Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Around 60,000 years ago, a man--genetically identical to us--lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up as the father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races?

Examining the hidden secrets of human evolution in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments in the revolutionary science of population genetics have made it possible to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. Replete with marvelous anecdotes and remarkable information, from the truth about the real Adam and Eve to the way differing racial types emerged, The Journey of Man is an enthralling, epic tour through the history and development of early humankind.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

The title does not make clear that this book is about the "journey" of human males. Wells, a geneticist, offers a popular treatment of research into what Y chromosome lineages indicate about the relationships between human ethnic groups, and about their migrations. There is reference to other data, including mitochondrial DNA, languages, and tool use, but the Y chromosome data are the heart of the book. The style is engaging, and the book is appropriate for undergraduates. It is a good introduction for professionals. Wells is careful to indicate where conclusions are based on assumptions. He describes some of his research in the field; his hero, who is mentioned many times in the book, is L. L. Cavalli-Sforza, who has done a great amount of work on the origins of human groups and their migration, over many years. There are 18 pages of excellent color photos of various types of humans but, unfortunately, they are not well integrated into the text. There are a few diagrams, an adequate index, and a few pages of notes. Libraries supporting programs in anthropology or human genetics should acquire the book. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; lower-division undergraduates through faculty. M. LaBar Southern Wesleyan University