Before the Dawn

Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors

By: Nicholas Wade

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on a groundbreaking synthesis of recent scientific findings, critically acclaimed New York Times science reporter Nicholas Wade tells a bold and provocative new story of the history of our ancient ancestors and the evolution of human nature.

Just in the last three years, a flood of new scientific findings, driven by revelations discovered in the human genome, has provided compelling new answers to many long-standing mysteries about our most ancient ancestors, the people who first evolved in Africa and then went on to colonize the whole world. Nicholas Wade weaves this host of news-making findings together for the first time into an intriguing new history of the human story before the dawn of civilization.

Sure to stimulate lively controversy, he makes the case for novel arguments about many hotly debated issues such as the evolution of language and race and the genetic roots of human nature, and reveals that human evolution has continued even to today.

In wonderfully lively and lucid prose, Wade reveals the answers that researchers have ingeniously developed to so many puzzles: When did language emerge? When and why did we start to wear clothing? How did our ancestors break out of Africa and defeat the more physically powerful Neanderthals who stood in their way? Why did the different races evolve, and why did we come to speak so many different languages? When did we learn to live with animals and where and when did we domesticate man's first animal companions, dogs? How did human nature change during the 35,000 years between the emergence of fully modern humans and the first settlements?

This will be the most talked about science book of the season.

©2006 Nicholas Wade (P)2006 Tantor Media Inc

Critic reviews

"Wade presents the science skillfully, with detail and complexity and without compromising clarity." (Booklist)
"This is highly recommended for readers interested in how DNA analysis is rewriting the history of mankind." (Publishers Weekly)

Brightest Before the Dawn of Humankind

A true anthropological tour of humankind's journey outlining the path from risen ape to fallen angel. It's biology stupid but not that alone.

Over my head

This was way over my head in all the details , but I was able to follow the trajectory of the. Story, which was interesting and certainly very important, the book is a few years old and so lacks the breathtaking recent discoveries in this field .

Amazing information

I cannot stop talking about this book and what I learned from it about our human origins. Now I have all my friends reading it.

Sure, sometimes the books gets a bit technical, but hey the topic IS technical. Using our DNA to reveal our history is the ultimate technical tour de force. What a stunning history it is!

Man (about 150 of us) sneaking out of Africa and fighting off, perhaps eventually killing off Neanderathal AND Homo Erectus. This beats any tale Hollywood has cooked up.

How we got to Australia, New Zealand, Tierra del Fuego all such different stories!!!

The concept of genetic drift and how it is as important as Darwin's "survival of the fittest".

What alleles tell us over time and the fact that in mammals, all mtDNA (mitochonrial DNA)is inherited solely from the mother. Every male inherits his father's y chromosome so lineage can be traced for many many generations whether you know the names on your family tree or not!

Why civilization as we know it did not get started until 15,000 years ago even though we left Africa 50,000 year ago!

Why some of us can drink milk as adults and others, like me, get very sick when we do.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is how we are still evolving today.

And of course, as soon as I finished the book I sent for a genetic testing kit. I just have to know for sure where I really came from.

I have to say that this is the most informative book I have ever read. My only real issue is whether it is a work of history or genetics, but of course it is really both...

Highly Engaging and Educational Listen

CONTENT: Before the Dawn is an entertaining and educational cataloging of human evolution. Like Richard Dawkins' The Greatest Show on Earth, Before the Dawn analyzes evolution at the genetic level. Its interesting to say the least. There are parts which, like any well researched and interesting scientific book, boggle the mind of a lay reader. But stick with this book through the difficult parts because it is dotted with chapters which you will be just riveted by.

AUDIO: Narration on a scale of 1-10 was a 6.9. Nothing at all wrong with the reader and the audio quality is fine, but he reads with a kind of a dry modulation. Though I found myself drifting off a few times, this may have had more to do with the dense scientific discussion and less to do with the narrator's lack of vocal inflection. The reader is very clear in his enunciation of words and has clearly researched how to pronounce difficult scientific jargon. Overall impressive narration, very appropriate choice for the topic.

COMPLEMENTARY READS: Neil Shubin's Your Inner Fish; Richard Dawkins' The Greatest Show on Earth; Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species (search Audible for the abridged version of Origin read by Richard Dawkins for a chillingly excellent auditory experience).

Lots of fascinating detail

'Before the Dawn' is a fascinating look at the early origins of the human species from an evolutionary point of view. The approach author Wade takes is to combine traditional archaeology and linguistics with a detailed discussion of the genetic makeup of groups of modern humans around the world.

I learned a terrific amount about genetics and the nitty gritty of how natural selection really works.

I took one star away because I found the very long discussion of the origins of language to be somewhat overlong and a bit orthogonal to the main purpose of the book.

Let me give a special mention to narrator Alan Sklar and the Tantor Audio team for producing the perfect narration for this book.

Recommended.

Masterful narrative presentation of a multitude in scientific research

This author has managed to consolidate several fields of scientific data into a Consilient narrative summary much in the traditional of E .O. Wilson. He has presented a selection of physical, linguistic, social, and culture studies, into an entertaining and informative synthesis that makes a delightful reading.
Highlighted by an equally excellent audio reading, this audiobook is an exceptional choice.

History of humans through science

This was captivating for me. I admit it might be a bit droll for those who do not have a handle on biology and science. However I found the insights fascinating, and insightful. When we say we are all brothers and sisters this proves it. Showing that human kind came from just a few ancestors.

Finally, I understand prehistory

I wanted a good book on prehistory, and this was it. Once you start this one, you won't want to stop listening. It is that good and exciting. The only thing is this book will ruin it for you for other books about the early development of man. Sit back and enjoy a superb listen.

Eye opening book!

Had to listen to this book twice. It has so much information it was like taking a college coarse. I do not think I have ever learned more about us. Great book!

Very cool new information on a fascinating subject

This is a solid investigation into some of the origins of human evolution with a focus on DNA evidence. It's interesting to hear some of the odd questions that we used to think there was no answer for solved using genome sequencing. I'm excited to be living in a time when more evidence and more advanced techniques will be pouring in. New answers will be revealed every year at least. The information contained in this book is liable to be badly outdated in five to ten years, and none of it is exactly earth shattering. But then none of it is dull, and Alan Sklar's steady, clear style and rich voice make this a book that I blew through in a couple of days. It was unquestionably worth the credit.