Essentials of Physical Anthropology: Discovering Our Origins

by Clark Spencer Larsen

The big picture of physical anthropology. Essentials of Physical Anthropology , Third Edition, is rich with stunning and photorealistic art, thoughtful pedagogy, innovative media, and up-to-date, student-centered content that illuminate physical anthropology’s most important themes.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Science, Evolution, College

380 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a college student and non-Anthropology major, I found this book to be an excellent source as an overview on the subject. I applaud the author for his focus on historical men and women who have made an impact in the field of Anthropology, and the also for how Larsen constructs each chapter to build on each other until the final three chapters bring everything together within the context of the modern world. Of note is the inclusion of Rosalyn Franklin, the scientist who received no credit from her peers for several decades regarding her work with the DNA strand, and her use of the x-ray machine that would end up claiming her life as a young woman. It is a joy to see her name in the textbook, and her posthumous recognition is an important recognition for all aspiring women scientists. Of course this book is a "textbook", and as such, doesn't afford a friendly narrative (although it does try, with anecdotes at the beginning of each chapter), but it's one of the better textbooks out there for this course of study, and there is much to be learned within the pages of Larsen's tome.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent textbook. The most glowing thing I can say about it is that my nephew looked at the pictures and then spent an hour having me explain to him the ins and out of inheritance and sickle cell anemia. He's six years old and refers to himself as a primate.

[John Devlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer on the rise of the hominids and primates. The work is engaging, colorful, and knows where to draw the line on fact and suppositions. I could have done without the peroration of a resource challenged globe or the handwringing over global warming, especially when Larsen had just provided several graphs showing how much colder and variable the global temperature was prior to the development of agriculture only 10,000 years ago.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

textbook for Human Origins, Anthropology 206.