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hrewannabe's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book, the story of finding Lucy and all the hard work that went into it made this a thrilling read. Getting to know the progress that goes on behind the scenes of great discoveries like Lucy is exciting.
midlifehedgewitch's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent and readable overview of developments in palaeoanthropology over the past thirty years.
inametaphor's review against another edition
What I wanted was a book exploring the legacy of the discovery of Lucy, her impact on the understanding of ancient and/or modern humanity, maybe a discussion of how it changed previous theories of the development of humans.
What I got was an extended exultation by the archaeologist who discovered the remains of just how cool he is.
What I got was an extended exultation by the archaeologist who discovered the remains of just how cool he is.
alexctelander's review against another edition
5.0
While the Leakeys are know in the anthropological world for their great work at Olduvai Gorge, another important name to remember is Donald C. Johanson. Apart from being the author of Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind, winner of the American Book Award, and founder of the Institute of Human Origins, he is also the guy who while walking back to his car in 1974, along a barren stretch of Ethiopia, spotted something bone-like in the ground. With further excavation, he would be named as the discoverer of one of the most famous skeletons in history: Lucy, better known as Australopithecus afarensis, dated at between 3-3.7 million years old.
In Lucy’s Legacy, Johanson continues telling the story from where he left off with Lucy, discussing some of the 363 specimens that were discovered over the succeeding decades. The book is divided into parts; the first part, “Lucy,” covers his work since the 1974 discovery. In “Lucy’s Ancestors,” Johanson takes readers on a journey and discussion of the different hominid lines from the primeval ape up to Australopithecus afarensis, supplying readers with the latest evidence and ideas, as well as offering some of his own opinions. In “Lucy’s Descendants,” he talks about the various hominid lines after Lucy, with Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and most importantly, Homo sapiens. Johanson even reserves a chapter for the important Homo floresiensis, better known as the “hobbit,” discovered not too long ago. Mystery still enshrouds this particular Homo line, but the author supplies all the details and ideas, leaving it up to the reader to decide whether the “hobbit” really was a separate hominid line, or just an individual anomaly.
To help readers along, the inside cover of the book features a clearly laid out Hominid Family Tree, creating an easy to follow map as Johanson takes you through the millions of years of anthropological history. Lucy’s Legacy is a fascinating new book with important updates on the ancestry of humanity that will answer any questions readers might have about where we all came from.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
In Lucy’s Legacy, Johanson continues telling the story from where he left off with Lucy, discussing some of the 363 specimens that were discovered over the succeeding decades. The book is divided into parts; the first part, “Lucy,” covers his work since the 1974 discovery. In “Lucy’s Ancestors,” Johanson takes readers on a journey and discussion of the different hominid lines from the primeval ape up to Australopithecus afarensis, supplying readers with the latest evidence and ideas, as well as offering some of his own opinions. In “Lucy’s Descendants,” he talks about the various hominid lines after Lucy, with Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and most importantly, Homo sapiens. Johanson even reserves a chapter for the important Homo floresiensis, better known as the “hobbit,” discovered not too long ago. Mystery still enshrouds this particular Homo line, but the author supplies all the details and ideas, leaving it up to the reader to decide whether the “hobbit” really was a separate hominid line, or just an individual anomaly.
To help readers along, the inside cover of the book features a clearly laid out Hominid Family Tree, creating an easy to follow map as Johanson takes you through the millions of years of anthropological history. Lucy’s Legacy is a fascinating new book with important updates on the ancestry of humanity that will answer any questions readers might have about where we all came from.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
scotchneat's review
3.0
Written by Donald Johanson (who discovered Lucy - THE Lucy when he was still pretty wet behind the ears, fieldwork-wise), the book chronicles Johanson's work in the field, alongside other research and discoveries that have helped to fill in the humanoid chart.
I liked finding out more about the different people in the very small world of paleoanthropology. Also interesting to read about how geopolitical strife in areas of Africa has such an impact on research and digs. He also touches on discoveries like the "pygmy" hominids found in Southeast Asia and some pretty amazing finds in Europe.
Johanson spends the last part of the book trying to give context to all of the finds as he explains where we still have disagreement about our evolutionary history.
The book is very accessible in it's temperament and vocabulary--good overview of what we know and what we don't.
I liked finding out more about the different people in the very small world of paleoanthropology. Also interesting to read about how geopolitical strife in areas of Africa has such an impact on research and digs. He also touches on discoveries like the "pygmy" hominids found in Southeast Asia and some pretty amazing finds in Europe.
Johanson spends the last part of the book trying to give context to all of the finds as he explains where we still have disagreement about our evolutionary history.
The book is very accessible in it's temperament and vocabulary--good overview of what we know and what we don't.
alexctelander's review
5.0
While the Leakeys are know in the anthropological world for their great work at Olduvai Gorge, another important name to remember is Donald C. Johanson. Apart from being the author of Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind, winner of the American Book Award, and founder of the Institute of Human Origins, he is also the guy who while walking back to his car in 1974, along a barren stretch of Ethiopia, spotted something bone-like in the ground. With further excavation, he would be named as the discoverer of one of the most famous skeletons in history: Lucy, better known as Australopithecus afarensis, dated at between 3-3.7 million years old.
In Lucy’s Legacy, Johanson continues telling the story from where he left off with Lucy, discussing some of the 363 specimens that were discovered over the succeeding decades. The book is divided into parts; the first part, “Lucy,” covers his work since the 1974 discovery. In “Lucy’s Ancestors,” Johanson takes readers on a journey and discussion of the different hominid lines from the primeval ape up to Australopithecus afarensis, supplying readers with the latest evidence and ideas, as well as offering some of his own opinions. In “Lucy’s Descendants,” he talks about the various hominid lines after Lucy, with Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and most importantly, Homo sapiens. Johanson even reserves a chapter for the important Homo floresiensis, better known as the “hobbit,” discovered not too long ago. Mystery still enshrouds this particular Homo line, but the author supplies all the details and ideas, leaving it up to the reader to decide whether the “hobbit” really was a separate hominid line, or just an individual anomaly.
To help readers along, the inside cover of the book features a clearly laid out Hominid Family Tree, creating an easy to follow map as Johanson takes you through the millions of years of anthropological history. Lucy’s Legacy is a fascinating new book with important updates on the ancestry of humanity that will answer any questions readers might have about where we all came from.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
In Lucy’s Legacy, Johanson continues telling the story from where he left off with Lucy, discussing some of the 363 specimens that were discovered over the succeeding decades. The book is divided into parts; the first part, “Lucy,” covers his work since the 1974 discovery. In “Lucy’s Ancestors,” Johanson takes readers on a journey and discussion of the different hominid lines from the primeval ape up to Australopithecus afarensis, supplying readers with the latest evidence and ideas, as well as offering some of his own opinions. In “Lucy’s Descendants,” he talks about the various hominid lines after Lucy, with Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and most importantly, Homo sapiens. Johanson even reserves a chapter for the important Homo floresiensis, better known as the “hobbit,” discovered not too long ago. Mystery still enshrouds this particular Homo line, but the author supplies all the details and ideas, leaving it up to the reader to decide whether the “hobbit” really was a separate hominid line, or just an individual anomaly.
To help readers along, the inside cover of the book features a clearly laid out Hominid Family Tree, creating an easy to follow map as Johanson takes you through the millions of years of anthropological history. Lucy’s Legacy is a fascinating new book with important updates on the ancestry of humanity that will answer any questions readers might have about where we all came from.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
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