The Fossil Trail by Tattersall
Relating the full history of the major hominid fossil finds, this study explores how palaeontologists have come to their present understanding of human evolution. It describes the specific events that have influenced scientific knowledge concerning the origins of the human species.
"The overall effect is tightly controlled, measured, fair, thoughtful, and demands a good deal of respect"--The Times Higher Education Supplement "This refreshingly opinionated book will have a lasting influence on the next generation of paleoanthropologists."--Nature "Encapsulates the study of human evolution."--The Washington Post "Tattersall provides the richest and most comprehensive account to date of the thrilling quest to discover our ancestors. But more importantly, the book succeeds brilliantly in enlightening us about the varied scientific and intellectual frameworks in which fossil evidence for human evolution has been interpreted. This superb book is a must for everyone interested in understanding the human story."--Don Johanson, Institute of Human Origins "Lucidly crafted within the framework of modern evolutionary biology this volume affords a much-needed and long-awaited critical analysis of the now greatly enhanced documentation of the human fossil record and of major transformations in perspectives and methodologies in respect to its analysis and evaluation. The appearance of evolutionary novelties, the recognition of past species' diversities, of major extinction events, of persistent lineages, and their poles of adaption, of modern morphological differentiation, and of behavioral capabilities are singularly and effectively elucidated. The Fossil Trail is an unsurpassed, tour-de-force exposition of the growth of knowledge of the origins and evolutionary past of human kind. It constitutes an exceptional landmark in the literature of paleoanthropology."--F. Clark Howell, Laboratory for Human Evolutionary Studies, University of California, Berkeley "How we know is easily as important as what we think we know--and often even more interesting. The Fossil Trail is an incisive, fascinating story of discovery and analysis of the fossil record of human evolution. Tattersall tells us why, in the ongoing quest to understand our origins, it is definitely not true that every new fossil renders prior schemes obsolete: In the perennial collision between ideas and fossils, real cumulative progress is possible--and indeed has been made. Ian Tattersall tells this, the greatest story ever told, beautifully. The Fossil Trail will prove to be a lasting contribution to our understanding of human origins--and how we have gone about figuring out our history."--Niles Eldredge, Curator, Department of Invertebrates, American Museum of Natural History "A vigorous historical narrative of paleontologists' attempts to reconstruct human origins from the fossil record."--Publishers Weekly "A refreshing appraisal.... Wise words from a highly qualified observer of humanity past and present."--Kirkus "An outstanding achievement....The task of organizing such complex material into a narrative account would have defeated most writers, but Tattersall has mastered it with remarkable skill. The result is a smoothly flowing and wonderfully readable book that grips the attention without oversimplifying the arguments....An altogether excellent book."--The New Scientist "...informative and highly readable....A fascinating and provocative overview of human paleontology..."--Booklist "This lively, opinionated, personal account offers rare histories, hoaxes, and scientific fads; a readable, up-to-date account of current theory; and a healthy skepticism based on the author's own quest for our origins."--Natural History
Ian Tattersall is Head of the Anthropology Department at the American Museum of Natural History, where he was Curator in Charge of the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, which opened in 1993.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780195061017 |
| ISBN 10 | 0195061012 |
| Title | The Fossil Trail |
| Author | Tattersall |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press Inc |
| Year published | 1995-03-16 |
| Number of pages | 288 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |