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Thumbs, Toes, and Tears: And Other Traits That Make Us Human
Thumbs Toes and Tears And Other Traits That Make Us Human
Author: Chip Walter
Thumbs, Toes, and Tears: And Other Traits That Make Us Human explores six seemingly unconnected but unique human traits—the big toe, our thumbs, our pharynx, tears, kissing, and laughter. Each trait marks a fork in the evolutionary road where we went one way and the rest of the animal kingdom went the other. Thumbs,...  more » draws on complexity theory, the latest brain scanning techniques, new insights from fields as diverse as anthropology, psychology, neurobiology, even artificial intelligence, sports medicine and robotics to reveal a creature that was shaped as much by its social relationships and internal self-image as it was by its ability to walk upright, make tools and use language. As the story of each trait unfolds, the book explores why we fall in love, why we look the way we do, why we care about what others think, what motivates our attractions to one another, the origins of deception, curiosity, trust, humor, sorrow and affection—presenting a unique portrait of the human species.
ISBN-13: 9780802715272
ISBN-10: 0802715273
Publication Date: 10/31/2006
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 6

3.9 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Walker & Company
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

AZmom875 avatar reviewed Thumbs, Toes, and Tears: And Other Traits That Make Us Human on + 624 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book is page after page of information about the evolution of man from monkeys to the humans we are today. Long passages explaining the changes from primitive man to H. habilis and H. Erectus, and the changes that needed to occur.
We learn that the big toes, leads to us walking up right which leads to many other changes, which leads to communication, then speech.

And the author does this with such joy and excitement, and he explains each new discovery by colleagues since the over the last 100 years.

I couldnt help reading this out loud and thinking about ROSS of the Friends TV show who gets all excited when he talks about dinosaurs or finds another person who understand his theory on the basil strata during the meso antro period, and the miss communication of such data. I KNOW!

But really the author makes the information easy to understand, it really isnt dull cause he is so excited about this book.
Read All 1 Book Reviews of "Thumbs Toes and Tears And Other Traits That Make Us Human"


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