Rating: 
Summary: If you believe humans are living things, read this book.
Review: The first part of this book is average, the last half (chapters 12 -19) is superb. If Richard Leakey did not accomplish anythng else in life, his writings which comprise the 22 pages of chapter 19 would be more than enough to leave any person proud of the masterpiece/legacy to human insight which they had created
Rating: 
Summary: A good book
Review: This book covers in details the exciting discovery of Turkana boy, a nearly complete junvenile H. erectus skeleton. Although a little limited in scope (look for other books for a good overview of the current state of human evolution) it does a great job of detailing the discovery and its significance. Leakey also does a good job of trying to peer into the minds of these primitive hominids, examining their intellect, speech, compassion, etc. in the last several chapters and what makes us who we are. This book however is more of description of the discovery than anything else, as shown by the considerable amount of space dedicated to the descriptions of the area and the sequence of events leading to the discovery and excavation. Overall a good book with some good anthropology in it and also an exciting depiction of the discovery.
Rating:
Summary: Good mea culpa
Review: 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. This book does not go into detail on all the scientific fist fights that occurred between the Kenyan crew and others in the field, notably the discoverers of "Lucy". This discovery more than anything else caused a revision in our previous thinking, forcing us to step back further in time. The upswing was that the findings served notice that the Leakeys were wrong in a few respects. This nook is an attempt to "rework" the evidence presented in the original "Origins". Crammed with pictures, illustrations, charts and presented in that always entertaining style/
Rating:
Summary: Good mea culpa
Review: 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. This book does not go into detail on all the scientific fist fights that occurred between the Kenyan crew and others in the field, notably the discoverers of "Lucy". This discovery more than anything else caused a revision in our previous thinking, forcing us to step back further in time. The upswing was that the findings served notice that the Leakeys were wrong in a few respects. This nook is an attempt to "rework" the evidence presented in the original "Origins". Crammed with pictures, illustrations, charts and presented in that always entertaining style/
Rating:
Summary: Informative, readable, and imaginative
Review: This is a terrific trek through Leakey's discoveries and his philosophy. In humble and readable terms he discusses his find of the most complete skeleton of H. erectus. He then outlines the literature in several problem areas of human evolution. Why does man have language when other species do not? What caused man to evolve into intelligent beings? What is the evolutionary meaning of consciousness? For anyone interested in the mechanics of paleoanthropology - and the deeper questions this science raises, this is a great overview. A story well told and well worth understanding.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile. Chapter 19 Shines
Review: This sequel to his earlier (1977) book is both readable and informative. His not infrequent pokes at Johanson detract from the first part of the book. (One has to read LUCY for "the other side of the story"). The last chapter, however, is the best, easily making up for any deficiencies that preceed it. In it he comments upon three topics: The Inevitability of Homo Sapiens, The Gap between us and "lower" animals, and The Sixth Extinction. He concludes that our existence here on Planet Earth is a matter as much of happenstance as any thing else. Echoing S. J. Gould, we are a "contingent fact of history, not the march down a predestined evolutionary pathway". As for a Gap between us and other life on earth, Leakey calls that an illusion, an accident of history. If you look closely enough you will see our links with the rest of life. Leakey has written an entire book on the last topic, The Sixth Extinction. Comparable in scale to the other "big five" we are in the midst of the sixth, with some 50% of species predicted by some to be gone in 30 years or so. Dispairing of our intelligence or ability to solve the problems we are causing, he envisions an earth without Homo Sapiens. Someday our brief sojourn here may be considered an "abberant blip". Still we should do all we can to preserve the environment, if only to post-pone the inevitable.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile. Chapter 19 Shines
Review: This sequel to his earlier (1977) book is both readable and informative. His not infrequent pokes at Johanson detract from the first part of the book. (One has to read LUCY for "the other side of the story"). The last chapter, however, is the best, easily making up for any deficiencies that preceed it. In it he comments upon three topics: The Inevitability of Homo Sapiens, The Gap between us and "lower" animals, and The Sixth Extinction. He concludes that our existence here on Planet Earth is a matter as much of happenstance as any thing else. Echoing S. J. Gould, we are a "contingent fact of history, not the march down a predestined evolutionary pathway". As for a Gap between us and other life on earth, Leakey calls that an illusion, an accident of history. If you look closely enough you will see our links with the rest of life. Leakey has written an entire book on the last topic, The Sixth Extinction. Comparable in scale to the other "big five" we are in the midst of the sixth, with some 50% of species predicted by some to be gone in 30 years or so. Dispairing of our intelligence or ability to solve the problems we are causing, he envisions an earth without Homo Sapiens. Someday our brief sojourn here may be considered an "abberant blip". Still we should do all we can to preserve the environment, if only to post-pone the inevitable.
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