Alison Jolly was president of the International Primatological Society.
In Lucy’s Legacy, a charming, eclectic and sensible book, [Jolly]
argues that while evolution certainly involves competition, the
major transitions have arisen through cooperation… With humor and
erudition she leads the reader to an understanding of the biology
and behavior of primates, through the evolution of intelligence and
into ‘the age of humanity,’ where evolution is charted chiefly by
the human mind. Her genius in this informative, satisfying book is
to strip away dogma and politics that have shrouded evolution, to
reveal a theory Darwin would recognize as his own. ‘There is
grandeur in this view of life,’ he wrote, and here it is seen
marvelously.
*New York Times Book Review*
Alison Jolly’s book is a refreshing and stimulating account of
evolution, and especially the evolution of sex and intelligence in
humans and primates. One of its strengths is her presentation of
the female view. We men have always had a tendency to consider life
from our own perspective… Jolly proposes that the traditional
feminine viewpoint on evolution is one of cooperative organization
and not of competition. This is the counterpart to the fundamental
dilemma for anyone trained in Darwinian evolutionary theory, with
its emphasis on rampant individualism.
*Nature*
This is a book which agrees that nature is often red in tooth and
claw, but encourages us to feel good about it all the same…
Everybody should understand [sociobiology’s] essentials, and
Jolly’s book provides an excellent outline… She writes with a
serenity that is especially pleasing in a field usually harsh with
the sound of grinding axes… One of this book’s most valuable
dimensions is its calm exposition of a worldview which is
unequivocally sociobiological, and at the same time sure in its
affirmation of feminist and liberal values.
*The Independent*
One of the things that makes this book so satisfying is the way it
clearly and cleverly gets around the whole nature/nurture question
by looking at the complex interplay between a mother and baby, in
which each is programmed to learn from the other. This is not what
anyone would call headline science: it’s just well-written, witty,
thought-provoking and full of fascinating detail. You don’t learn
how to do primatology, but you do learn what kind of primate you
are, which is, for most people, more valuable.
*The Guardian*
[Jolly’s] method is to offer a host of lively facts to grip the
imagination… All this provides a rich mix, which could have ended
up as a convoluted tangle of facts. But Jolly bounds from topic to
topic with all the assurance of one of her beloved lemurs… Her book
is full of wry, ironic humour, as well as knowledgeable remarks
about the way science works… Bolstered by acute analysis of the
degree of mental sophistication of the great apes, Jolly produces a
convincing reappraisal of the position of male and female in human
evolution… Lucy’s Legacy has the tone of a wise friend reminding
you of things you had forgotten while arranging them for you in a
delightful, previously unperceived and revelatory way—and doing
this for your edification, rather than for their own glory… Jolly’s
subject is serious, her erudition profound in a book deft and sure
enough to engage even those with the briefest of biological
backgrounds. She has pulled off the most elegant of scientific
popularisation tricks: being light without being lightweight.
*New Scientist*
This is an engaging romp through the human story and a thoughtful
exploration of who we are as both a biological and a cultural
species. Although Jolly covers a considerable diversity of topics
in four major sections, each chapter of the story is woven together
with a unifying theme of cooperation… Jolly does an elegant job
weaving biology, history, art poetry, anecdotes and facts alike to
unfold the tapestry of who we are as a species. This book provides
a thoughtful review of many decades of research by biologists,
primatologists, sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists,
although Jolly’s original ideas pepper the discussion. It is an
erudite and witty think piece, liberally seasoned with insights and
illustrations gleaned from throughout the humanities and
sciences—an appropriate blend from the author who bemoans the
arbitrary dichotomization of human biology and human culture.
Indeed, for those of us who believe that both biology and culture
can contribute to our understanding of who we are as a species,
this book is an amusing read and a refreshing antidote to the
estrangement of the natural and social sciences.
*American Scientist*
A good book worth reading.
*Globe & Mail*
Jolly traces four evolutionary transitions in this compelling book
and says we are in the early stages of a fifth… The range of things
Jolly knows is stunning, and the connections she finds among those
things are often startling. She flavors her gripping tale with
lines from poems. Occasionally she throws in a joke…[and] she is
hopeful that the fifth transition will turn out well.
