The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us

by Alice Roberts

Synopsis: The presenter of the BBC’s The Incredible Human Journey gives us a new and highly accessible look at our own bodies, allowing us to understand how we develop as an embryo, from a single egg into a complex body, and how our embryos contain echoes of our evolutionary past. Bringing together the latest scientific discoveries, Professor Alice Roberts illustrates that evolution has made something which is far from perfect. Our bodies are a quirky mix of new and old, with strokes of genius alongside glitches and imperfections which are all inherited from distant ancestors. Our development and evolutionary past explains why, as embryos, we have what look like gills, and as adults we suffer from back pain. This is a tale of discovery, not only exploring why and how we have developed as we have, but also looking at the history of our anatomical understanding. It combines the remarkable skills and qualifications Alice Roberts has as a doctor, anatomist, osteoarchaeologist and writer. Above all, she has a rare ability to make science accessible, relevant and interesting to mainstream audiences and readers.

Published: September 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1848664777

Author’s Homepage: http://www.alice-roberts.co.uk
Author’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAliceRoberts

The Independent Interviews Author

The Guardian Book Review
Forbes Book Review
3 Quarks Daily Book Review
Zen Mischief Book Review