Humans: The Evolution of a Species

人類——我們是誰？

在生理上，智人在動物界中平淡無奇——一種無毛的猿類。但不知何故，透過多種特徵的結合，使我們變得卓越。憑藉著靈巧的手與大腦力量，我們不僅在故鄉非洲稀樹草原，更在從叢林到北極荒野的每一種棲息地中，都找到了獲取食物與戰勝自然因素的方法。《人類》（Humans）透過精美的解剖解說圖，以及色彩鮮艷、啟發思維的成就圖表，講述了我們的演化故事。

本書特色：

• 由廣播員、解剖學與考古學專家艾莉絲．羅伯茨教授塑造與指導。

• 由人類演化各個領域的國際專家團隊編寫，包括考古學、古生物學、人類學與認知科學。

• 以身體不同部位的演化為章節架構，提供了一種直觀且熟悉的切入點來探討該主題。

這部啟發思考的作品呈現了理解人類演化的最新進展，透過人體器官的視角，挑戰舊有的神話與根深蒂固的誤解。每一章節針對不同的身體部位，展示其如何演化以及所扮演的角色。例如，手的故事始於 3.75 億年前爬上陸地的首批有肢動物，接著展示了人類如何利用抓握手指中獨有的精準度與力量——以及彼此傳授技能的能力——來創造日益精密的技術。

本書在視覺上充滿活力且內容豐富，不僅包含美麗的插圖，還有史前藝術、工具、珠寶的照片，以及由實驗考古學家製作的復刻品。

《人類》提出了關於我們起源與本質的趣味普世問題。我們何時發明了衣服？我們一直都是成雙成對的連結嗎？史前人類如何橫渡大洋？我們是唯一具有自我意識的動物嗎？

找出我們是誰，我們從哪裡來，以及或許——我們要往哪裡去。

Humans – who are we?

Physically, Homo sapiens is unremarkable in the animal world – a hairless ape. But somehow, in combination, our characteristics make us remarkable. With our dexterity and brain power, we discovered ways of finding food and beating the elements not only in our home on the African savanna, but in every habitat from jungle to Arctic waste. Humans tells the story of our evolution with beautiful illustrations of our seemingly ordinary anatomy alongside colourful, mind-expanding graphics of what we have achieved with it.

This book is:

• shaped and guided by broadcaster and expert in anatomy and archaeology, Professor Alice Roberts
• written by an international team of experts in many fields of human evolution, including archaeology, palaeontology, anthropology, and cognitive science
• built from chapters about the evolution of different parts of the body, giving an instant, familiar way in to the topic

This thought-provoking book presents the latest advances in understanding human evolution, challenging old myths and baked-in misconceptions – all through the lens of the human body. Each chapter tackles a different body part, showing how it has evolved and the role it has played. The story of hands, for instance, begins with the first animals with limbs, which clambered onto land 375 million years ago, but goes on to show how humans use the unique precision and power in their grasping digits – and their ability to teach one another skills – to create ever-more sophisticated technology.

Visually vibrant and rich, this book features not only beautiful illustrations, but also photos of prehistoric art, tools, jewellery, and recreations of all of these made by experimental archaeologists.

Humans asks intriguing universal questions about our origins and nature. When did we invent clothes? Did we always form pair bonds? How did prehistoric people cross the ocean? Are we the only animals to become self-aware?

Find out who we are, where we come from, and perhaps – where we’re going.