History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality

Average customer rating:

Crusader for Truth
groundbreaking text deserves to be a classic
Simply put, the book is not for the simple minded.
The Euro-American falsification of World History...on the way out?
Fantasies abound

The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality
Cheikh Anta Diop
Manufacturer: Lawrence Hill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

Egypt | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Egypt | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1556520727

Book Description

Now in its 30th printing, this classic presents historical, archaeological, and anthropological evidence to support the theory that ancient Egypt was a black civilization.

Customer Reviews:

Crusader for Truth.......2007-07-09

This book is a must read for every black person of high school age and above. Dr. Diop, While clearly a crusader for truth about black african history, thoroughly supports his conclusion that the ancient egyptians were black people. This conclusion is supported by the record left by the ancient Egyptians themselves: through their pryamid paintings, reliefs, sculptures, and writings.

groundbreaking text deserves to be a classic.......2007-01-19

This edited version of Cheik Anta Diop's groundbreaking work is a must read for anyone interested not only in African history but history in general. Its tendency to polemic is nonetheless a strong counterpoint to the 'whitening' of history that has been occurring in anthropology and archeology since theories of race began developing as socio-political weapons in the 17th-18th century. Diop eloquently refutes the claims to the European or Asian origin of Eygyptian civilisation by examing the core texts of the European experts who have actively perpetrated such theories, and by bringing to our awareness evidence for the antiquity of other African civilisations thorughout Africa and the orient. He has been accused of racism himself but his text exposes how racist ideologies of Europe gave rise to lies still in common circulation today. We must not take for granted the 'truth' of history presented in our classrooms and mainstream media. This is a well argued and thoroughly reserached text that if read with an open mind and a critical eye will change your understanding of history.

Simply put, the book is not for the simple minded. .......2007-01-14

First and foremost lets all accept this fact. People are going to believe what they want to believe in many cases without a real curiosity or concern with separating truth from fallacy. Why? Because its easy, and what is worse for some, is because at their moral base they prefer arrogant elitism over objective investigation.

Of course the fallacy that Africa and those native to that continent made no positive and/or major contributions to civilization makes no sense at all. That's like praising the stealth fighter planes of today yet insisting that the Wright Brothers and others of their time didn't really make any significant contribution to air travel.

Without question many well respected scholars, historians, anthropologists, etc... delivered their most important works in a time when it was necessary to justify the colonization of Africa and the inferiority of their inhabitants to maintain some sense of moral character. To them real or imagined, even the most noble at times had a (Thomas Jefferson type of self contradiction) in matching the clarity of science with the cloudy prism of racism in their own minds. Its just one of several human frailties we are all subject too if not careful.

A true student of history could not dismiss Diops work just because he spoke from a place that was unpopular. As an African himself we should expect his work to challenge the popular opinion of that day, which indeed under any serious study shows it self to be contradictory many times, bias and most certainly questionable at the very least when dealing with the history of Africa and Africans.

Diop was a student activist who was also a brilliant mind that chose science to find an answer to questions he had about the chaos that had befallen his homeland. In doing so he found far more and this he presents in a way nothing short of interesting, scholarly and well worth reading.

Given the depth of Diops commitment to intellectual prowess and understanding of his chosen fields of the sciences, his presentation dealing with ethnology, linguistics, anthropology to mention a few areas is far more substantive than many of those he challenges and he pulls no punches in demanding a respectful hearing from those who would suggest to be the same if not more than a scholar than he.

It would be a mistake to misinterpret Diop's challenging works regarding civilization, Egypt and Africa as a ploy to belittle another group or say one race is better or worse than another. His thought process rises far above and beyond that, reaching to edify all readers regarding the importance of truth in science which will lead to a better understanding of our existence, past, present, and future. Simply put, the book is not for the simple minded.

The Euro-American falsification of World History...on the way out?.......2006-06-25

