Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past through Our Genes: Amazon.ca: Steve Olson: Books

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From Library Journal

Thanks to recent discoveries in genetics, explains science journalist Olson, we're learning about human history before any history was written down.

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Thanks to recent discoveries in genetics, explains science journalist Olson, we're learning about human history before any history was written down. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. (Library Journal )

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32 Reviews

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3.8 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars The story of our race, the human race, Jun 26 2004

By

J. Buford (Troy Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past through Our Genes (Hardcover)

It is a fortunate fact of history that wrongful prejudice can scare bear the light of truthful inquiry. Olson provides this truthful inquiry in his search for the origins and migrations of the human race from the African continent of 150,000 years ago to today. For those who have or would claim a "superior race" they find quick and strong rebuke in the fact of a common racial human origin. Today, there are some seven billion people on the planet. Two thousand years ago, that figure was around 200 million. One hundred thousand years ago, that figure was around 10,000. Ten thousand humans lived in Africa 100,000 years ago. We are therefore all litterally extended brothers and sisters. This book is the story of our race told through the unbiased perspective of our mitochondrial DNA. For those straining to recall high school science, our mitochondria are power plants of our cells. In evolutionary prehistory, they merged with regular cells before humans even existed. Because of the nature in how they are passed on, their DNA can be uniquely examined with an eye toward reviewing our maternal history. In this way, the story of our mothers becomes the story of us, taking us all back to same stooped endangered group of humans living in prehistoric Africa. This book is an excellent book to be read in conjunction with other historical studies, anthropological studies or studies on human development. Olson's accessible writing style makes his points easy to grasp and his obvious enthusiasm contagiously makes you want to read on and better understand.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ FOR THE LAYMAN, Jun 29 2004

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Anthropology Buff "David" (Central Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past through Our Genes (Hardcover)

FOUND THIS BOOK THE BEST ON THE SUBJECT THAT I HAVE EVER READ! HIGHLY READABLE (NON-TECHNICAL) FOR US "LAYMAN" - WOULD NOT PART WITH MY EDITION AS I WILL BE RE-READING IT FOR SOME TIME TO COME! IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THIS SUBJECT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS THOUGHTFUL, INFORMATIVE, AND OBJECTIVE HISTORY OF THE ORIGINS AND DISTRIBUTION OF "MODERN MANKIND".

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, May 4 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mapping Human History: Genes, Race, and Our Common Origins (Paperback)

Steve Olson's Mapping Human History is an excellent introduction to historical genetics, and indeed it has been called by the New Scientist as "the most balanced, accessible and up-to-date survey of the field currently available." It is written by a renowned science journalist, not a scientist, who quotes and discusses the leaders in the field in a quite readable and entertaining fashion. The book has apparently offended some people by discounting ancestry (and racist offshoots) in light of the overwhelming evidence against the concept. However its scientific credentials are impeccable.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A recipe for race?
Although many words have been written attempting to show the unity of the human species, Steve Olson makes yet another attempt. He feels the need is there to be met. Read more

Published on April 6 2004 by Stephen A. Haines

1.0 out of 5 stars Political Correctness, the Antithesis of Science
This book is an unfortunate example of what happens when political correctness collides with the real world of science. Read more

Published on Mar 22 2004 by Donald B. Siano