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One of the enduring mysteries of human origins is how our ancestors separated from the other great apes and set out on a different evolutionary path: they began to walk upright, lost their body hair, and grew significantly larger brains. These new physical traits changed us so much that we could no longer exist in the wild with our primate cousins without special protection. While Darwin's theory explains our common descent, scientists are grappling with the reasons why human evolution defies the principles of natural selection and why, although we dominate the planet, we have become the weakest ape. In this fascinating narrative, leading archeologist Timothy Taylor proposes that it was our early adoption of tools, objects, and, now, technology that changed us, demonstrating how:
- Baby slings made out of animal fur freed up our arms up to use tools
- Clothes kept us warm reducing our need for body hair
- Shelter protected us from the elements and led our bodies to become slighter and physically weaker
- Fire enabled us to cook which changed the make up of our stomachs
Drawing on the latest fossil evidence Taylor argues, that every step of the way, humans made choices that assumed greater control over their own evolution. This is a process that continues today as we push the frontiers of scientific technology, creating prosthetics and implants that integrate seamlessly into our bodies creating a new form of artificial humans.
"Taylor is an engaging and entertaining writer [...] this is a stimulating book [...]"
– Engineering and Technology
"Taylor is a good storyteller."
– Antiquity