Diop has written a powerful book placing the African civilizations of what is commonly called "Ancient Egypt" at the begining of world history ,where it rightly belong.
The French trained scholar used modern linquistics to put to rest, once and for all, the the pure assertion on the part of Western Egyptologist that the language spoken by the ancient Egyptians was a semitic language related to Hebrew and Arabic. Diop demonstrates conclusively that the language of ancient Egypt was a Black African language related genetically at many levels of the gramatical structure to the languages spoken by peope of Black Africa today! No competent linguist can demostrate that the ancient Egyptian language is genetically related to the so-called "Oriental Languages" or semitic family of languages. It can not be done.
Dr. Theophile Obenga, a Congolese scholar who worked closely with Dr. Diop, demolished the unscientific work of Dr. Greenberg. Greenberg placed the language of the ancient Egyptians in the semitic group or family of languages with Hebrew, Arabic, etc. Evidently Greenberg had no broad- first hand knowlege of any African language. Judging from his work, it appears doubtful if Greenberg ever seriously studied African languages. Nowdays Greenberg's work is clearly more dogma than science.
Diop points out that the ancient Egyptians said that they(the ancient Egyptians)came from the South at the place in the heart of Africa where the mighty Nile river has its source. This would be in the Great Lakes region. And that Egypt was all the land watered by the Nile.
The ancient Egyptians buried their dead facing the South. To them the South was the "Holy Land", Ta Marry.
The worldview of the ancient Egyptians, their cosmology and religion is African. Every element of Egyptian religion has its counterparts in the African religions of today. The concept of the KA and the Ba are found thoughout black Africa today.
Christianity, Judaism and Islam grew out of the rich religious and ethical teachings of these ancient African thinkers.
Oh, I could go on and on.....with for example the African origin of philosophy. Thales who was said to be the first Greek philosopher, went to Egypt and studied UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE EGYPTIAN PRIEST....even the word "philosophy" is not of Greek or even of IndoEuropean origin. Etymologically, the word is from the ancient African language spoken by the early black Africans commonly called "ancient Egyptians".
For too long now, the European world has sought to take Egypt out of Africa. Later the attempt was to take Africans out of
Egypt!
The European/American intellectual dogma has been dealt a tremendous blow by the work of Diop. After all the lies, distortions and slander of Mother Africa, the Truth, like RA, will emerge out of the foggy darkness of this long, cold and horrible night, to light, warm and rejuvenate the world again- healing and strengthening the wounded hearts.
Read the book-you'll see!!
Don
Peyton

Fantasies abound.......2006-03-03

It is a fact that the human race originated in Africa. It is also a fact that civilization originated in the Middle East. So what?

Origins Reconsidered: In Search of What Makes Us Human

Average customer rating:

Convergence and Evolution
Informative but...
Nice ideas...difficult reading
Interesting read with many thought-provoking theories
Good mea culpa

Origins Reconsidered: In Search of What Makes Us Human
Richard E. Leakey
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0385467923
Release Date: 1993-10-01

Book Description

Richard Leakey's personal account of his fossil hunting and landmark discoveries at Lake Turkana, his reassessment of human prehistory based on new evidence and analytic techniques, and his profound pondering of how we became "human" and what being "human" really means.

Customer Reviews:

Convergence and Evolution.......2005-09-01

"Men it appears would rather believe than know. They would rather have the void of purpose...than to be void of purpose." E. O Wilson

There is a concept of "convergence" that is used by many evolutionary scholars to make their case that evolution is real, factual and not only tells us about history but allows us to make valid predictions about the future. This notion of convergence tells us that there is not one specific event or proof that guarantees that the theory of evolution is real but there exists detailed evidence in many arenas of science that all point to the same conclusion.

Origins Reconsidered provides a methodology of convergence that is critical in making a case for what appears obvious to the thinking individual. Unfortunately, the theory of Evolution requires constant re-proving. Evidence which has been overwhelming for the last 150 years is still subject to "debate" for a contingent large in numbers, who have attempted to erode the credibility of this science by locating little chinks in the over all armor. Briefly, convergence is the making of inductions from classes of facts that may be disparate in and of them selves, and making strong scientific cases for each class. Once that is done the convergence of all of these explanations makes an extraordinary case for the over all objective. In this case the objective is that the theory of evolution is once again, strong and obvious.

The book is written in six different parts that take the reader through an explanation of methodology, through some obvious conclusions and lastly into some speculation about what the future bodes. The authors tell most of the story in clear and sequential ways. Initially part one "In search of the Turkana Boy" is more prosaic and nearly fictional in style. It describes the setting and friendships amongst skilled and intellectual colleagues in search of "Missing link" or at least additional verification of paleo-anthropological evolution. In this section I did worry that I was reading the wrong book; that I was about to endure a book of anecdotes about what life in the anthropological dig would be. Fortunately I did not give up.

Leakey attempts to make a case for how the first humans came about. At what point are those of us who are considered human distinguished from other nearly similar hominoids? Leakey explores aspects of personality that of course include the use of tools but extends the search to the beginning of language, writing, musical instrument making and art to name a few aspects.

