Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind

“A glorious success…The science manages to be as exciting and spellbinding as the juiciest gossip” (San Franscisco Chronicle) in the story of the discovery of “Lucy”—the oldest, best-preserved skeleton of any erect-walking human ancestor ever found.
When Donald Johanson found a partical skeleton, approximately 3.5 million years old, in a remote region of Ethiopia in 1974, a headline-making controversy was launched that continues on today. Bursting with all the suspense and intrigue of a fast paced adventure novel, here is Johanson’s lively account of the extraordinary discovery of “Lucy.” By expounding the controversial change Lucy makes in our view of human origins, Johanson provides a vivid, behind-the-scenes account show more of the history of pealeoanthropology and the colorful, eccentric characters who were and are a part of it. Never before have the mystery and intricacy of our origins been so clearly and compellingly explained as in this astonighing and dramatic book. show less

A memorable book!

When visiting New York's Natural History Museum, I came across a family of australopithecines (display models, of course). What a find! I love those little people! I could have hung out with them for hours but, alas, my companions were calling me to move on, and I had to say goodbye. I feel very drawn to these creatures, and I loved Johanson's book.

This is the best book on the subject of early humans that I've ever read. First rate background information, then it takes off like a great detective story! Was recently able to find this signed copy on Abe Books.

very well written; page turner. Got it from a friend who owned two copies; finished it the nexth day.

Lucy walked upright, but her shoulders resembled the chimpanzee. It becomes obvious that brachiating ambulation "teaches" the hand to form an opposed thumb. In turn, the development of bipedalism then freed the hand to carry the branch -- now club and spear -- which had previously carried the creature.

The historical record of finding the oldest human fossils. REconstructs the actual discovery and the political and biologic changes the discovery brought.

Johanson, the discoverer, in 1974, of "Lucy"--The oldest skeleton of an erect-walking human yet found--reports the story of his internationally acclaimed find and speculates on its meaning for the understanding of our origin. Source: Simon & Schuster 1981 edition (ISBN 0671250361)