Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a Roots for the human species, a lucid and riveting account of how humans got to be the way we are. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a thrilling saga that starts with the origin of Earth. It shows with humor and drama that many of our key traits-self-awareness, technology, family ties, submission to authority, hatred for those a little different from ourselves, reason and ethics-are rooted in the deep past, and illuminated by our kinship with other animals.
Sagan and Druyan conduct a breathtaking journey through space and time, zeroing in on critical turning points in evolutionary history and tracing the origins of sex, altruism, violence, rape, and dominance. Their book culminates in a stunningly original examination of the connection between primate and human traits. Astonishing in its scope, brilliant in its insights, and an absolutely compelling read, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a triumph of popular science.
"Dazzling... A feast. Absorbing and elegantly written, it tells of the origins of life on earth, describes its variety and character, and culminates in a discussion of human nature and the complex traces of humankind's evolutionary past... It is an amazing story masterfully told." -Financial Times (London)
Ann Druyan, Carl Sagan (Author), Ann Druyan, Clinnette Minnis, Nick Sagan (Narrator)
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