He explores the concept of consciousness and morality to further his premise. While many animals have instinctual altruism and show human signs of affection it is the ability to remember things distant and to create an ethical code of morality that distinguishes us from Cro-Magnons and other late near humans.

Leakey furthers his case by addressing evolution itself and the arguments against it. He talks about the arguments and dismisses them succinctly. "In many cases the urge to know surpasses what can be known; questions without answers." Many find this impossible to accept and seek mysticism in its place, extracting meaning where none exists.

Leakey would applaud the fact that mankind has evolved into the most powerful animal on earth but he has no delusions that this is part of a divine plan. There is no predestination in evolution. Mutations occur that are of benefit and help those survive to pass that gene on and improve the species. What has happened in history is only one possible result. There is no inherent superiority in adaptation. Humans have always tried to have a gap between them and animals mainly because of the need to assuage our subjective consciousness.

Origins Reconsidered also discusses how difficult paleontology really is. He uses the problem of distinguishing early hunter/gatherers from scavengers as an example. Both leave their orts in locations that are very difficult to distinguish. At the same time these are very different survivors.

Ultimately Leakey maintains that while currently humans rule the earth it may not always be so, at least not as we understand humans. He sees the future as one wrought with ecological problems. He uses the notion of mass extinction to make his point. He asserts that throughout history there have been many periods of natural mass extinction. Those were precipitated by events such as Ice Ages. He maintains that Biota are fairly resistant to natural disaster. Floods for instances can apparently wipe out some local vegetation but that same biota can revive. Man made ecological disaster is another matter. Leakey's concern is that the current trends toward smog, deforestation and global warming my create a pathos that vegetation cannot withstand.

Leakey and Lewin display very clearly, the science behind their own efforts but they also describe the weaknesses of science in making determinations about what is a human. Those weaknesses are noble when they are ascribed based on sound scientific theory and otherwise when "proven" by only considering results that make one's point.

Leakey may have an axe to grind. He presents excellent scientific evidence but was never trained as a scientist in any field. Of course he is a scion of one of the most prolific of paleontologists; he never received a degree of any sort to lend to his credentials. His skills come from "on the job training" but they are sound. I believe it is rare that an individual can produce sound evidence to back up their empirical claims without the scholarly background, Leakey has done it.

As a non scientist, it is my endeavor to understand evolution from as many perspectives as possible and this is a book that weighs heavily on that purpose.

Informative but..........2005-07-30

The book is informative but repetitive and Leakey writes sometimes in the form of a biography which is unnecesaary and the writings repetitiveness not only in the concept but also in word use is distracting. The words milieu and inexorably were used at least every other page. The editor should have cut the book in half.

Nice ideas...difficult reading.......2004-10-07

I almost gave this book 3 stars for it's difficult narrative style, but that would have taken away from the fact that it is full of great ideas. Lots of photos and illustrations cut through the slow moments. More info on the mitochondrial hypothesis would have been nice also. Still a great read all in all.

Interesting read with many thought-provoking theories.......2004-07-23

Richard Leakey is one of the most well-known, and respected, fossil-hunters today. One must stop to appreciate the irony of his rebellion toward his parents, without whom he may have actually had to go to college to establish the credibility he enjoys due to his last name.

Leakey's "shots" at Donald Johanson and other scientists aside, much of the analysis presented in "Origins Reconsidered" is quite interesting. His rebuttal of the "Lovejoy hypothesis" is well-articulated and rather persuasive. But the way he barely hints at his infamous "4-million-year-old homo habilis" fossil debacle (a claim he held far longer than evidence supported it) is awfully self serving.

The driving force behind Leakey's studies is this fundamental question: "what separated members of the genus homo from the "bipedal ape" australopithecines, and what were the environmental factors that favored homo's survival and led to australopithecus' extinction?" Nearly the entire book focuses on the analysis of this question, and rather eloquently at that.

This book would be best for the student of paleoanthropology, whose reading list on the subject would extend beyond this single volume. While scientifically valid, the range of theories in the area is vast, and each developing theory carries its own controversy. Only by understanding the range of these theories can one hope to have a good idea of the bipedal-ape-to-human evolution.

Good mea culpa.......2004-01-14

This book had to be written by the Leakeys if for no other reason than to rescue their reputations. For years, the Leakey family - mom, pop, son - were the last word on the topic of mankind's beginnings. As such they got most of it right but missed a few things.

