How Humans Evolved

With its unique blend of evolutionary theory, populationgenetics and behavioral ecology, How Humans Evolvedprovides students with the most contemporary and completeintroduction to physical anthropology available. Robert Boyd andJoan B. Silk?s modern presentation of genetics and observablebehaviors in living humans and non-human primates moves beyondmerely describing anthropological finds to showing students the?big picture? ideas behind human evolution.

For the Fifth Edition, Boyd and Silk have updated the text toinclude the best of current research in the areas of genetics,behavior and the fossil record that conveys the excitement ofanthropological discovery. This new coverage reflects strengthenedcoverage of molecular genetics and a streamlined presentation ofprimatology.

Features

Up-to-date, withforward-looking content

How Humans Evolved weaves the best of current researchwith classic material in a way students find accessible andcompelling. For the Fifth Edition, Boyd and Silk have streamlinedthe coverage of primatology in Part II: Primate Ecology andBehavior. They have also strengthened the coverage of moleculargenetics to include new content reflecting the growing importanceof genetics to anthropological research.

A focus on behavioralecology

How Humans Evolved focuses on the science behind whatwe know about human evolution by examining the connection betweengenetics and observable behavior in living humans and primates.Specifically:

• Part II: Primate Ecology and Behavior includes extensivecoverage of behavior with full chapters on primate mating systems,cooperation and life histories and the evolution of intelligence.These chapters come before coverage of the fossil record, providingstudents with context for how humans lived in the past and how weevolved into who we are today.
• Two chapters in Part IV: Evolution and Modern Humans directlyaddress human behavior and human mate choice and parenting, topicsstudents find fascinating and relevant to their own lives.

Accessible artand text

• Boyd and Silk use figures in unique, clever and accessibleways-such as using the children's game 'Cooties' to describespeciation and presenting fossil comparisons with the sameorientation and scale-to convey important chapter concepts.
• Highlighted Key Idea statements focus students' attention oneach chapter's most important concepts.
• Study questions at the end of every chapter extend and applychapter readings to related concepts discussed throughout thetext.

With its unique blend of evolutionary theory, populationgenetics and behavioral ecology, How Humans Evolvedprovides students with the most contemporary and completeintroduction to physical anthropology available. Robert Boyd andJoan B. Silk's modern presentation of genetics and observablebehaviors in living humans and non-human primates moves beyondmerely describing anthropological finds to showing students the'big picture' ideas behind human evolution.

For the Fifth Edition, Boyd and Silk have updated the text toinclude the best of current research in the areas of genetics,behavior and the fossil record that conveys the excitement ofanthropological discovery. This new coverage reflects strengthenedcoverage of molecular genetics and a streamlined presentation ofprimatology.