The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human AnimalThe Development of an Extraordinary Species We human beings share 98 percent of our genes with chimpanzees. Yet humans are the dominant species on the planet -- having founded civilizations and religions, developed intricate and diverse forms of communication, learned science, built cities, and created breathtaking works of art -- while chimps remain animals concerned primarily with the basic necessities of survival. What is it about that two percent difference in DNA that has created such a divergence between evolutionary cousins? In this fascinating, provocative, passionate, funny, endlessly entertaining work, renowned Pulitzer Prize winning author and scientist Jared Diamond explores how the extraordinary human animal, in a remarkably short time, developed the capacity to rule the world . . . and the means to irrevocably destroy it. |
Contents
Prologue | 1 |
PART ONE JUST ANOTHER Species OF BIG MAMMAL | 11 |
A Tale of Three Chimps | 15 |
Copyright | |
25 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal Jared M. Diamond Limited preview - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
adult Africa agriculture American ancestors animal species apes archaeological archaeologists areas Australia babies behavior big mammals biological biologists bird species bones bowerbirds CHAPTER chimpanzees chimps civilization Clovis color common chimpanzee common chimps concealed ovulation copulation creoles Cro-Magnons cultural domestication elephant English Europe European evidence evolution evolutionary evolved example exterminated extinct female fossil genes genetic genocide gorillas groups Guinea habitats Hence Homo Homo erectus horses human language human population hundred hunter-gatherers hunters hunting Ice Age Indians Indo-European languages islands Kahama killing linguistic lion living male mammals mammoths mate menopause million years ago moas modern monkeys mother natural selection Neanderthals Neo-Melanesian orangutans ovulation percent pidgin plants polygynous predators Press primates pygmy recent remains scientists sexual selection similar skin societies steppe stone tools surviving Tasmanians theory thousand years ago tion traits tropical unique vervets wild woman women woodpeckers words