The Invaders

How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction

By: Pat Shipman

Narrated by: Donna Postel

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Approximately 200,000 years ago, as modern humans began to radiate out from their evolutionary birthplace in Africa, Neanderthals were already thriving in Europe - descendants of a much earlier migration of the African genus Homo. But when modern humans eventually made their way to Europe 45,000 years ago, Neanderthals suddenly vanished. Ever since the first Neanderthal bones were identified in 1856, scientists have been vexed by the question: Why did modern humans survive while their evolutionary cousins went extinct?

The Invaders musters compelling evidence to show that the major factor in the Neanderthals' demise was direct competition with newly arriving humans. Drawing on insights from the field of invasion biology, Pat Shipman traces the devastating impact of a growing human population: reduction of Neanderthals' geographic range, isolation into small groups, and loss of genetic diversity. But modern humans were not the only invaders who competed with Neanderthals for big game. Shipman reveals fascinating confirmation of humans' partnership with the first domesticated wolf-dogs soon after Neanderthals first began to disappear. This alliance between two predator species, she hypothesizes, made possible an unprecedented degree of success in hunting large Ice Age mammals - a distinct and ultimately decisive advantage for humans over Neanderthals at a time when climate change made both groups vulnerable.

©2015 Pat Shipman (P)2015 Tantor

Ever wonder why we outlived the Neanderthals?

If you could sum up The Invaders in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, enlightening and fascinating

What did you like best about this story?

This gives an excellent explanation of why the Neanderthals disappeared and why modern humans now run the world. I will never look at my dog the same again.

What about Donna Postel’s performance did you like?

Very well spoken.

Entertaining learning - deeper view in human evolution

The most enjoyable and interesting aspects of this book for me were the differences between modern humans and Neanderthals, including energetics and canine co-evolution.

Thank you !

Good Read

Shipman's book is well written and interesting. There is some speculation in the argument, but the point is well made.
Enjoy.

Excellent Material Good Presentation

Before purchasing this book, or any other for that matter, I like to read the reviews that others have left regarding their listening experience. I was concerned that several reviews were critical of the readers presentation sytle. I am very glad that I chose this book in spite of the negative reviews. I found the material very interesting. I found the readers voice and style very pleasant. I personally recommend this book to anyone with an interest in this kind of material.

Science details and research very thorough.

Nice voice with intensity on facts and research. Dogs are mysterious creatures that became part of our hunting success.

Fascinating

This is a really interesting scholarly work on the extinction of the Neanderthals and humans' potential role in it. Although it is written for the non specialist, it is written at a high level. The narrator does mispronounce diatom, but some of the other reviews are overly harsh. She does a good job keeping the text moving along where it might otherwise be a bit dry in spots.

Actual book copy of The Invaders

Pat Shipman was one of the original writers addressing the story of our human - dog evolution. Many more authors have followed and filled in the story. The Invaders is a must read to start your understanding of our dog partners.

Having a hard copy of the book and listening to the Audible’s story is like being in Pat Shipman’s classroom and having an “one on one” study course. Priceless!!!

This is Popular Science -- No Dramatic Rendering Necessary

When the information in a book is compelling, I find it VERY distracting for the reader, especially a female reader, to do an oral-interpretation-of-literature, over-enunciated, dramatic reading..now whispering confidentially...now almost giggling, now edging on mock-sarcasm...YUCK -- this only distracts from the content of a good scientific tome. The reader makes "the reader" the point, not the information. I could "hear" her smiling as she read. I imagined sitting around the reading rug in the 1st grade with her flipping the book around to show us the pretty pictures. STOP IT. By the time the reader got to the really dry review-of-literature stuff, she'd turned off the "charm" and turned me off, as well.

I learned a lot about wolves, dogs and bears.

I really wanted to know more about Neanderthals specifically. The book had a lot of filler.

More Research Essay, Less Historical Narrative

This book was not what I expected. It was a well researched series of technical papers that discuss the research of many leaders in the field of anthropology and archeology. The fascinating information is presented in topical chapters. I recommend listening to this in an environment that allows for strict attention, rather than while multitasking.
My primary critique of the writing is the sense that the author is continuously apologizing for refuting the conclusions of others. This made it difficult to focus on her arguments and assertions.