Origins cover art

Origins

The Search for Our Prehistoric Past

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Origins

By: Frank H. T. Rhodes
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Frank H.T. Rhodes (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Animals Biological Sciences Biology Earth Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Outdoors & Nature Science Paleontology Natural History

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All stars
Most relevant  
this is an outstanding book , a labor of care , intelligent and passion... well writing and beautifully read

an outstanding book in writing and reading

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Very dry, but fascinating. Beautifully read.

Not ideally suited to an audio book though

Good

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I liked the breadth and the detail. This is the biggest story ever told so, finding, it needed great concentration, I slowed the speed to .9x. I also found it essential to have a clear guide to the periods of Earth’s four and a half billion year history next to me. However, it was worth the effort. Mind opening and fascinating.

Fascinating

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Good, well read and performed audio book, but missing visual refference material which is being discussed in the book and state is included in the audio file

Missing visual reference material which said was part the audio file. Which really ruined the performance

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I really enjoyed this, it has plenty of detail so perhaps not ideal as a first introduction but wonderful if it's a topic you are already lightly familiar with. A touch repetitive here and there, I think reflecting a text not designed to be converted to audio really. Still engaging and informative throughout though.

A fascinating tour of evolutionary history

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Takes the listener through the geologic history of the earth covering the development of life over billions of years.
I love the insights on geology and detail on the categories and development of life. A wonderful book so full of information and insight. Loved it!
(I skipped the first chapter as I couldn’t quite follow why it began on that subject. But the rest of the book is amazing. It may be that the first chapter issue is me alone I mention only to encourage others to push/skip through if they don’t like ch1).

Fabulous

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For a difficult and complicated subject, this work was written and read well enough for the layman to understand.

Very interesting

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Brilliantly written and read mostly completely forgettable book in terms of detail. But discussion of extinction events, different geological periods and marine life memorable. Just don’t expect me to remember so many beautifully spoken unpronounceable names of fossil life forms.

Oddly compulsive listening

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This seemed to want to strike a middle ground between layman & professional. At times really interesting, at other times just felt like a very long list of Latin names. Full marks to the narrator for ploughing through them. At these times your concentration can easily wander as these names mean absolutely nothing to the general listener. If the whole book had been written in the manner of the epilogue it would’ve been excellent.

Interesting, but …

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I'm a second year undergraduate science student and I very much enjoyed listening to this book. It tells the story of life on our planet in a complete, easy to follow fashion and interwoven with science history. The author's love for his subject clearly shone through with the help of the narrator. This book was free but I would have been happy to pay for it as it is a well written piece.

A good, interesting listen

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