What makes us human? Ireland’s favorite scientist is here to tell you!
What do you have in common with the 7.75 billion other people on the planet? This is the question that Professor Luke O’Neill attempts to answer in this exciting new book for young readers, adapted from his bestselling book for adults, A Scientist’s Guide to our Amazing Existence .
Starting with the origin of life and how we as a species evolved on the plains of Africa some 200,000 years ago, Professor Luke explores what makes us interesting as a species, why we sleep, laugh and enjoy music, and our efforts to stop disease. He also ponders whether we will create superhumans, how and why we age, if we can escape death and whether our eventual extinction is inevitable.
With Luke’s trademark infectious enthusiasm - and plenty of laughs along the way - What Makes Us Human is the perfect book for curious minds.
Very enjoyable and informative. I listened to it on audiobook and it is just as enjoyable for an adult as I'm sure it will be for younger readers. Lots of lovely gory bits left in too!
I will definitely love the way O'Neill narrated this book if I am an English-speaking, eight years old kid. Each page makes me smile from ear to ear. He is quite brilliant when it comes to simplify each research he quoted and he has puns for every notion using fresh vocabulary lists as a scientist. I am conviced he was a comic in his previous life. Because what do you mean a book written by a biochemist still manage to make lists of Top 5 Play and Top 5 to Probably Avoid in operating theater? WHAT DRUGS HE WAS DRINKING WHEN HE WROTE THIS, EXCUSE MOI?!
His identity as an Irish captured well as he put some first sentences in each chapter of the book by mentioning research conducted in Ireland. Yes, O'Neill, we noticed you. Moreover, the whole illustrations layout and the description among them are amusing. I can juat stare each illustration for around 5 minutes to reimagine the description written on that page, as the animated version. Not to mention that at the end of each chapter, he will strengthen his ideas but at the same time, he will remind us to "take nobody's word for it". Very classic scientist.
As an adaptation from his bestselling book, Humanology (which I haven't read yet, sorry O'Neill), the biggest question was stated as the book title "What Makes Us Human: A Scientist Guide to Our Amazing Existence" and he split the answers into 19 chapters. He is a historian-in-disguise, believe me, as he neatly knitted each topic in a structured phase, from the beginning of time to the prediction of our extinction. Unfortunately, each time he mentioned those who deserves the credit to our existence and our future are only those people from STEM fields, minor tribute to teachers maybe (?) but never to mention those who are experts in humanities and arts. Well, put that on your notes, scientist writers. However, take this opinion as a grain of salt.
By the way, if you are allergic to sweet things, do not read page 107. And oh, I knew this book is not marketed for an eight plus twenty year old person but TAKE MY MONEY!
So I didn't realise until I started reading that this was aimed at kids! But I really don't think the content is right for kids, certainly not my 9 and 12 year olds. I learnt a thing or two myself though, so no complaints!