The Human Career: Human Biological and Cultural Origins

By Richard G. Klein

Book Overview

"It is a long time since I have been as enthusiastic about a
book on human evolution as I am about Richard Klein's The Human
Career."--Leslie Aiello, Times Higher Education Supplement

" This book] will set a standard by which future books,
setting out the course of human evolution, may measure their
success."--Bobby Joe Williams, Quarterly Review of Biology

"The best introduction to the problems and data of modern
palaeoanthropology yet published."--Penny Dransart, Antiquity

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226439623
• ISBN13: 9780226439624
• Release Date: December 1989
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.2" x 1.2" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Before History Began

For the six million years before early humans evolved in a different direction from their chimpanzee cousins, there were no writings to consult about our (assuming the readers are human) evolution. This fine book fills this tremendous gap about our ancestors by examining the evidence from skeletal remains that reveal the development of human brain size, eating habits, and getting about on two legs. Klein evaluates this evidence fairly from the viewpoint of different scholars who attempt to relate this evidence to the development of human culture. The massive list of references at the back of the book cites over 2,400 books and journal articles, accompanied by a index of the pages where each reference is used in the text. If you want to know about human ancestors, and you are not too overwhelmed by details clearly and fairly presented, you'll love to wander through this book.

It helps to have some knowledge

about geology, anthropology and paleantology. This book gives minutely detailed information about everything from history to bones. It should really be used as a reference. There is probably no better book on the subject, it was recommended to me by an anthropologist

Excellent and thorough

By far the most complete and up-to-date treatment of hominid evolution I have encountered. Covers every aspect of paleoanthropology, including climatic changes and dating techniques, in great detail and precision, but with language that even a non-scientist such as myself can understand. An outstanding reference book.

A great overview

One of the definitive texts on the evolution of the hominidae. This text presents some very complex material in a very straightforward way with plenty of diagrams, charts, and maps. Many of the controversies found in the field of paleoanthropology are glossed over or skipped altogether, but this volume is still one of the best for an introduction to human evolution both biologically and culturally. A must for anthropology students especially with all the new discoveries in the past few years.