1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910253310303321

Autore

Tuniz Claudio

Titolo

Humans : An Unauthorized Biography / / by Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Copernicus, , 2016

ISBN

3-319-31021-6

Edizione

[1st ed. 2016.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XIII, 124 p. 25 illus., 15 illus. in color.)

Disciplina

301

Soggetti

Anthropology

Life sciences

Archaeology

Paleontology 

Economic sociology

Popular Life Sciences

Paleontology

Organizational Studies, Economic Sociology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

History, prehistory & deep time -- Genesis -- Star Wars bar -- The apes and us -- The quest for fire -- The naked ape -- Lucy and the others -- Yesterday's menu -- Ancient remedies for ancient diseases -- Hominin's life -- The dear departed in the Pleistocene -- Brain readers -- All the power to imagination -- Primordial economics -- (Not) conclusive remarks.

Sommario/riassunto

Based on the latest scientific discoveries, this “unauthorized biography” of the Humans recounts the story of our distant ancestors during the past 6 million years, since the line of our extended family separated from that leading to modern chimpanzees. The book explains how different species evolved, both anatomically and cognitively, and describes the impacts of climatic and environmental change on this process. It also explores the nature of relationships within and between species, describes their everyday lives, and discusses how isolated individuals became members of larger social groups. The concluding



chapters highlight the paramount importance of the emergence of symbolic thought and discuss its contribution to the formation of institutions, societies, and economies. The multifaceted picture that emerges will help the reader to make sense not only of “what we were”, but also of “what we are”, here and now. The book is both entertaining and rigorous in integrating results from a wide selection of disciplines. It will be particularly suitable for people with a curious and open mind, keen to overcome long-standing prejudices on man's place in nature.