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Out Of Eden: The Peopling Of The World

In a brilliant synthesis of genetic, archaeological, linguistic and climatic data, Oppenheimer challenges current thinking with his claim that there was only one successful migration out of Africa. In 1988 Newsweek headlined the startling discovery that everyone alive on the earth today can trace their maternal DNA back to one woman who lived in Africa 150,000 years ago. It was thought that modern humans populated the world through a series of migratory waves from their African homeland. Now an even more radical view has emerged, that the members of just one group are the ancestors of all non-Africans now alive, and that this group crossed the mouth of the Red Sea a mere 85,000 years ago. It means that not only is every person on the planet descended from one African 'Eve' but every non-African is related to a more recent Eve, from that original migratory group. This is a revolutionary new theory about our origins that is both scholarly and entertaining, a remarkable account of the kinship of all humans. Further details of the findings in this book are presented at www.bradshawfoundation.com/stephenoppenheimer/

Paperback: 464 pages

Publisher: Robinson Publishing; New Ed edition (July 29, 2004)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1841198943

ISBN-13: 978-1841198941

Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.2 x 7.8 inches

Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #515,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #146 in Books > History > Ancient Civilizations > Prehistory #1541 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Anthropology > General #5084 in Books > Science & Math > Behavioral Sciences

This is a great book about how we came to populate the world. In fact I would argue that it is essential reading if you are interested in the subject. Robert Oppenheimer has used all available information on the subject up to 2003 when the book was published to summarize where science stands in this very complicated and also fascinating issue. We used to have archeology, geology, biology, linguistics, history etc but with the introduction of genetics this has become the main tool to unriddle this puzzle. Robert Openheimer's main focus is genetics and by using this as his base and adding all the other sciences he manages to show what was the most plausible explanation of how we came to populate the earth.You would think that science is all based on hard facts but this book also shows how a lot of academic "in-fighting" takes place concerning how to interpret it all. Robert Oppenheimer put some effort into proving why he is right and a number of other are wrong. His arguments are strong but maybe a little less of arguing against others and for his views would have been better.The Book was copyrighted in 2003. In just ten years a lot has happened in this field and it shows. Robert Oppenheimer states that there are no evidence that we have interbreed with the Neanderthals but now we know through the research of Svante Pääbo at the Max Plank institute that we have. Mr Pääbo has also found the Denisov human in Siberia that was unknown in 2003. Also Robert Oppenheimer mentions work ongoing in Flores but of course he could not have known about Homo floresiensis discovered in 2004.None of this makes the book less readable but you wish that it was updated or a new book on the same subject would be published.

Out of Eden: The Peopling of the World The Crypts of Eden (The Eden Trilogy Book 1) Waking Up in Eden: In Pursuit of an Impassioned Life on an Imperiled Island Back To Eden The Back to Eden Cookbook Feeding Eden: The Trials and Triumphs of a Food Allergy Family Isles of Eden: Life in the Southern Family Islands of the Bahamas Invented Eden: The Elusive, Disputed History of the Tasaday Engineering Eden: The True Story of a Violent Death, a Trial, and the Fight over Controlling Nature Unpeopled Eden Heaven to Eden Despues del Eden (Spanish Edition) Regreso al Eden: The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remedies (Spanish Edition) The Bible According to Mark Twain: Irreverent Writings on Eden, Heaven, and the Flood by America's Master Satirist The Lost Books of the Bible and The Forgotten Books of Eden: Banned Books from the Bible Mecca and Eden: Ritual, Relics, and Territory in Islam A River Flows from Eden: The Language of Mystical Experience in the Zohar The Forgotten Books of Eden Life Worth Living: How Someone You Love Can Still Enjoy Life in a Nursing Home - The Eden Alternative in Action Garden of Eden Report: Supporting The Urantia Book's Unique Quality of Credibility