The Monkey in the Mirror: Essays on the Science of What Makes Us Human
by Ian Tattersall
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Nothing fascinates us more than explorations of human origins, and nobody tells the story better than Ian Tattersall. What makes us so different? How did we get this way? How do we know? And what exactly are we? These questions are what make human evolution a subject of general fascination. Ian Tattersall, one of those rare scientists who is also a graceful writer, addresses them in this delightful book. Writing in an informal essay style, Tattersall leads the reader around the world and show more into the far reaches of the past, showing what the science of human evolution is up against-from the sparsity of evidence to the pressures of religious fundamentalism. Looking with dispassion and humor at our origins, Tattersall offers a wholly new definition of what it is to be human. Delightful stories, scientific wisdom, fresh insight-the perfect science book. show lessTags
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After reading Tattersall's short book of essays, I want to read more of him. He makes a good deal of sense in what he says, so much so that a single essay has me rethinking my acceptance of much of what "evolutionary psychology" claims about human behavior.
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35+ Works 1,860 Members
Ian Tattersall, PhD, is Curator Emeritus in the Division of Anthropology of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where he co-curated the Spitzer Hall of Human Origins. He is an acknowledged leader in the study of the human fossil record, and has won several awards, including the W. W. Howells Prize of the American Association show more of Physical Anthropologists. Tattersall has appeared on Charlie Rose and NPR's Science Friday, and has written for Scientific American and Archaeology. He's been widely cited by the media, including The New York Times, BBC, MSNBC, and National Geographic. Tattersall is the author of some twenty titles, including Becoming Human: Evolution and Human Uniqueness. He lives in Greenwich Village. show less
Awards and Honors
Classifications
- Genres
- Anthropology, Science & Nature, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Philosophy
- DDC/MDS
- 599.938 — Natural sciences & mathematics Animals Mammals Homo sapiens Genetics, sex and age characteristics, evolution Evolution
- LCC
- GN281 .T365 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Anthropology Anthropology Physical anthropology. Somatology Human evolution
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 109
- Popularity
- 294,341
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.69)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 1
