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I, Mammal
- Narrated by: Neil Gardner
- Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
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Over billions of years, ancient fish evolved to walk on land, reptiles transformed into birds that fly, and apelike primates evolved into humans that walk on two legs, talk, and write. For more than a century, paleontologists have traveled the globe to find fossils that show how such changes have happened. We have now arrived at a remarkable moment - prehistoric fossils coupled with new DNA technology have given us the tools to answer some of the basic questions of our existence: How do big changes in evolution happen?
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-
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- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
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Story
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A short Review of Nearly Everything
- By Roy on 08-08-05
-
The Body
- A Guide for Occupants
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the best-selling, prize-winning A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson achieved the seemingly impossible by making the science of our world both understandable and entertaining to millions of people around the globe. Now he turns his attention inwards to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological makeup.
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Great book, let down somewhat by the narration
- By Mark D on 28-10-19
Summary
Humans are mammals. Most of us appreciate that at some level. But what does it mean for us to have more in common with a horse and an elephant than we do with a parrot, snake or frog?
After a misdirected football left new father Liam Drew clutching a uniquely mammalian part of his anatomy, he decided to find out more. Considering himself as a mammal first and a human second, Liam delves into ancient biological history to understand what it means to be mammalian.
In his humorous and engaging style, Liam explores the different characteristics that distinguish mammals from other types of animals. He charts the evolution of milk, warm blood and burgeoning brains, and examines the emergence of sophisticated teeth, exquisite ears, and elaborate reproductive biology, plus a host of other mammalian innovations. Entwined are tales of zoological peculiarities and reflections on how being a mammal has shaped the author's life.
I, Mammal is a history of mammals and their ancestors and of how science came to grasp mammalian evolution. And in celebrating our mammalian-ness, Liam Drew binds us a little more tightly to the five and a half thousand other species of mammal on this planet and reveals the deep roots of many traits humans hold dear.
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What listeners say about I, Mammal
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- Fitmen
- 25-04-18
Who knew?
If you could sum up I, Mammal in three words, what would they be?
very informing about mamals
What other book might you compare I, Mammal to and why?
This is unique type of book. Deals with what makes a mammal a mammal and why
What about Neil Gardner’s performance did you like?
Very personable, seems like he is there in person lecturing. Does sort of drone on though
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Ha. Not a subject for a film. What would you do have him om a lectern, showing slides?
Any additional comments?
n/a