*Scientific American*
Jolly’s book is an outstanding example of how sociobiology has
matured. She is feminist in a relaxed, inclusive, open-minded, and
undefensive way.
*Amazon.com*
Jolly suggests that enhanced cooperation, social behavior, and the
division of labor have played significant roles [in human
evolution]. [She] is sympathetic to a sociobiological approach,
which emphasizes the role of evolution-influenced instinct as both
an asset and a problem for our species; she provides many
interesting insights based on her knowledge of primate intelligence
and behavior. She also discusses some interesting fossil evidence
of paleontology, muses over the views of various factions on human
evolution, and speculates on the future of our species and of our
planet. An interesting, well-written, and well-documented book.
*Library Journal*
Princeton primatologist Jolly brings good news from prehistory and
delivers it with style. Neither evolutionary theory nor
sociobiology, as popularly understood, flatter humanity. Evolution
paints a grim picture of survival of the fittest, and sociobiology
has more than a few sexist implications. Jolly argues that human
development is not the story of battle after battle to determine
survival of the fittest… [She] considers neo-Darwinism explanations
of human feelings and decisions, from white lies to charitable
giving to abortions. As she moves from discussions of human culture
to her own research among the Lemurs of Madagascar, Jolly proves an
illuminating guide to the complex intersection of nature and
nurture… [An] accessible, comprehensive and thought-provoking
work.
*Publishers Weekly*
[Jolly] tells a good tale in her quest to explain where we came
from and where we’re headed… Jolly is an enthusiastic guide; she
has fun with all this, and readers will too.
*Kirkus Reviews*
In clear and clever prose, Jolly shows us how we got started, what
sex had to do with it, and how our brains have become the central
force in evolution. With the recent decision of the Kansas Board of
Education to play down the teaching of evolution, this may be the
time to stock up on good sources that tell the remarkable story of
how we became human.
*Booklist*
One of the best-written, erudite, and informative books I have seen
in a long time. Building on her expertise as a primatologist,
Alison Jolly addresses an incredible range of topics, from the
peculiarities of the Y-chromosome to those of postmodernism. The
sex wars are in full swing here, but always presented with balance,
humor, and nice bits of poetry.
*Frans B. M. de Waal, author of The Primate Mind: Built to
Connect with Other Minds*
Alison Jolly is a pioneer in the study of social intelligence and
one of primatology’s Great Souls. This book is a treasure.
*Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, author of Mothers and Others: The
Evolutionary Origins of Mutual Understanding*
Lucy’s Legacy shows a keen intelligence about both sexual and
mental life in the compelling worlds of primates. Jolly’s accounts
mine a deep vein of evolutionary and biobehavioral research to
bring the reader into the drama of human evolution and
multistranded relation to our near kin. Jolly believes in a rich
possible human future for Lucy’s descendants. Such visions are
crucial in a world that too easily loses track of its biological
inheritance. The book’s wit alone is worth the price; but best of
all, the reader will set the book down with a deeper appreciation
of the complexity of primate natures and the richness of our
scientific cultures that have let us know more about these
important matters.
*Donna Haraway, University of California, Santa Cruz*
If you want to know how you became the most intelligent and sexiest
creature on Earth, this is the book for you. Alison Jolly, one of
the world’s leading primatologists, provokes us to think deeply and
clearly about our place in nature—our origins, our primacy on the
planet, and even where we may be heading as a species. Written with
grace and wit, Lucy’s Legacy offers refreshing and challenging
insights into what it means to be human.
*Don Johanson, Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State
University*
[Jolly’s] inspiring account of our past and potential future…shows
how…the epic story of our evolution can be told as much in terms of
co-operative interplay as competition… Jolly guides us through
these debates and others with a delightful mixture of common sense,
panache, and up-to-date erudition… [Lucy’s Legacy] is stuffed with
a wonderful array of facts that ground Jolly’s assertions.
*Times Literary Supplement*
Lucy’s Legacy is really a compendium of all that has been
accomplished in animal behavior and evolutionary biology since
1960… Here we have all the major achievements from the past few
decades and, taken together, as they are in this book, the whole is
impressive… Jolly is at her best when writing about humans.
*Evolutionary Anthropology*
Mention should be made of the graceful embellishment of the text
with poems. A rich tapestry, provocative and fun.
