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Bones of Contention: Controversies in the Search for Human Origins
Bones of Contention is a behind-the-scenes look at the search for human origins. Analyzing how the biases and preconceptions of paleoanthropologists shaped their work, Roger Lewin's detective stories about the discovery of Neanderthal Man, the Taung Child, Lucy, and other major fossils provide insight into this most subjective of scientific endeavors. The new afterword looks at ways in which paleoanthropology, while becoming more scientific
in many ways, remains contentious.
"[An] un-put-downable book."—John Gribbon, Times Educational Supplement
"Not just another 'stones and bones' account of human evolution. It is Lewin's thesis, amply demonstrated, that paleoanthropology is the most subjective of sciences because it engages the emotions of virtually everyone; and since the evidence is scrappy, interpretation is everything. . . . A splendid, stirring, and eye-opening account, to be devoured."� Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"[Lewin shows] 'how very unscientific the process of scientific inquiry can be.'. . . Bones of Contention is . . . serious intellectual history."—Edward Dolnick, Wall Street Journal
"[Lewin] documents his thesis in persuasive detail. . . . The reader is carried along by the power of Mr. Lewin's reporting."—Robert Wright, New York Times Book Review
in many ways, remains contentious.
"[An] un-put-downable book."—John Gribbon, Times Educational Supplement
"Not just another 'stones and bones' account of human evolution. It is Lewin's thesis, amply demonstrated, that paleoanthropology is the most subjective of sciences because it engages the emotions of virtually everyone; and since the evidence is scrappy, interpretation is everything. . . . A splendid, stirring, and eye-opening account, to be devoured."� Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"[Lewin shows] 'how very unscientific the process of scientific inquiry can be.'. . . Bones of Contention is . . . serious intellectual history."—Edward Dolnick, Wall Street Journal
"[Lewin] documents his thesis in persuasive detail. . . . The reader is carried along by the power of Mr. Lewin's reporting."—Robert Wright, New York Times Book Review
366 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1987
8 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Roger Lewin
52Ìýbooks17ÌýfollowersRoger Lewin (born 1944) is a British prize-winning science writer and author of 20 books.
Lewin was a staff member of New Scientist in London for nine years. He went to Washington, D.C. to write for Science for ten years as News Editor. An example article was "Evolutionary Theory Under Fire", 21, November 1980, vol. 210, pp 883�887. Lewin wrote three books with Richard Leakey. He became a full-time freelance writer in 1989 and concentrated on writing books. In 1989 Roger Lewin won the Royal Society Prizes for Science Books for Bones of Contention.
In 2000, Lewin formed Harvest Associates with wife Birute Regine for business consulting. Together they wrote, The Soul at Work: Unleashing the Power of Complexity Science for Business Success, Orion Business Books (1999), republished as Weaving Complexity & Business: Engaging the Soul at Work, Texere (2000). He is a member of the Complexity Research Group at the London School of Economics.
Lewin was a staff member of New Scientist in London for nine years. He went to Washington, D.C. to write for Science for ten years as News Editor. An example article was "Evolutionary Theory Under Fire", 21, November 1980, vol. 210, pp 883�887. Lewin wrote three books with Richard Leakey. He became a full-time freelance writer in 1989 and concentrated on writing books. In 1989 Roger Lewin won the Royal Society Prizes for Science Books for Bones of Contention.
In 2000, Lewin formed Harvest Associates with wife Birute Regine for business consulting. Together they wrote, The Soul at Work: Unleashing the Power of Complexity Science for Business Success, Orion Business Books (1999), republished as Weaving Complexity & Business: Engaging the Soul at Work, Texere (2000). He is a member of the Complexity Research Group at the London School of Economics.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 7, 2018
This book is a must read for those who want to pursue palaeoanthropology. It reminds us that we have flaws and these flaws to one degree or another will influence how we analyse the fossilised remains of our hominin ancestors. For palaeoanthropologists, it should be read at least once a year as a reminder. The book covered a number of different episodes from different times in the history of palaeoanthropological research, but all have the above theme running through them all.
The book does require a serious update to see how the dynamics of palaeoanthropological research have changed since the late 1980's. All in all, an excellent book.
The book does require a serious update to see how the dynamics of palaeoanthropological research have changed since the late 1980's. All in all, an excellent book.
