The story of the human body : evolution, health, and disease /
Material type: TextPublisher: New York : Pantheon Books, [2013]Copyright date: �2013Edition: First editionDescription: xii, 460 pages : illustrations ; 25 cmContent type:- text
- unmediated
- volume
- 9780307379412 (hbk.) :
- 0307379418 (hbk.)
- Human body : evolution, health, and disease
- 612 23
- QP38 .L74 2013
Item type | Current library | Home library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Loan | Hayden Library Adult Nonfiction | Hayden Library | Book | 612/LIEBERM (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 50610019323265 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
In this landmark book of popular science, Daniel E. Lieberman--chair of the department of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and a leader in the field--gives us a lucid and engaging account of how the human body evolved over millions of years, even as it shows how the increasing disparity between the jumble of adaptations in our Stone Age bodies and advancements in the modern world is occasioning this paradox: greater longevity but increased chronic disease.
The Story of the Human Body brilliantly illuminates as never before the major transformations that contributed key adaptations to the body: the rise of bipedalism; the shift to a non-fruit-based diet; the advent of hunting and gathering, leading to our superlative endurance athleticism; the development of a very large brain; and the incipience of cultural proficiencies. Lieberman also elucidates how cultural evolution differs from biological evolution, and how our bodies were further transformed during the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions.
While these ongoing changes have brought about many benefits, they have also created conditions to which our bodies are not entirely adapted, Lieberman argues, resulting in the growing incidence of obesity and new but avoidable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Lieberman proposes that many of these chronic illnesses persist and in some cases are intensifying because of "dysevolution," a pernicious dynamic whereby only the symptoms rather than the causes of these maladies are treated. And finally--provocatively--he advocates the use of evolutionary information to help nudge, push, and sometimes even compel us to create a more salubrious environment.
(With charts and line drawings throughout.)
Includes bibliographical references (pages [371]-432) and index.
A Harvard evolutionary biologist presents an engaging discussion of how the human body has evolved over millions of years, examining how an increasing disparity between the needs of Stone Age bodies and the realities of the modern world are fueling a paradox of greater longevity and chronic disease.
What are humans adapted for? -- Upstanding apes: how we became bipeds -- Much depends on dinner: how the Australopiths partly weaned us off fruit -- The first hunter-gatherers: how nearly modern bodies evolved in the human genus -- Energy in the ice age: how we evolved big brains along with large, fat, gradually growing bodies -- A very cultured species: how modern humans colonized the world with a combination of brains plus brawn -- Progress, mismatch, and dysevolution: the consequences -- good and bad -- of having paleolithic bodies in a post-paleolithic world -- Paradise lost?: the fruits and follies of becoming farmers -- Modern times, modern bodies: the paradox of human health in the industrial era -- The vicious circle of too much: why too much energy can make us sick -- Disuse: why we are losing it by not using it -- The hidden dangers of novelty and comfort: how everyday innovations can damage us -- Survival of the fitter: can evolutionary logic help cultivate a better future for the human body?
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Preface (p. ix)
- 1 Introduction (p. 3)
- What Are Humans Adapted For?
- Part I Apes and Humans
- 2 Upstanding Apes (p. 25)
- How We Became Bipeds
- 3 Much Depends on Dinner (p. 48)
- How the Australopiths Partly Weaned Us Off Fruit
- 4 The First Hunter-Gatherers (p. 67)
- How Nearly Modern Bodies Evolved in the Human Genus
- 5 Energy in the Ice Age (p. 94)
- How We Evolved Big Brains Along with Large, Fat, Gradually Growing Bodies
- 6 A Very Cultured Species (p. 126)
- How Modern Humans Colonized the World with a Combination of Brains plus Brawn
- Part II Farming and the Industrial Revolution
- 7 Progress, Mismatch, and Dysevolution (p. 157)
- The Consequences-Good and Bad-of Having Paleolithic Bodies in a Post-Paleolithic World
- 8 Paradise Lost? (p. 180)
- The Fruits and Follies of Becoming Farmers
- 9 Modern Times, Modern Bodies (p. 209)
- The Paradox of Human Health in the Industrial Era
- Part III The Present, the Future
- 10 The Vicious Circle of Too Much (p. 251)
- Why Too Much Energy Can Make Us Sick
- 11 Disuse (p. 293)
- Why We Are Losing It by Not Using It
- 12 The Hidden Dangers of Novelty and Comfort (p. 318)
- Why Everyday Innovations Can Damage Us
- 13 Survival of the Fitter (p. 347)
- Can Evolutionary Logic Help Cultivate a Better Future for the Human Body?
