Friday, May 14, 2010

Manthropology by Peter McAllister

Drawing from archaeology, anthropology and evolutionary psychology, the author (a qualified palaeoanthropologist) confirms the awful truth: every man in history, back to the dawn of the species, did everything better, faster, stronger and smarter than any man today. Highlights include: a biomechanical analysis proving that a Neanderthal woman would have beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger in an arm-wrestle; a philological investigation of why 50 Cent would bomb in a battle-rap with the poet Homer; and a comparison of injury rates between today's Ultimate Fighting and ancient Greek Pankration [all-in wrestling] (from the publisher).
Hilarious book! Maybe hilarious isn't the right word, but it did make me giggle from time to time. Another reaction was 'hmm, sad, but so true!' - in trying to make life better and easier for ourselves, we have turned into a bunch of hopeless softies. The front cover says it all; the change over time, and before long we really will be like the people in the Wall-E film. An interesting read.
Rating - I give this 5/5 GREAT!!
Get this from the library
Reviewed by Michelle @ admin

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