizarre interpretations of this fascinating field. This book will be a must-read for all students of human evolution and will be a go-to source for referring students and professionals alike to the history of the field. Relethford is especially successful in explaining science as a process and its ability to self-correct as new findings are made and old discoveries are reinterpreted." - Clark Spencer Larsen, The Ohio State University Columbus