| Quest: The Essence of Humanity Contributor(s): Pasternak, Charles (Author), Blumberg, Baruch (Foreword by) |
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ISBN: 0470851457 ISBN-13: 9780470851456 Publisher: Wiley OUR PRICE: $17.05 Product Type: Paperback Published: July 2004 Annotation: "An excellent new book .... as wide-ranging as the human species itself, skipping from DNA to Minoan civilization to GM crops in search of evidence." Newsweek "One of the most thought-provoking books to come my way for some time." Sunday Telegraph This epic work spans science, philosophy, religion and the arts to examine the past and the future of the human race. From Homer to "Star Wars" humans have been driven by quest. Since we first walked humankind has sought beyond basic needs and personal comfort for knowledge, for wealth and for adventure. We climb mountains because they are there, study and experiment for the sake of knowledge and have voyaged to the moon and beyond. In this epic work Charles Pasternak argues that it is precisely this propensity for quest that has made humans unique and led to our domination over other species. Quest traces life on earth from primitive cells through ancient civilizations and the great artists, scientists and explorers of the past, to the forefront of genetic experimentation today. The author argues that it is not any single genetic difference that has differentiated us from other animals but a combination of very subtle changes that have enabled man to exercise a greater ability to quest. He believes that a weakening in the exercise of the instinct to quest among the western nations will lead to a decline in their influence, relative to those of eastern populations such as China and India, south east Asia and Japan. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Science | Life Sciences - Evolution - Social Science | Anthropology - Physical |
| Dewey: 599.938 |
| LCCN: 2003273366 |
| Physical Information: 1.29" H x 5.06" W x 7.78" (1.06 lbs) 425 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: An intriguing work of history, philosophy, and popular science that explores the human desire to quest. Scientists continually look for the genetic factors that make humans so very different in appearance and behaviour from most animals - the genes that are uniquely human. Respected biochemist and author Charles Pasternak argues that such genes do not exist. Instead, he suggests that it is our desire to quest - for food and shelter, for knowledge, for wealth, for adventure - coupled with our unique physical abilities to do so that have controlled our evolution and have led humans to develop away from closely related animals. In this intriguing work of history, philosophy, and popular science, Pasternak uses his extensive biological knowledge to discuss man's nature and achievements, his genetic makeup, and his evolution. |