*Science, Technology and Society*
Jolly has made two of the most significant contributions to
paradigm shifts in primatology. She was the first to recognise the
social power of females in groups, and she formulated the first
statement of the social intelligence hypothesis, which argues that
intelligence and mentality are consequences of social
opportunities, not by-products of tool use, bipedalism or human
language… Lucy’s Legacy is beautifully written, elegant, poetic and
artistic as well as deeply knowledgeable.
*Times Higher Education Supplement*
Primatologist Jolly accents the imperatives of reproduction as an
evolutionary force, from the australopithecines onward,
particularly as an influence on increasing brainpower.
*Booklist*
In Lucy's Legacy, a charming, eclectic and sensible book,
[Jolly] argues that while evolution certainly involves competition,
the major transitions have arisen through cooperation... With humor
and erudition she leads the reader to an understanding of the
biology and behavior of primates, through the evolution of
intelligence and into 'the age of humanity,' where evolution is
charted chiefly by the human mind. Her genius in this informative,
satisfying book is to strip away dogma and politics that have
shrouded evolution, to reveal a theory Darwin would recognize as
his own. 'There is grandeur in this view of life,' he wrote, and
here it is seen marvelously. -- Ellen Ruppel Shell * New York Times
Book Review *
Alison Jolly's book is a refreshing and stimulating account of
evolution, and especially the evolution of sex and intelligence in
humans and primates. One of its strengths is her presentation of
the female view. We men have always had a tendency to consider life
from our own perspective... Jolly proposes that the traditional
feminine viewpoint on evolution is one of cooperative organization
and not of competition. This is the counterpart to the fundamental
dilemma for anyone trained in Darwinian evolutionary theory, with
its emphasis on rampant individualism. -- Christophe Boesch *
Nature *
This is a book which agrees that nature is often red in tooth and
claw, but encourages us to feel good about it all the same...
Everybody should understand [sociobiology's] essentials, and
Jolly's book provides an excellent outline... She writes with a
serenity that is especially pleasing in a field usually harsh with
the sound of grinding axes... One of this book's most valuable
dimensions is its calm exposition of a worldview which is
unequivocally sociobiological, and at the same time sure in its
affirmation of feminist and liberal values. -- Marek Kohn * The
Independent *
One of the things that makes this book so satisfying is the way it
clearly and cleverly gets around the whole nature/nurture question
by looking at the complex interplay between a mother and baby, in
which each is programmed to learn from the other. This is not what
anyone would call headline science: it's just well-written, witty,
thought-provoking and full of fascinating detail. You don't learn
how to do primatology, but you do learn what kind of primate you
are, which is, for most people, more valuable. -- Andrew Brown *
The Guardian *
[Jolly's] method is to offer a host of lively facts to grip the
imagination... All this provides a rich mix, which could have ended
up as a convoluted tangle of facts. But Jolly bounds from topic to
topic with all the assurance of one of her beloved lemurs... Her
book is full of wry, ironic humour, as well as knowledgeable
remarks about the way science works... Bolstered by acute analysis
of the degree of mental sophistication of the great apes, Jolly
produces a convincing reappraisal of the position of male and
female in human evolution... Lucy's Legacy has the tone of a
wise friend reminding you of things you had forgotten while
arranging them for you in a delightful, previously unperceived and
revelatory way-and doing this for your edification, rather than for
their own glory... Jolly's subject is serious, her erudition
profound in a book deft and sure enough to engage even those with
the briefest of biological backgrounds. She has pulled off the most
elegant of scientific popularisation tricks: being light without
being lightweight. -- Adrian Barnett * New Scientist *
This is an engaging romp through the human story and a thoughtful
exploration of who we are as both a biological and a cultural
species. Although Jolly covers a considerable diversity of topics
in four major sections, each chapter of the story is woven together
with a unifying theme of cooperation... Jolly does an elegant job
weaving biology, history, art poetry, anecdotes and facts alike to
unfold the tapestry of who we are as a species. This book provides
a thoughtful review of many decades of research by biologists,
primatologists, sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists,
although Jolly's original ideas pepper the discussion. It is an
erudite and witty think piece, liberally seasoned with insights and
illustrations gleaned from throughout the humanities and
sciences-an appropriate blend from the author who bemoans the
arbitrary dichotomization of human biology and human culture.