Book Description

Bones, Stones and Molecules provides some of the best evidence for resolving the debate between the two hypotheses of human origins. The debate between the 'Out of Africa' model and the 'Multiregional' hypothesis is examined through the functional and developmental processes associated with the evolution of the human skull and face and focuses on the significance of the Australian record. The book analyzes important new discoveries that have occurred recently and examines evidence that is not available elsewhere. Cameron and Groves argue that the existing evidence supports a recent origin for modern humans from Africa. They also specifically relate these two theories to interpretations of the origins of the first Australians. The book provides an up-to-date interpretation of the fossil, archaeological and the molecular evidence, specifically as it relates to Asia, and Australia in particular.

* Readily accessible to the layperson and professional
* Provides concise coverage of current scientific evidence
* Presents a robust computer-generated model of human speciation over the last 7 million years
* Well illustrated with figures and photographs of important fossil specimens
* Presents a synthesis of great ape and human evolution

Customer Reviews:

Multiregionalism Debunked.......2006-08-19

Alternating between hard-core and literary, "Bones, Stones and Molecules" covers all of the latest anthropological discoveries and developments. Sahelanthropus and Orrorin are breaking news in paleoanthropology and are covered early in the book. These two new fossils are from the "wrong" side of the Great Rift Valley and neatly dispense with another recent favorite theory of human origins that involved the stranding of Old World and New World monkeys on either side of the Great Rift.

"Out of Africa" versus the "Multiregional" hypothesis are the book's main focus, and "Out of Africa" comes out the clear winner. David Cameron and Colin Groves each have their own slant on human origins, and these are clearly depicted in dozens of cladograms, each co-author posing variations. There are numerous sketches and photographs, and brief boxed interludes that also display a sense of humor.

"Bones, Stones and Molecules" introduces Groves' strong background in Australian fossils, the controversy over the timeline of Australian colonization has ramifications that affect much of anthropology. This is a solid book best suited to those with previous knowledge of the field. The appendix provides mathematical proof of assertions made in the book, hundreds of anatomical measurements are detailed. There are very few works that achieve such an excellent balance between mathematical rigor and literary readability.

Valuable reference for academics and laymen alike.......2004-09-05

Cameron and Groves have produced a handsome volume that details the anatomical structure of the species immediately ancestral to homo sapiens, and fleshes out the multiple "Out of Africa" episodes that have characterised the longer span of human evolution.

Full of ecological and detailed anatomical descriptions of the key species in human evolution, this volume very rarely, if not uniquely, integrates the story of hominid anatomical adaptation and modification across the Miocene through to the Holocene.

Students of paleoanthropology will not find a more thorough one volume overview, which while going far beyond being an introduction, admirably serves that role to.

For those who want to come to grips with, at a very detailed level, the drivers and form of anatomical and associated behavioural change amongst the human ancestral species, this Cameron/Groves volume is the ideal reference.

Great read, showcasing the latest fossils!.......2004-07-29

This is a great read for anyone interested in human evolution. It includes all of the most recent fossil hominid discoveries as well as providing an up-to-date overview and systematic analysis of human evolution over the last 6 million years or so (including molecular - archaeological information). It provides a convincing argument for the 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis for modern human origins. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in evolution and human and great ape evolution in particular.

African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity

Average customer rating:

"OK, I get the point..."
Excellent in part, marred by political agenda & slander
a too particularistic outlook on the Anthropogenesis.
Very good -- as far as it goes
Excellent for a much maligned book.

African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity
Christopher Stringer , and Robin McKie
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0805058141

Amazon.com

Ever since Darwin first suggested that humans are descended from apes, the theory of evolution has engendered a firestorm of controversy. But the schism between creationism and evolution is by no means the only source of disagreement; even within the evolutionist camp there are fierce divisions. Are all humans part of a single species comprised of many different varieties? Or is each race a separate species? Even Darwin had no easy answer for that one. Some scientists, including Carleton Coon, believe that Homo erectus began in Africa, then migrated to different locations in the world, where it evolved into Homo sapiens at different rates--Europeans and Asians evolved quickly, while other races remained more "primitive." Others, such as author Christopher Stringer, agree that Homo erectus spread across Asia and Europe, but became extinct everywhere but in Africa, where they continued to evolve. Eventually, a new and improved Homo sapiens swept once more out of Africa--this time to stay.

