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What a coincidence. Im starting this at the same time as my Anthropology class starts.

We were taught that people first came to the Americas via the Bering Land Bridge. Raff starts her book there and gives a history of the archeology and genetic research into when and from where the Americas were peopled. Signs all still point to “Beringia“, but there are tantalizing clues (genetic and archeological) - that there is more to the story. Well written and not too bogged down with technical detail.

Full review: https://bit.ly/rvw_Origin

Raff looks at the historic ideas of the origins of indigenous peoples of the Americas and refutes some entrenched ideas with current genetic research. There‘s a lot of good stuff in this book, but overall it‘s poorly done. She mixes in supposition with science, which weakens the latter, and spends too much time at the start establishing her own opinions, making it seem that she may have looked for the data to support her opinions.

I really liked this book. It was fascinating to hear about the genetics of the indigenous peoples of what is now North America. I also enjoyed the ethical discussion of using something thought of as sacred to many indigenous peoples - DNA - to do research, especially with all the bad history that exists between indigenous peoples and western centric scientists/sciences.

A very comprohensive overview of the modern understaning of the peopleing of North America. It is expert account of the most current scientifc, cultural, and archeaological findings from the past right to the present. Can be dense she does not shy away from scitenific jargon, but isn't too academic to be outside the general audience grasp. Although it took me a minute to remeber all those lessons on DNA.

This is such an intriguing book. I will definitely read more by this author.
#JenniferRaff #Origin #Genetics #Palaeontology #archaeology #audiobook #busbooks

I sampled this audiobook based a recommendation and because the title interested me. And I kept going because Raff writes engagingly and it‘s well narrated. It‘s little strange in that it focuses so much on the ethics of genetic research of American heritage, and in that it gives such a generalized light touch on the actual genetic history of the Americas. But it was enjoyable to listen and I learned some cool stuff.

My next audiobook. I started today.