December 3, 2018
I’m really glad I stumbled on this book. I made a list of anthropology books to read a couple of months ago and then one day I was browsing the anthropology section in my university campus library and I saw this book. It looked familiar so I grabbed it. Turns out it was on my list of books to read so I decided to give it a try. So glad I did. I may have to buy this book as I start my bookshelf of anthropology books. I can’t say I’ve read much on paleoanthropology specifically so maybe the stars in my eyes won’t last as I read more on the topic, but as of now, I loved the book for its paleo history. Paleoanthropolgy is where I’m hoping to head towards as a career so I’ve been trying to find a way to get a comprehensive read on the history and timeline of the field. This comes close to what I was looking for. I got a little confused on the chronological timeline here because the book jumps around quite a lot, but all the controversies of the field were a treat to read. It definitely helped open my eyes about what the field has been through as a science. It’s an older book so not all of the facts are correct anymore, but that didn’t deter from the book’s message at all, because it still goes on today: our preconceptions shape our research, whether we are aware of it or not. I will definitely be buying this book and referring back to it. Highly recommended if you’re into Paleoanthropolgy.
May 24, 2019
This is an excellent description of the controversies surrounding fossils in or near the human lineages, and the lively personalities and issues around their descriptions and interpretations. All of human science is about storytelling, and Lewin lays this out better than most. Data is not science. Science is built from data, which is selected and described by persons who then create and test plausible stories.
August 9, 2020
This was one of my dads books that o decided to read... its a good book but o decided to stop reading it because i dont know enough about the subject to know where we stand now and how things have changed and i didnt want to MISinform myself
September 20, 2021
Excellent narrative about the way that paleontologists struggle to construct coherent narratives from scrappy bits of information, struggling along the way with all the inherent limitations and wonders of human consciousness.
February 26, 2021
I read this book as part of my personal challenge to read all the Winners of the Royal Society Science Book Awards. This was only the second winner since its inauguration in 1988.
As indicated by the start / finish timeline it didn’t really captivate me. That’s not to say it’s a bad ion as I think it’s well written. However, it largely consists of “he said but she said but he said but she said� type arguments (though only few women are featured) in developing the actual process of Hominid evolution. This would be a great read if you’re interested in that type of thing (or are one of the protagonists or someone who knows them). I’ll grant that reading about people arguing the pros and cons of a point in any field can be interesting if you’re part of it - but if you’re not it’s irrelevant and boring. To me, despite exploring hominid evolution during my first degree, at a time which much of this book focuses on, the factual debate took to much of a back seat to descriptions of acrimonious arguments and, albeit occasional, door slamming.
The last chapter was much better as it largely ignored the personal acrimony and stuck to the ‘evolution� of the ideas and the social constructs that moulded them at certain points in the last 100+ years.
Worth reading? If you’ve set a similar challenge to me and / or you like disagreements to dominate the story then yes.
As indicated by the start / finish timeline it didn’t really captivate me. That’s not to say it’s a bad ion as I think it’s well written. However, it largely consists of “he said but she said but he said but she said� type arguments (though only few women are featured) in developing the actual process of Hominid evolution. This would be a great read if you’re interested in that type of thing (or are one of the protagonists or someone who knows them). I’ll grant that reading about people arguing the pros and cons of a point in any field can be interesting if you’re part of it - but if you’re not it’s irrelevant and boring. To me, despite exploring hominid evolution during my first degree, at a time which much of this book focuses on, the factual debate took to much of a back seat to descriptions of acrimonious arguments and, albeit occasional, door slamming.
The last chapter was much better as it largely ignored the personal acrimony and stuck to the ‘evolution� of the ideas and the social constructs that moulded them at certain points in the last 100+ years.
Worth reading? If you’ve set a similar challenge to me and / or you like disagreements to dominate the story then yes.
September 1, 2011
What I found most interesting about Lewin's accounts of paleoanthropologists and their work is that many of them aren't as objective as they want the public to think they are. Scientists are only human and they are subject to the same range of emotions including anger, jealousy, hatred, as well as love and compassion as any layperson. Given this fact, it's obvious that science is not synonynous with absolute truth, but it does attempt to explain the world we live in. Comment | Permalink
July 9, 2007
One of my summer "fun" books, a glimpse into the exciting and controversial world of paleoanthropology- the soft-science with the hardest edge. Yes that was meaningless, but you would not believe the viciousness that some scientists attack others all in the name of the question of humaness.
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October 3, 2012Te kopen
June 4, 2012
Fantastic account of some of the most controversial moments in Paleoanthropology.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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