Origins

The Search for Our Prehistoric Past

By: Frank H. T. Rhodes

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

In Origins, Frank H. T. Rhodes explores the origin and evolution of living things, the changing environments in which they have developed, and the challenges we now face on an increasingly crowded and polluted planet. Rhodes argues that the future well-being of our burgeoning population depends in no small part on our understanding of life's past, its long and slow development, and its intricate interdependencies.

The book describes the nature of the search for prehistoric life, the significance of geologic time, the origin of life, the emergence and spread of flora and fauna, the evolution of primates, and the emergence of modern humans.

Origins is accessible enough for the layperson but also can be used as an entry-level text for students of evolution, paleontology, and geology.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 Frank H.T. Rhodes (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

No nonsense science

If you are into relatively dry science, this might be for you. Anyone looking for a sense of wonder look elsewhere

Great listen!!!

narration was great!!! topics were fun to listen to...i think we as humans have done a pretty good job trying to figure out everything that has happened since the beginnning of time...great book!!! ill surely listen to it again...

Enjoyable

Lots of fascinating information packed into this book and really liked to use the accompanying PDF.

Very well narrated too. Highly recommend.

Truly Excellent!

Great detail in an understandable, absorbable presentation. Organized in manageable chunks with a very logical flow. Best book on the topic I’ve read!

A very well researched book

Origins is a well written, interesting listen. Frank H.T. Rhodes takes us on an eye opening tour through time. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in where we as a species comes from.

Good

Its a bery good book to listen to not to bland and enough information to keep my internet.

Outstanding in every way.

This presentation of origins of life on our planet is beautifully organized. I was surprised by how much I was able to grasp about the coming and going of species over millions of years. The concept of cause and effect is more clear to me. Scientists along with their contributions were discussed throughout the text. The study of fossils is the book of our past.
I am so thrilled to see such progress in these sciences since my first anthropology class in 1972.
I recommend this book to anyone who is truth seeking, and finds discovery fascinating. I find comfort in being a part of it all . If only we as humans could minimize causes of climate change , and respect creatures and their habitats. Wendy Summers

Pretty Interesting Stuff

Especially mind blowing when you think about how long the earth has been spinning in space. Rich in detail.

A lovely broad overview

I was one of those kids who grew up watching way too many National Geographic documentaries at a child, so every once in a while I still love to indulge in content that will not only prove to challenge me, but also broaden my understanding of the natural world. Origins: The Search for Our Prehistoric Past by Frank HT Rhodes, narrated by Derek Perkins, is one such title that, as the the name suggests, digs deep into the origins of life on our planet.

This is an ambitious work, and the periods it covers is vast, but what I really appreciate about it is that it really put into perspective our position as a species when viewing the vast history of life on Earth. Truth be told, our existence as member of the family of great apes is a mere addendum when all is considered. In evolutionary terms, mammals are pretty much latecomers on the planet.

Rhodes not only delves into the history of life on earth, and all the multiple theories and hypotheses lying at the root of our understanding, but he also tells the story of the very early geologists and palaeontologists whose life works contributed to the theories that are currently accepted by the majority of scientists this day. Great care is taken into explaining how the theory of evolution functions, as well as how the taxonomy of living things is executed. It doesn't matter if you know next to nothing or, like me, are an armchair enthusiast – you'll get a wonderful broad overview that acts as a springboard for further study.

To be fair, this is such an enormous topic to cover, but I do think Rhodes does admirably well to paint in broad strokes – especially when it comes to explaining how evolution works. What I appreciated also was the way in which he touched on the reality of extinction, examining the mass extinction-level events or circumstances of the past, as well as reminding readers of the essential ephemeral and somewhat tenuous nature of life.

The only downside to listening to the audiobook is that you don't have ready access to any of the accompanying diagrams or illustrations that you'd find in the printed book, but you can download a handy reference guide as a PDF from the Audible website if you're of a mind to delve deeper.

Outstanding

Wonderful surprise. Well written for a lay audience and well narrated. Plus the pdf diagrams are a nice bonus