Overall, the book gives the impression of being an account of Morgan's train of thought rather than a substantiated scientific article. Despite these reservations, though, I am compelled to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, even though I winced at Morgan's trampling over the subtleties of evolutionary theory. Her approach is exciting, and throws new ideas into the arena. Even though many of these ideas may not be considered by traditional scientists, they are interesting and will provoke discussion amongst students. I feel there is a market for this kind of punchy, vernacular, entertaining science book alongside the more conventional and tedious tomes.
Evolution is an exciting subject and there is no harm in portraying it as such.
All in all, a fascinating book about evolution, brilliant in patches, which is entertaining and informative, but not to be used as a source of factual background on the science. The locomotor anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 60, 279-318. Jennie Hawcroft is a Ph.D. student at Sheffield University, specialising in child development in the palaeoanthropological record.