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The book of humans by Adam Rutherford: A brief history of culture, sex, war and the evolution of us
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The book of humans by Adam Rutherford: A brief history of culture, sex, war and the evolution of us

Big Ideas from The book of humans by Adam Rutherford

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

Waging war?
Sex for pleasure?
Creating art?
Mastery of fire?

In this thrilling tour of the animal kingdom, Adam Rutherford tells the story of how we became the unique creatures we are today. Illuminated by the latest scientific discoveries, THE BOOK OF HUMANS is a dazzling compendium of what unequivocally fixes us as animals, and reveals how we are extraordinary among them.

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The Book of Humans by Adam Rutherford explores the traits that define humanity and examines how these characteristics are shared with or distinct from other species. Key lessons from the book include:

  • Tool Use: Humans aren’t the only tool users—many animals, like dolphins and hawks, also use tools.

  • Sexual Behaviors: Diverse sexual behaviors exist across species, showing evolutionary connections.

  • Animal Culture: Cultural transmission, like hunting techniques, is observed in animals too.

  • Human Exceptionalism: Traits we think are unique to humans are often shared with other species.

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