Close Encounters with Humankind: A Paleoanthropologist Investigates Our Evolving Species

In Close Encounters with Humankind, paleoanthropologist Sang-Hee Lee explores some of our biggest evolutionary questions from unexpected new angles. Amongst other questions, she looks at what fossilised teeth tell us about our ancient life expectancy, what big data on fossils reveals about farming's problematic role in human evolution and how simple geometric comparisons of skull and pelvic fossils can suggest the origin of our social nature. Through a series of entertaining, bite-sized chapters, we gain new perspectives into our first hominin ancestors, our first steps on two feet, our first forays into toolmaking and hunting, and our continuing evolution. Lee's curious nature and surprising conclusions make Close Encounters with Humankind a delight to read.

By:   Sang-Hee Lee
With:   Shin-Young Yoon
Imprint:   Norton
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 211mm,  Width: 140mm,  Spine: 20mm
Weight:   240g
ISBN:   9780393356762
ISBN 10:   0393356760
Pages:   304
Publication Date:   May 2019
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Sang-Hee Lee is a professor of anthropology and associate dean of the college of humanities, arts, and social sciences at UC Riverside, and lives in Riverside, California. She earned her MA and PhD in anthropology from the University of Michigan.

Lee, a paleoanthropologist, tells us much about our evolutionary origins by sorting through our ancestors' mortal remains. I have struggled for years to find reading materials that cover the basics of human evolution without overwhelming students with dry, technical minutiae. At last, a book that does this! This book will appeal not only to students, but to anyone who is curious about the world.--Dean Falk, coauthor of Geeks, Genes, and the Evolution of Asperger Syndrome An exceptionally reader-friendly introduction to human evolution.... Highly accessible, consistently interesting popular science writing. Sang-Hee Lee has posed some of the big questions in human evolution and has written brief, clear, and jargon-free essays about them. Her informal, clear style and commonsense explanations are delightful and engaging. Brava!--Pat Shipman, professor of anthropology and author of The Invaders In this insightful collection, Sang-Hee Lee shows herself to be a gifted storyteller, breathing new life into the old bones, with both the intimate knowledge of a practitioner and a dose of cross-cultural scientific sensitivity. A pleasure to read!--Jonathan Marks, professor of anthropology and author of Tales of the Ex-Apes A terrific introduction to the story of human evolution for someone who is just beginning to explore the field, but even those familiar with the material will find a lot of new information here. An appealing, factual, and entertaining book on the ever-fascinating topic of human evolutionary history.--Wenda Trevathan, author of Ancient Bodies, Modern Lives Lee uses quick-take chapters and a congenial tone to give us an overview of what paleoanthropology has discovered and how it works.... Think of it as visiting some really old friends. Succinctly and engagingly, Lee revisits... key questions about the story of our evolving species--and gives some unconventional answers.