Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Genes, Peoples, and Languages by Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Mark Seielstad ISBN: 0-520-22873-1 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: 07 May, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.75 (24 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A summary of human genetic and linguistic evolution
Comment: Cavalli-Sforza's invaluable contribution to the understanding of why, before the more recent diasporas, we lived were we lived, spoke what we spoke and looked like what we looked like, was made concrete with the publication, in 1994, of the excellent "The History and Geography of Human Genes". Much less complete than this book were the more recent "The Great Human Diasporas" and Sforza's last book, "Genes, Peoples and Languages". These somewhat summarize what can be found in the pages of "The History and Geography of Human Genes", by the same author,with which they share several maps and tables.
Nevertheless, "Genes, Peoples and Languages" was worth reading, since it incorporates more recent genetic data and linguistic research, and this is what you are looking for if you want to keep up with the advances in this field. A more comprehensive explanation to statistical methods used to define genetic trees and to draw principal component maps, plus an interesting chapter on cultural transmission explaining how, in the microsphere, it helps to operate genetic and linguistic evolution, are novelties in this publication.
Putting aside race and its seemingly subjective definitions, racism and its definetely scientifically undermined fundaments, I would like to recommend this book to those who, like myself, are curious laymen fascinated by the matter of human biological and cultural origins. A more thorough approach to the subject(more maps, tables, trees, drawings and text)you'll find in "The History and Geography of Human Genes, though.
Rating: 4
Summary: African Eve undermines valuable research work
Comment: Reviewer: Adam Chou from Flemington, N.J.
Cavalli-Sforza's book on genes is very well written and interesting. The topics discussed in his book are challenging. I like his use of "Culture" as being broadly defined. In this manner, a single word, without the complication of different words for the different stages of human evolution, describes the evolutionary progression of hominid life styles. From biped, use of stone tools, development of society to current technology, it is all inclusively named as cultural development of the human race.
His work on establishing the genetic tree of the world human population is an important contribution to our understanding of our ancestry. Unfortunately, his theory of "African Eve" clouds the work and muddies the text of the book. Fixing the biological time clock to fit the African Eve theory has weakened the value of the genetic tree. It is well known that genetic mutation is sporadic and initiated by ecological and environmental conditions. It does not occur at some regular intervals of time as assumed by him. In other words, it is not a linear function of time. In my paper titled "Two Genetic Traits in East Asia", I demonstrated that this genetic tree fit perfectly with the evolutionary process as hypothesized by the multi-regional theory where homo erectus evolved to be homo sapiens sapiens worldwide. The map on p. 94 in his book very accurately describes the migration paths of these hominids. In spite some shortcomings, the book is well worthwhile for any one interested in human evolution to possess as a reference.
Rating: 2
Summary: Unfocused work covering an uneven scope.
Comment: Like its title, this book is a disjointed work. There is no central thesis in this work. Narratively, it is modeled like how "101 {Concepts|Mechanisms|Analyses|Facts} of Evolution" would be organized. Nevertheless, there are some interesting ideas and data presented, like the correlation of language classification and genetic groupings, or the possible (and probable) outgrowth and expansions of human settlements, arising from Africa. Less interesting, but worth a look, is the narrative on transmission of culture.
However, this is a work best avoided, if only in favour of the abridged version of the same author's History and Geography of Human Genes.
 |
Title: The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution by Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Francesco Cavalli-Sforza, Sarah Thorne, Heather Mimnaugh ISBN: 0201442310 Publisher: Perseus Publishing Pub. Date: October, 1996 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
 |
Title: The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey by Spencer Wells ISBN: 069111532X Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr Pub. Date: 01 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
 |
Title: The Origin of Language : Tracing the Evolution of the Mother Tongue by Merritt Ruhlen ISBN: 0471159638 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Pub. Date: August, 1996 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
 |
Title: Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past Through Our Genes by Steve Olson ISBN: 0618091572 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 15 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
 |
Title: The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes ISBN: 0393323145 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: May, 2002 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