There's plenty of paleontological and genetic evidence to support Stringer's point of view, and he argues it convincingly. Short of the invention of a time machine, African Exodus is the next best way to revisit the origins of modern man.

Book Description

A Choice Outstanding Academic BookA Library Journal Best Sci-Tech BookA New York Times Notable BookOnce in a generation a book such as African Exodus emerges to transform the way we see ourselves. This landmark book, which argues that our genes betray the secret of a single racial stock shared by all of modern humanity, has set off one of the most bitter debates in contemporary science. "We emerged out of Africa," the authors cont, "less than 100,000 years ago and replaced all other human populations." Employing persuasive fossil and genetic evidence (the proof is in the blood, not just the bones) and an exceptionally readable style, Stringer and McKie challenge long-held beliefs that suggest we evolved separately as different races with genetic roots reaching back two million years.

Customer Reviews:

"OK, I get the point...".......2006-11-22

It is an informative and well-written book. For a lay-person interested in the origins of humankind, it is almost a must-read. The book is thorough, and use a multitude of well-documented sorces to back its claims. However, it is tarnished by an ever reoccurring tendency to throw punches rather than educate. After a while you simlpy get a little tired of this ("OK, I get the point. You don't care much for the multiregionalists!"). The thing is that personal attacks and slander do not belong in a book that claims to be scientific. Not even in the preface.

In an otherwise excellent book, brace yourself for somewhat petty personal opinions!

Excellent in part, marred by political agenda & slander.......2002-08-13

This work provides an excellent summary of the "Out of Africa" model that first burst upon the world in the famous time magazine "New Eve" cover in 1987. Stringer, a paleonotologist, was one of the first--althought not the first as he claims-- to propose that every single person (outside of Africa) now alive is the descendant of a small group of humans who left Africa between 200,000 and 150,000 years ago. Until the advent of "DNA" reverse transcriptase technology (commonly known from its use in criminal investigations) Stringer's theory was just one more interpretation of mute bones and stones. The revolutionary work of Mary Ravullo, amongst others, now proves that all humans are indeed descended from a tiny population (probably 2-3000 "breeding" females) 200,000 years ago. The DNA evidence shows that there is far more genetic diversity within Africa than in the rest of the world. Until the DNA discoveries, Stringer was pretty much out in the wilderness against the paleontological orthodoxy that the "races" of mankind had evolved from populations of Neanderthal and H. erectus. Despite the counter-intuitive nature of this "multi-regional" hypothesis, the skimpy fossil record seemed to support it. The DNA evidence, however, is so overwhelmingly solid it seems unlikely to ever be overthrown; unlike the fossil evidence, in which conclusions are much like figure skating scores, highly subjective and open to endless debate.

When sticking to the science of bones and blood, McKie and Stringer produce solid scientific writing for the non-Academic.

However, they severely mar the book with character assassination of Stringer's paleontological rivals, a puerile political agenda and environazi propaganda. Instead of analysizing the work of said rivals, the authors stoop to gossipy anecdotes to smear them. It was totally unnecessary and a good editor wouldn't have let them get away with it. Eliminating these distractions and a clearer focus on the science (and its conclusions) would have made this book a classic.

Another grievous, and, again, totally unnecessary addition, are the authors ignorant and slanderous remarks about American politics and American conservatives. To a British or Continental audience, these observations are probably accepted at face value. To anyone conversant with the American political scene, (e.g. page 246) their remarks are baseless, slanderous and make the authors look ridiculous. They also fling assaults on the book The Bell Curve distorting, with slash and burn attacks, what Herrenstein and Murray actually wrote; they create a caricature and proceed to attack it instead of the real book.

Finally, the concluding chapters launch into a litany of the Far Left's enivronmental myths and fantasies--conjuring up everything from the Global Warming hoax, to the racist "noble savage" protrayal of American Indians, to the man as the "killer" ape "destroying" the planet. Not surprisingly, little proof, beyond the usual ritual incantations of the environut creed, is offered.

