Ian Tattersall
The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack:and Other Cautionary Tales from Human Evolution
Book Summary
In this brief but nuanced history of his field, paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall describes the causes of many of the misconceptions of the exploration of our own origins. Often contrary and illuminating, Tattersall looks at how paleoanthropologists think and work and delves into several intellectual challenges faced by fellow scientists. He goes beyond the book’s anecdotal title to highlight the importance of being objective and examining evidence rather than relying on the subjective opinion of well-established experts.
Tattersall reviews controversial hypotheses along with eminent figures who have shaped our understanding of how we have emerged and evolved.