Extinct Humans

by Ian Tattersall, Jeffrey H. Schwartz, Jeffrey M. Schwartz

Scientists have long envisioned the human “family tree” as a straight-line progression from the apelike australopithecines to the enigmatic Homo habilis to the famous Neanderthals, culminating in us, Homo sapiens. But this model is unlike the evolutionary patterns known for all other vertebrates—patterns that typically reveal multiple branchings and extinctions. In Extinct Humans, Ian Tattersall and Jeffrey Schwartz present convincing evidence that many distinct species of humans have existed during the history of the hominid family, often simultaneously. Furthermore, these species may have contributed to one another’s extinction. Who were these different human species? Which are direct ancestors to us? And, the most profound question of all, why is there only a single human species alive on Earth now?

Genres: Science, Evolution, Anthropology, Nonfiction, History, Biology, Archaeology

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Wendy]

Its not a family tree. Its a family shrub...with many branches that ended in extinction. Explore this book and you will never look at Human Evolution the same again!

[Clifton]

Inevitably dated now as scientists have made new discoveries, still this book, richly illustrated, is well worth the read.

[Daniel Barrows]

This was an important book in its time, but is now grossly out-of-date and not worth reading.

[Nathan Shumate]

I don't care how glossy the book is or how well-credentialed the authors are; three glaring factual errors in the first chapter consign it to the thrift store pile.

[Bonnie Lymer]

I have not technically finished this book, but have given up on it for now. It is definitely not summer reading material and while I may come back to it later, it is a book that I am struggling to read. If I can't enjoy a book, I would prefer not to read it.

[Caitlin]

Extinct humans by Ian Tattersall (2000)

[Mark]

Too short.