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looking for a book recommendation on human anthropology

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The Wrath

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I'd like to read a book on early humans. I'm not so much interested, at this time, in human evolution. But I'd like to learn about how early humans lived, where they migrated to, when they started using tools, when they developed language, etc. Can anyone recommend a book that covers this subject material? Preferably, I'd like one in layman's terms, since I'm not an anthropologist...so, nothing too dense, please.

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I'd like to read a book on early humans. I'm not so much interested, at this time, in human evolution. But I'd like to learn about how early humans lived, where they migrated to, when they started using tools, when they developed language, etc. Can anyone recommend a book that covers this subject material? Preferably, I'd like one in layman's terms, since I'm not an anthropologist...so, nothing too dense, please.

I liked reading The Real Eve: Modern Man's Journey Out of Africa by Stephen Oppenheimer. Perhaps it is what you are looking for?

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That actually sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. It's awfully pricey though, so it may have to wait a while. Also, how easy is it to follow, having only a very basic understanding of anthropology? Thanks for the recommendation.

Now that I see the title, I think I've heard of this book before.

Edited by Moose
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That actually sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. It's awfully pricey though, so it may have to wait a while. Also, how easy is it to follow, having only a very basic understanding of anthropology? Thanks for the recommendation.

You are welcome.

I borrowed this book from the library. I did not find this reading this book to be that difficult. I thought it was technical enough to be satisfying to the lay person. Many visual aids, such as maps of emigration patterns, are provided. I do not have any background in anthropology but I read (nonfiction) quite often.

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  • 1 year later...
Another good book on overall human history:

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

Although it discusses a few interesting periods in history, this is a terrible book in terms of philosophy. The author's premise is that "exploitable" natural resources and not ideas are the motor of history. This is precisely the Marxist view.

Edited by DarkWaters
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I liked Physical Anthropology by Stein and Rowe. The Third Chimpanzee is also great. It´s shorter and easily written than the first one. But as had been said before, Diamond is not good in philosophy. But i guess that in The Third Chimpanzee is not that much flaws as in Guns, Germs and Steel (I haven´t read that one due to anticipated stupid views of Diamond).

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