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Renowned paleonathropologist Leakey returns to his earlier workespecially his 1977 book Origins (also co-authored by science writer Lewin)--to poke holes in his previous beliefs, but more importantly to reassess how we became "human," and what, after all, being human really means. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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Library Journal Review

Twenty years after the death of his famous father Louis, the author is struggling to keep the Leakey name at the forefront of the highly contentious field of paleoanthropology. Possibly because his current position as director of the Kenya Wildlife Service occupies most of his attention, his latest effort seems halfhearted. The book offers few original contributions to the understanding of how and why humans evolved. Leakey follows an all-too-common habit among paleoanthropologists of touting his own fossil finds--in this case, a homo erectus skeleton known as the Turkana Boy--as representing the most crucial step in the evolution of our species. As a result, only a sketchy outline of the current thought on human evolution is covered. For a far more satisfying and complete popular account of the current state of paleoanthropology, try coauthor Lewin's Bones of Contention ( LJ 10/1/87). Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/92.-- Eric Hinsdale, Trinity Univ. Lib., San Antonio (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

Famed paleoanthropologist Leakey relates an intellectual odyssey, describing his discoveries of human origins and his reflections on the nature of humanity. Photos. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

School Library Journal Review

YA-- Leakey and Lewin discuss how conceptions of human anatomical and behavioral development have been radically altered within the last 12 years by new discoveries and research in other fields. They review the developments and assert Leakey's own hypotheses based on these discoveries. Although supporting a specific view of human evolution, they also illuminate other theories and their proponents, if mainly to argue against them. This is an engrossing book written for the layperson, fully explaining anthropological terms and theories when necessary. It's a solid introduction to current theory concerning human development.-- Hugh McAloon, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Frederick, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

The Leakeys are a family tradition in anthropology. Louis and Mary put Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge on the anthropological map with landmark fossil finds such as Homo habilis, "handy man," a toolmaking species Louis counted among our direct ancestors. Son Richard--who, with his two brothers, was dragged along on his parents' expeditions--now takes us along with his "Hominid Gang" of fossil hunters at Lake Turkana, Kenya, unraveling the mystery of "Turkana boy," the unearthed skeleton of a boy who died more than a million and a half years ago. Until Turkana boy, scientists had only fragments of the anatomy of Homo erectus, the species that stood at the threshold of humanity. But Leakey is interested in more than scientific matters. Origins Reconsidered is a journey of discovery into ourselves. It ponders what makes us human: our unique ability to create, speak, and elevate ourselves, and thus our reluctance to accept the evolutionary view that we are not preordained to some special purpose but are simply part of the same biological rule book as the other species of life. Leakey agrees with Darwin, however, who said that, "There is grandeur in this view of life." If not philosophical grandeur, this book does offer some paleontological bliss. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1992)0385412649Philip Herbst