The Human Species: An Introduction to Biological Anthropology

by John H. Relethford

Now in full color, this biological anthropology text presents balanced coverage of the major components of the genetics and evolutionary theory, human biological variation, primate biology and behavior, and human evolution. The relationship between biology and culture is a major focus throughout the text, and the emphasis is on the human species within the primate discussions of mammals and nonhuman primates continually refer back to their potential relevance for understanding the human species. The text contains material often neglected in introductory texts, such as discussions of adaptation, human health and disease and demography, and human growth.

Genres: Anthropology, Science, Textbooks, Biology, Evolution, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published March 1, 1990

About the author

John H. Relethford is an American biological anthropologist and Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the State University of New York at Oneonta. He is also an adjunct professor at Binghamton University.

Reviews

[Rachel]

Actually, this textbook is not just about humans. Here is an excerpt: "Orangutan males have an interesting pattern of physical development whereby they first become sexually mature and capable of reproduction, and only later become socially mature.... Females tend to resist sexual encounters with the less mature males because they prefer mating with the more socially mature males, although the reason for this mate choice is not yet clear." Ha ha ha.

[Sam]

Pretty much a referenced, textbook sauce for the first half of Yuval Noah Harare's Sapiens.

[Shainlock]

For Physical Anthropology- text.

[Rick Vickers]

Although this was dated, I found out quite a number of things I hadn't known before

[Raymond Shephard]

Just started. A required school reading in Physical Anthropology.