The authors stray way beyond their ken in many areas and their ignorance and prejudice are embarrasingly on display. Without these flaws, the authors fluent and easily read prose would have made this book a landmark work. With them, it is reduced to a mishmash of scientific fact and calumny that ultimately hurt Stringer's cause far more than they advance it.

a too particularistic outlook on the Anthropogenesis........2000-04-07

Theory that mankind has evolved in relatively near past,and that it colonised the world from africa,exterminating local populations,disagree with a wealth of evidence that sugest some living human populations are product of prodigous and variable forms of interbreeding,operationalised over enormous time span,with all darwinian factors-mutation and selecton,giving rise to distinct and changing populations.We must not dismiss idea of poligenetic origin of populations within mankind,because(this is digression from actual book)it is same reasoning as "crime will stop if we believe that we are all equaly handsome,smart and physicaly strong".Exporation of Racial diferencies is extremely important for medicine,history,archaeology,sociology and a wealth of social and exact sciencies.Truly,an idea that Humankind emanated in a small geographic nucleus and then suddenly spread in all possible directions,exterminating indigenious populations made-up from Neanderthals and Neanderthaloids,contrandict with the fact that among modern human races,characteristics representative of processes such as admixture and amalgamation with this above-mentioned earlier populations,are strongly sugestive of more complex diachronical expressions of anthropogenetic forms. The "Mitochondrial Eve" theory is by far rejected now.Speaking of Coon's theories,it is unjust not to mention the fact that his books always contained extremely unbiased view on this matter-unlike some of his contemporaries.Anthropology does not give rise to racism in its "hooliganic" form.At best,Author's thesis can be substantied with two trends,observed from findings of classic human paleontology-existance of emigrating population(s) with "astenic" metro-morphologic qualities and complex process of amalgamation with autochtonuos population-first in North Africa,then in Eurasia and Americas.Somethink like "Wolkewanderung" from single centre for paleolithic is highly unlikely.

Very good -- as far as it goes.......2000-02-07

This book should be read in conjunction with my own Race, Evolution, and Behavior so that all the missing pieces of the puzzle can be seen. The parts of the book that review human origins are competent and very readable. Unfortunately, major errors appear in the book when it descends to the politically obligatory trashing of both The Bell Curve and my own work. In my case, instead of taking the time to read, cite, and critique my 1995 book intelligently, the authors rely mainly on a 1994 account of it in the tabloid magazine Rolling Stone! The basic political argument of African Exodus is as follows: "In any case, the story of our African Exodus makes it unlikely that there are significant structural or functional differences between the brains of the world's various peoples" (p. 181). The logic here is especially odd given that other parts of the book present a fascinating discussion of how populations vary in jaw size and in number of teeth. For example, page 215 states: "Among Europeans, for example, it has been found that up to 15 percent of people have at least two wisdom teeth missing...while in east Asia, the figure can be as much as 30 percent in some areas." As an example of evolutionary pressure, the book describes how before modern medicine, impacted wisdom teeth often became infected and led to death. The authors appear to find it plausible for evolution to act through differential death rates resulting from differences in the number of wisdom teeth and yet find it implausible that death rates could vary in different regions because of differential intelligence as an adaptation to extreme cold. While Stringer and McKie describe how noses and skin color have been shaped in different regions, they deny that there are any cognitive differences and they withhold from readers the modern literature on brain size and IQ. Perhaps least forthright in this regard is the citation (p. 177) of Beals et al.'s (1984) study of worldwide variation in cranial size (which I cited earlier) and their attribution of these racial differences only to "climate," as though climate is not a likely potent source of natural selection for intelligence.

Excellent for a much maligned book........1999-05-24

I pondered purchasing this book for quite a long time based on some of the negative views written on this page about this book. After reading several other books on this topic I took the plunge. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found some of the reviews about the book to be simplistic or myopic in thought. I ponder how many of the bad reviews were written by paleontologists who disagree with C. Stringer. Being a meteorologist, I found nothing offensive. I strongly agreed with his concept of hard scientific data and quantifying numbers to prove points.

No doubt, this book was written with latter evidence, including the DNA evidence that allows more specific conclusions. I found the lineage and concepts in line with those put forward by Tattersal and others suggesting no real bombshells in this book.

Book Description

This work contains a collection of the most influential papers of the late Glynn Isaac which illustrate his work in East Africa on the earliest records of the human species. It consists of 18 essays on the archaeology of the Old Stone Age in Kenya and Tanzania.

History of the World-Africa and the Origin of Humans

Average customer rating:

History of the World-Africa and the Origin of Humans

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GZV576

The Hominid Gang: Behind the Scenes in the Search for Human Origins

Average customer rating:

The Hominid Gang: Behind the Scenes in the Search for Human Origins
Delta Willis
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

Human origins: Louis Leakey and the East African evidence (Perspectives on human evolution)

Average customer rating:

Human origins: Louis Leakey and the East African evidence (Perspectives on human evolution)

Manufacturer: W. A. Benjamin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books