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The Journey of Man by Spencer Wells

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The Journey of Man

A Genetic Odyssey

Spencer Wells

Random House Publishing Group · Print & ebook · February 17, 2004

Reading lane: Physical Anthropology

Around 60,000 years ago, a man—genetically identical to us—lived in Africa.

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Our Shared Origins

Genetics turns humanity’s deep past into a sweeping inquiry into ancestry, difference, and kinship.

Come here for

  • A human family tree traced through the code we carry
  • Big questions about ancestry and human variation

Expect

  • A narrative tour through early human history
  • Genetic science alongside anecdotes and striking discoveries

Book Details

Authors
Spencer Wells
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Published
February 17, 2004
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Physical Anthropology · How Cultures Work
Reading lane
Physical Anthropology

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • Evolution

  • Genetics & Genomics

  • How Cultures Work

About This Book

Around 60,000 years ago, a man—genetically identical to us—lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up as the father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races? Examining the hidden secrets of human evolution in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments i...

Read full description

Around 60,000 years ago, a man—genetically identical to us—lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up as the father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races? Examining the hidden secrets of human evolution in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments in the revolutionary science of population genetics have made it possible to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. Replete with marvelous anecdotes and remarkable information, from the truth about the real Adam and Eve to the way differing racial types emerged, The Journey of Man is an enthralling, epic tour through the history and development of early humankind.

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