50 Great Myths of Human Evolution explores common myths and misconceptions surrounding the story of human evolution. It examines intriguing yet widely misunderstood topics-from evolution and human origins to the evolution of modern humans, to recent trends in the field dispelling myths along the way, such as: natural selection always works; Australopithecus was a killer ape; Neandertals walked bent over and were dumb brutes; civilization has been influenced by extraterrestrials; and we can predict the future of human evolution.

50 essays provide introduction ; each myth succinctly summarizes the topic and reviews the current state of theory and research in the area. Footnotes and references are also provided throughout to allow for further research into topics of particular interest. Together, these short writings uncover what fossils, archaeology, and genetics can tell us about human origins and demonstrate the ways in which science adapts and changes over time to incorporate new evidence and better explanations. --Book Jacket.