Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors“Meaty, well-written.” —Kirkus Reviews “Timely and informative.” —The New York Times Book Review “By far the best book I have ever read on humanity’s deep history.” —E. O. Wilson, biologist and author of The Ants and On Human Nature Nicholas Wade’s articles are a major reason why the science section has become the most popular, nationwide, in the New York Times. In his groundbreaking Before the Dawn, Wade reveals humanity’s origins as never before—a journey made possible only recently by genetic science, whose incredible findings have answered such questions as: What was the first human language like? How large were the first societies, and how warlike were they? When did our ancestors first leave Africa, and by what route did they leave? By eloquently solving these and numerous other mysteries, Wade offers nothing less than a uniquely complete retelling of a story that began 500 centuries ago. |
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Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors Nicholas Wade No preview available - 2007 |
Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors Nicholas Wade No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
adapted Africa American ancestral ancient animals apes appearance archaeologists Asia Aurignacian become behavior believe body brain branch called carry chimpanzees chimps chromosome communities continued culture descendants developed disease dogs domesticated early East emerged Europe Europeans evidence evolution evolutionary evolved existence fact favored females finding followed foraging genes genetic geneticists given groups hair Homo human genome human population India individuals Jewish known language least less lineages linguists lived look male meaning method million mitochondrial DNA modern humans mutations natural Neanderthals northern occurred origin Paleolithic particular perhaps period Pleistocene possible present Press presumably probably race reached reason recent region religion researchers Richard Science seems selection settled single skin social societies species spread started stone suggests territory tree University warfare women writes Y chromosome