Review by Choice Review
Although the evolutionary history of humans is understood in a broad sense, the search for the details of our ancestry is ongoing. In this book, Tuttle (anthropology, Univ. of Chicago) examines what is known and unknown about our lineage. He begins with a survey of the earliest primates and provides a meticulously researched catalog of the fossil record of the family Hominidae. The second section of the book examines how seemingly minor features of anatomy explain similarities and major differences in behavior among the closest human relatives. An inspection of the hands of hominids and a consideration of their importance in tool use follows. A comparison of the brains of apes leads to a discussion of sociality, sexual behaviors, and communication, and the book culminates in an analysis of what it means to be human. This is an enormous work, brimming with citations; the literature cited amounts to over 300 pages. A volume this detailed has the potential to be a colossal bore, but Tuttle's command of the material is impressive, his writing style is fluid, and his sense of humor is apparent throughout the book. --John L. Hunt, University of Arkansas--Monticello
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review