"It has been suggested that a species comes of age not when its members master intergalactic travel, but when they understand the reasons for their own existence. Thanks to Darwin, Mendel, and their disciples we can focus a scientific lens on human nature and begin to explain why humans are the way they are. "Human Evolution: Processes and Adaptations" develops the theory and methods of the modern evolutionist and applies this tool kit to both describe and explain the biological traits that define our species. With many lively analogies, the book makes current research accessible to beginning students.
Topics addressed in the book include natural selection, genetics, adaptation, speciation and classification, making sense of the fossil record, and the evolutionary pressures that have made humans relatively unique. The evolution of behavior is discussed with focus on altruism, tool use, and language, as well as sex and sexuality. In addition, chapters address human variation in an evolutionary context, adaptive radiations, our relationship with archaic humans, and measuring the recent impact of evolution on our species.
"Human Evolution: Processes and Adaptations" teaches students that science is not simply a body of knowledge. It is a method for acquiring and refining knowledge. The book is designed to engage and intellectually challenge, allowing students to stretch their mental muscles and truly become evolutionary thinkers.
Steven J.C. Gaulin earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D. at Harvard University. Currently, he is a Professor of Integrative Anthropological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Gaulin has done field research on voles and non-human primates, and experimental research with both voles and humans. Much of his work focuses on the evolution of sex differences. In addition to 85 scientific articles, Dr. Gaulin co-authored the books "Evolutionary Psychology," and "Why Women Need Fat." He has just completed a ten-year term as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Evolution and Human Behavior.""