Last Ape Standing The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived

by Walter, Chip

• ISBN13: 9780802717566
• ISBN10: 080271756X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-01-29
• Publisher: Walker Books

Summary

Over the past 150 years scientists have discovered evidence that at least twenty-seven species of humans evolved on planet Earth. These weren't simply variations on apes, but upright-walking humans who lived side by side, competing, cooperating, sometimes even mating with our direct ancestors. Why did the line of ancient humans who eventually evolved into us survive when the others were shown the evolutionary door? Chip Walter draws on new scientific discoveries to tell the fascinating tale of how our survival was linked to our ancestors being born more prematurely than others, having uniquely long and rich childhoods, evolving a new kind of mind that made us resourceful and emotionally complex; how our highly social nature increased our odds of survival; and why we became self aware in ways that no other animal seems to be. Last Ape Standingalso profiles the mysterious "others" who evolved with us-the Neanderthals of Europe, the "Hobbits" of Indonesia, the Denisovans of Siberia and the just-discovered Red Deer Cave people of China who died off a mere eleven thousand years ago. Last Ape Standingis evocative science writing at its best-a witty, engaging and accessible story that explores the evolutionary events that molded us into the remarkably unique creatures we are; an investigation of why we do, feel, and think the things we do as a species, and as people-good and bad, ingenious and cunning, heroic and conflicted.

Author Biography

Chip Walter is the founder of the popular website AllThingsHuman.net, a former CNN bureau chief, feature film screenwriter, PBS documentary filmmaker, and author-in-residence at the Mellon Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His articles have appeared in the Boston Globe, the Economist, Discover, Scientific American, and numerous other publications and websites. He is author of three books and his writing has been published in six languages. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.