Story of the Human Body
by Daniel E. Lieberman · first published 2013
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4recommended by
6HN commenters
2014–2024first – last mentioned
67% recommend33% neutral
In this landmark book of popular science, Daniel E. Lieberman—chair of the department of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and a leader in the field—gives us a lucid and engaging account of how the human body evolved over millions of years, even as it shows how the increasing disparity between the jumble of adaptations in our Stone Age bodies and advancements in the modern world is occasioning this paradox: greater longevity but increased chronic disease. The Story of the Human Body brilliantly illuminates as never before the major transformations that contributed key adapta
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A somewhat related and fascinating read is Dr Daniel Lieberman's "The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease". He develops the concept of mismatch diseases and goes into a lot of details about evolution and diets across different eras and cultures (there's a part in the book dedicated…
on “The Gut Microbes of African Hunter-Gatherers” ↗The disconnect between what our bodies are built for and the lives we're living in 2015 is the source of many modern diseases. Daniel Lieberman [1] has an excellent book on the matter called The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease [2]. Reading it was a deep realization for me that I needed to change my way of life and forced me to eat better (more fruits, vegetables, slashing everything processed…
on “Inactivity 'kills more than obesity'” ↗Even better, The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease by Pr Daniel Lieberman of Harvard. An invaluable resource.
on “Which Type of Exercise Is Best for the Brain?” ↗Sidenote: I recently finished reading The Story of the Human Body by Daniel Lieberman, in which he addresses this issue (among many others). The book is absolutely fantastic, an engaging, highly-readable page-turner packed with insights and epiphanies about how we can…
on “Why Are Human Teeth So Messed Up?” ↗…last 5000 years. And our biological evolution hasn't had time to catch up. See "Against the Grain", by James C. Scott (https://www.amazon.com/Against-Grain-History-Earliest-States...), and also "The Story of the Human Body", by Daniel E. Lieberman (https://www.amazon.com/Story-Human-Body-Evolution-Disease/dp...). I'm seeing guidance to, over next weeks and months, increase ventilation, open windows, and socialize outdoors…
on “Ask HN: Economy after coronavirus – what can we do?” ↗…("Why did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains, and governed by precursors of today’s states?"), and also by Daniel E. Lieberman's "The Story of the Human Body", particularly his chapter on farming and the resultant explosion in fertility (due to women having babies every 2 years instead of the 4 years of our paleo hunter/gatherer mothers). I will say the most…
on “The plan to turn half the world into a reserve for nature” ↗I will recommend the book "The Story of the Human Body" by Daniel E. Lieberman. In his section "Unwise Wisdom Teeth", he writes: "Just as your limbs and spine will not grow strong enough if you don't sufficiently stress your bones by walking, running, and…
on “Why we have so many problems with our teeth” ↗…to determine how your teeth should be correctly placed in your jaw as it is still growing. I don't have any specific references handy but I first read about the teeth thing in the excellent book: The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease
on “A hot bath has benefits similar to exercise” ↗My June/July/Aug booklist: - How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster - The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - The Story of the Human Body by Daniel Lieberman - The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides - Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston - Coders at Work by Peter Seibel - Drive by Daniel Pink - American Gods by Neil…
on “Ask HN: Which books are you reading in 2017?” ↗This problem was treated with a bit more sophistication by Harvards Lieberman in „A story of the human body“ and the corresponding nature article [0] establishing persistence hunting as an ancestoral hunting technique of homo sapien. See figure 2b for the plot you were looking for. Running faster is less efficient…
on “Is running a more efficient way to travel than walking?” ↗