- Acknowledgments (p. 369)
- Notes (p. 371)
- Index (p. 433)
Excerpt provided by Syndetics
Reviews provided by Syndetics
Library Journal Review
Lieberman (biology, Harvard; The Evolution of the Human Head) here traces the physical and social evolution of human beings, arguing that the rapid changes brought about by the Agricultural and Industrial revolutions have created environmental conditions for which our bodies are not ideally adapted. Contending that humans have become ill suited for the world in which we live-one of plentiful, highly processed food and labor-saving devices that reduce the need for strenuous physical activity-Lieberman proposes that these circumstances have led to chronic but avoidable diseases such as type 2 diabetes. While the book makes its points powerfully and convincingly, it is occasionally numbingly redundant and, indeed, sometimes seems to chide humans for being human. Seasoned narrator Sean Runnette gives a solid and engaging performance. VERDICT Optional; for public libraries where there is demand.-Forrest E. Link, Coll. of New Jersey, Ewing Twp. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Publishers Weekly Review
In thoroughly enjoyable and edifying prose, Lieberman, professor of human evolution at Harvard, leads a fascinating journey through human evolution. He comprehensively explains how evolutionary forces have shaped the human species as we know it, from the move to bipedalism, and the changes in body parts-from hands to feet and spine-that such a change entailed, to the creation of agrarian societies, and much more. He balances a historical perspective with a contemporary one-examining traits of our ancestors as carefully as he looks to the future-while asking how we might control the destiny of our species. He argues persuasively that "cultural evolution is now the dominant force of evolutionary change acting on the human body," and focuses on what he calls "mismatch diseases" that are caused by lack of congruence between genes and environment. Since the pace of cultural evolution has outstripped that of biological evolution, mismatch diseases have increased to the point where most of us are likely to die of such causes. Lieberman's discussion of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer are as clear as any yet published, and he offers a well-articulated case for why an evolutionary perspective can greatly enrich the practice of medicine. Agent: Max Brockman, Brockman Inc. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.CHOICE Review
Biology professor Lieberman (Harvard) has written a comprehensive, compelling book about the human body's dynamic evolution. The author carefully explores human form and function development along with health and concomitant diseases over millions of years, including humankind's continuing modifications. He provides scholarly research data from related disciplines, particularly fossil aspects and molecular levels of development. The book consists of three evolutionary components: "Apes and Humans," "Farming and the Industrial Revolution," and "The Present, the Future." Lieberman raises analytical questions about earlier relatives and the first Homo sapiens, dietary (metabolic) variations, and global migrations. He distinguishes between human and concomitant cultural evolution. For example, scientific/technological advances prompted the development of modern affluences and conveniences and assisted expanding world populations to live longer. Widespread human health issues, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart ailments, and cancers became prevalent in the past few hundred years. Lieberman also describes "mismatch" disorders and "dysevolution." The concluding chapter offers approaches for the human body's evolution in the future. Preventative, intelligent, individual, societal, and governmental modifications in modern lifestyles, including physical exercise and dietary changes, might offset impending deleterious patterns. Graphics and extensive chapter notes enhance this outstanding single-volume treatment of a complex topic. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. J. N. Muzio emeritus, CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeBooklist Review
Like it or not, we are slightly fat, furless, bipedal primates who crave sugar, salt, fat, and starch. Harvard professor Lieberman holds nothing back in his plea that people listen to the story of human evolution consisting of five biological transformations (walking upright, eating a variety of different foods, accumulating physical traits aligned to hunting and gathering, gaining bigger brains with larger bodies, and developing unique capacities for cooperation and language) and two cultural ones (farming and reliance on machines). Unfortunately, human beings now create environments and presently practice lifestyles that are clearly out of sync with the bodies they've inherited. This mismatch results in myriad problems, including Type 2 diabetes, myopia, flat feet, and cavities. Lieberman cleverly and comprehensively points out the perils of possessing Paleolithic anatomy and physiology in a modern world and bemoans just how out of touch we have become with our bodies. Natural selection nudges all life-forms toward optimality rather than a state of perfection. If we want to continue our phenomenal run as a species, it is essential to understand (and embrace) our evolutionary legacy.--Miksanek, Tony Copyright 2010 BooklistKirkus Book Review
Six million years of biological evolution have produced a human body ill-adapted to the diets and lifestyles that cultural evolution has wrought since modern humans emerged. That is the core message of this massive review of where we came from and what ails us now. Lieberman (Human Evolutionary Biology/Harvard Univ.; The Evolution of the Human Head, 2011, etc.) writes authoritatively about the fossil record, crediting bipedalism as the driver that freed hands to learn new skills, enabled foraging for diverse diets and chasing prey, and ultimately built bigger brains. In time, humans spread across the globe in hunter-gatherer groups. Thus we remained until the agricultural and industrial revolutions spurred population growth, changed diets, and introduced new infectious and chronic diseases--while little altering our hunter-gatherer anatomy and physiology. Lieberman examines energy balance--calories taken in vs. calories expended--and good shape. Analyzing today's creature comforts, processed food (with addictive amounts of sugar, salt and fat) and lack of exercise, it is no wonder we are seeing rises in obesity and risks for heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and the like. Lieberman calls these diseases of "mismatch" (of biological evolution and culture) and medicine's emphasis on treating symptoms, "dysevolution," which means perpetuating the diseases instead of preventing them. The repeated emphasis on all the bad things humans do is wearying. By no means does Lieberman discount all the good that modern society has achieved, but that message is nearly drowned by the constant admonition to do right by your body. Alas, he is the first to admit that changing human behavior is notoriously hard. At best, he offers a "soft paternalism"--e.g., government controls of children's environments (more physical education and better lunches) and taxing the unhealthy choices of adults. Readers have likely heard this song before but perhaps not so exhaustively and well-referenced as in Lieberman's opus. Would that industry and governments take heed.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.Author notes provided by Syndetics
Daniel E. Lieberman is professor of human evolutionary biology and the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences at Harvard. He has written more than one hundred articles, many appearing in the journals Nature and Science. Lieberman is especially well known for his research on the evolution of the human head and the evolution of running, including barefoot running (earning him the nickname the Barefoot Professor). His research and discoveries have been highlighted widely in newspapers, magazines, books, news programs, and documentaries.
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