Cameron M. Smith - Böcker

Study the science of all of us Anthropology is the organized study of what makes humans human. It takes an objective step back to view homo sapiens as a species and ask questions like: Given our common characteristics, why aren’t all of us exactly the same? Why do people across the world have variable skin and hair color and so many inventive ways to say hello? And how can knowing the reasons behind our differences—as well as our similarities—teach us useful lessons for the future? The updated edition of Anthropology For Dummies gives you a panoramic view of the fascinating fieldwork and theory that seeks to answer these questions—and helps you view the human world through impartial, anthropological eyes.  Keeping the jargon to a minimum, Anthropology For Dummies explores the four main subdivisions of the discipline, from the adventurous Indiana Jones territory of archaeology and the hands-on biological insights provided by our physical nature to the studious book-cracking brainwork of cultural and linguistic investigation. Along the way, you’ll journey deep into our prehistory where we begin to differentiate ourselves from our primate relatives—and then fast forward into the possibilities of centuries yet to come.  Explore the history of anthropology and apply its methods Get a deep, scientific take on contemporary debates such as identity Excavate the human past through new fossil discoveries Peer into humanity’s future in space Whether you’re studying anthropology for school or just want to know more about what makes us humans who we are, this is the perfect introduction to humanity’s past and present—and a clue to what we need to build a better future.

Be prepared for anything, so you can explore where others fear to tread Wilderness Survival For Dummies takes a practical approach to teaching you the skills you need to stay alive outside. Learn survival skills the Dummies way, with helpful diagrams and illustrations, step-by-step instructions, and tips from the pros. With expert tips and easy-to-follow instructions in this book, you’ll know what to do to survive in the wild. Stay calm, deal with the elements, make fire, find drinking water, and navigate your way to safety, thanks to your newfound survival skills. Enjoy the great outdoors with the confidence to take the path less traveledGain knowledge that will help you stay safe if the unexpected happensDeal with extreme weather events, make shelter, learn to signal for help Learn navigation skills so you can find your way home if you get lostYou’re ready to take your love of nature to the next level and explore the wilderness. From forests and jungles to deserts, cold weather climates, and everything in between, you need this Dummies guide to stay safe while backpacking, sailing, camping, and adventuring …wherever.

Emigrating Beyond Earth puts space colonization into the context of human evolution. Rather than focusing on the technologies and strategies needed to colonize space, the authors examine the human and societal reasons for space colonization. They make space colonization seems like a natural step by demonstrating that if will continue the human species' 4 million-year-old legacy of adaptation to difficult new environments. The authors present many examples from the history of human expansion into new environments, including two amazing tales of human colonization - the prehistoric settlement of the upper Arctic around 5,000 years ago and the colonization of the Pacific islands around 3,000 years ago - which show that space exploration is no more about rockets and robots that Arctic exploration was about boating!

Though the United States is the world leader in science and technology, many of its citizens display a shocking ignorance regarding basic scientific facts. Recent surveys have revealed that only about half of Americans realize that humans have never lived side by side with dinosaurs, and about the same number reject the idea that humans developed from earlier species of animals. This lack of knowledge in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence for evolution springs from a number of negative influences in contemporary society: poor secondary education in some regions of the country, misinformation in the mass media, and deliberate obfuscation by supporters of Creationism and Intelligent Design.In this concise, accessible, "myth-buster's handbook," educators Cameron M. Smith and Charles Sullivan clearly dispel the ten most common myths about evolution, which continue to mislead average Americans. Using a refreshing, jargon-free style, they set the record straight on claims that evolution is "just a theory," that Darwinian explanations of life undercut morality, that Intelligent Design is a legitimate alternative to conventional science, that humans come from chimpanzees, and six other popular but erroneous notions.Smith and Sullivan's reader-friendly, solidly researched text will serve as an important tool, both for teachers and laypersons seeking accurate information about evolution.

Evolution is often described as a "theory." While this is certainly technically true, it is misleading to dismiss evolution as "just a theory" (an unfounded idea), as opponents of evolution like to do. This illuminating work of popular science amply demonstrates that there are few more well-established facts in the scientific canon than that life evolved on earth. Walking the reader through the steps in the evolutionary process, the author uses plenty of real-world examples to show that not only does evolution happen, it must happen. The author analyzes evolution as the unintended consequence of three independent facts of the natural world that we can observe every day: (1) the fact of the replication of life forms (producing offspring); (2) the fact that offspring are not identical (variation); and (3) the fact that not all offspring survive (selection). Viewed in terms of this analysis, evolution is no longer debatable; in fact it has to occur. It is simply the inevitable consequence of three obvious, observable, factual natural phenomena. The book also covers new discoveries in evolution, many of which have occurred in the last twenty years of the "genomic revolution" and have strengthened Darwin's basic idea. In addition, the author discusses complex theoretical issues such as speciation, phyletic gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium, the "Evo-Devo" paradigm, and the concept of bauplane, as well as the facts of primate and hominid evolution. Well-organized, clearly written, and accessible, this book is ideal for students or any interested lay readers.

Many undergraduates struggle to fully understand the size of the earth and the diverse environments to which human beings have successfully adapted. An Atlas of Human Prehistory gives students an appreciation for the sheer size of the earth and the diverse geographies through which humanity and our ancestors have migrated and settled over millions of years.The book’s unique formatting allows students to read a stand-alone topical essay on the left-hand page, which refers to the accompanying detailed maps and diagrams on the right-hand page. The maps and diagrams provide additional details and enable students to “see” human adaptation across time and space. This fresh, engaging approach covers hominin evolution, important fossil sites, early dispersal around the world, biocultural and subsistence adaptations, and the establishment of ancient civilizations.An outstanding blend of words and visuals, An Atlas of Human Prehistory gives readers excellent graphical representations of the chief lessons of our shared past and a greater understanding of the pace of movement across time. It is an excellent supplement for courses in archaeology, ancient history, human geography, and physical anthropology.

This book shows how anthropology can provide an innovative perspective on the human movement into space. It examines adaptation to space on timescales of generations, rather than merely months or years, and uses evolutionary adaptation as a guiding theme. Employing the lessons of evolutionary adaptation, Principles of Extraterrestrial Anthropology recommends evolutionarily-sound strategies of space settlement, covering genetics at the organismal and population levels. The author organizes the concept of cultural adaptation to environments beyond Earth according to observed patterns in human adaptation on Earth. He uses original artwork and tables to help convey complex information in a form accessible to undergraduate and graduate students. Though primarily written to engage students interested in space settlement and exploration, who will eventually build a full anthropology of space settlement, Principles of Extraterrestrial Anthropology is engaging to anthropologists across sub-disciplines, as well as scholars interested in the human dimensions of space exploration and settlement. Just as the term exobiology was invented only a few decades ago to shape the field of space life studies, exoanthropology is outlined to assist in the perpetuation of Earth life through human space settlement.