The Garden of Eden as the ideal and untouched site of life's creation persists in popular thought, even as we have uncovered a lengthy fossil record and developed a scientific understanding of evolution. The continent of Africa is a good candidate for Eden: its generally warm climate, rich vegetation, and variety of animal species lend themselves easily to such a comparison. Yet in the time since the first primates appeared millions of years ago, Africa has undergone profound alterations in physical geography, climate, and biota. Linking the evidence of the past with that of the present, this exquisitely illustrated guide examines the evolution of the mammalian fauna of Africa within the context of dramatic changes over the course of more than 30 million years of primate presence. The book covers such topics as dating, continental drift, and global climate change and the likely motors of evolution as well as the physical evolution of the African continent, including present and past climates, and the major determinants of plant and mammal distributions. The authors discuss human evolution as a part of the larger pattern of mammalian evolution while responding to the unique interest that we have in our own past. The meticulous reconstructions of fossil mammals in this book are the result of detailed anatomical research. Restorations of mammalian musculature and appearance take into account the affinities between fossil forms and extant species in order to make well-founded inferences about unpreserved animal attributes. Environmental reconstructions benefit from the authors' visits to more than a dozen wildlife preserves in five African countries as well as the use of an extensive database of published studies on the evolution of landscapes on the continent. A fascinating read and a visual feast, Evolving Eden lays the foundation for a deeper appreciation of contemporary African wildlife.

This book chronicles humanity's cultural and psychospiritual evolutionary journey over some six million years from its primal past into its dazzling cosmic future.

Publisher Description

“A history of the human brain from the big bang, fifteen billion years ago, to the day before yesterday . . . It's a delight.”—The New York Times Dr. Carl Sagan takes us on a great reading adventure, offering his vivid and startling insight into the brain of man and beast, the origin of human intelligence, the function of our most haunting legends—and their amazing links to recent discoveries. “How can I persuade every intelligent person to read this important and elegant book? . . . He talks about all kinds of things: the why of the pain of human childbirth . . . the reason for sleeping and dreaming . . . chimpanzees taught to communicate in deaf and dumb language . . . the definition of death . . . cloning . . . computers . . . intelligent life on other planets. . . . Fascinating . . . delightful.”—The Boston Globe “In some lost Eden where dragons ruled, the foundations of our intelligence were laid. . . . Carl Sagan takes us on a guided tour of that lost land. . . . Fascinating . . . entertaining . . . masterful.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"In this study, Jerry Korsmeyer examines how an evolutionary perspective impacts on a traditional understanding of original sin. He reviews the history of the doctrine as well as the church's interaction with the theory of evolution. Using clues provided by evolution and process thought, the author suggests an interpretation of original sin that incorporates both modern Catholic scholarship and scientific evidence. Ultimately, he moves toward a theology of evolution."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Sale asserts that vestiges of a more ecologically sound way of life do exist today, offering redemptive possibilities for ourselves and for the planet."--BOOK JACKET.

"One of the most original and illuminating of books on human evolution." — Alison Jolly Princeton University Human Evolution from Eden to Extinction? "A major achievement . . . rich and bursting at the seams." — Elspeth Huxley "A deeply personal, challenging, and important book." — Roger Lewin The New Scientist "With the eyes of an artist and the mind of a scientist, Kingdon gazes into the past." — Times Literary Supplement "A provocative and lively saga of human origins." — Publishers Weekly "Thought-provoking, information-packed fare for general readers as well as paleoanthropology buffs. — Kirkus Reviews