SIGNED Last Ape Standing
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Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived
Bloomsbury, 2013
Over the past 150 years scientists have discovered evidence that at least twenty-seven species of humans evolved on planet Earth. These weren't simply variations on apes, but upright-walking humans who lived side by side, competing, cooperating, sometimes even mating with our direct ancestors. Why did the line of ancient humans who eventually evolved into us survive when the others were shown the evolutionary door?
Chip Walter draws on new scientific discoveries to tell the fascinating tale of how our survival was linked to our ancestors being born more prematurely than others, having uniquely long and rich childhoods, evolving a new kind of mind that made us resourceful and emotionally complex; how our highly social nature increased our odds of survival; and why we became self aware in ways that no other animal seems to be. Last Ape Standing also profiles the mysterious "others" who evolved with us-the Neanderthals of Europe, the "Hobbits" of Indonesia, the Denisovans of Siberia and the just-discovered Red Deer Cave people of China who died off a mere eleven thousand years ago.
Last Ape Standing is evocative science writing at its best-a witty, engaging and accessible story that explores the evolutionary events that molded us into the remarkably unique creatures we are; an investigation of why we do, feel, and think the things we do as a species, and as people-good and bad, ingenious and cunning, heroic and conflicted.
Last Ape Standing has won several awards, and was translated into multiple languages including Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese. The New York Times wrote, “Walter takes an antic delight in the triumphal adaptations and terrifying near misses of human evolution … a lively journey!” The New Yorker wrote, “shed(s) a fascinating light on our evolutionary success.” We have one hardback version of this signed first edition, one Spanish edition (in paperback), and a handful of paperback editions.