Indeed, for those of us who believe that both biology and culture
can contribute to our understanding of who we are as a species,
this book is an amusing read and a refreshing antidote to the
estrangement of the natural and social sciences. -- Joanna E.
Lambert * American Scientist *
A good book worth reading. -- Michael Ruse * Globe & Mail *
Jolly traces four evolutionary transitions in this compelling book
and says we are in the early stages of a fifth... The range of
things Jolly knows is stunning, and the connections she finds among
those things are often startling. She flavors her gripping tale
with lines from poems. Occasionally she throws in a joke...[and]
she is hopeful that the fifth transition will turn out well. *
Scientific American *
Jolly's book is an outstanding example of how sociobiology has
matured. She is feminist in a relaxed, inclusive, open-minded, and
undefensive way. -- Mary Ellen Curtin * Amazon.com *
Jolly suggests that enhanced cooperation, social behavior, and the
division of labor have played significant roles [in human
evolution]. [She] is sympathetic to a sociobiological approach,
which emphasizes the role of evolution-influenced instinct as both
an asset and a problem for our species; she provides many
interesting insights based on her knowledge of primate intelligence
and behavior. She also discusses some interesting fossil evidence
of paleontology, muses over the views of various factions on human
evolution, and speculates on the future of our species and of our
planet. An interesting, well-written, and well-documented book. --
Marit MacArthur * Library Journal *
Princeton primatologist Jolly brings good news from prehistory and
delivers it with style. Neither evolutionary theory nor
sociobiology, as popularly understood, flatter humanity. Evolution
paints a grim picture of survival of the fittest, and sociobiology
has more than a few sexist implications. Jolly argues that human
development is not the story of battle after battle to determine
survival of the fittest... [She] considers neo-Darwinism
explanations of human feelings and decisions, from white lies to
charitable giving to abortions. As she moves from discussions of
human culture to her own research among the Lemurs of Madagascar,
Jolly proves an illuminating guide to the complex intersection of
nature and nurture... [An] accessible, comprehensive and
thought-provoking work. * Publishers Weekly *
[Jolly] tells a good tale in her quest to explain where we came
from and where we're headed... Jolly is an enthusiastic guide; she
has fun with all this, and readers will too. * Kirkus Reviews *
In clear and clever prose, Jolly shows us how we got started, what
sex had to do with it, and how our brains have become the central
force in evolution. With the recent decision of the Kansas Board of
Education to play down the teaching of evolution, this may be the
time to stock up on good sources that tell the remarkable story of
how we became human. -- Philip Herbst * Booklist *
One of the best-written, erudite, and informative books I have seen
in a long time. Building on her expertise as a primatologist,
Alison Jolly addresses an incredible range of topics, from the
peculiarities of the Y-chromosome to those of postmodernism. The
sex wars are in full swing here, but always presented with balance,
humor, and nice bits of poetry. -- Frans B. M. de Waal, author of
The Primate Mind: Built to Connect with Other Minds
Alison Jolly is a pioneer in the study of social intelligence and
one of primatology's Great Souls. This book is a treasure. -- Sarah
Blaffer Hrdy, author of Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary
Origins of Mutual Understanding
Lucy's Legacy shows a keen intelligence about both sexual
and mental life in the compelling worlds of primates. Jolly's
accounts mine a deep vein of evolutionary and biobehavioral
research to bring the reader into the drama of human evolution and
multistranded relation to our near kin. Jolly believes in a rich
possible human future for Lucy's descendants. Such visions are
crucial in a world that too easily loses track of its biological
inheritance. The book's wit alone is worth the price; but best of
all, the reader will set the book down with a deeper appreciation
of the complexity of primate natures and the richness of our
scientific cultures that have let us know more about these
important matters. -- Donna Haraway, University of California,
Santa Cruz
If you want to know how you became the most intelligent and sexiest
creature on Earth, this is the book for you. Alison Jolly, one of
the world's leading primatologists, provokes us to think deeply and
clearly about our place in nature-our origins, our primacy on the
planet, and even where we may be heading as a species. Written with
grace and wit, Lucy's Legacy offers refreshing and
challenging insights into what it means to be human. -- Don
Johanson, Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University
[Jolly's] inspiring account of our past and potential
future...shows how...the epic story of our evolution can be told as
much in terms of co-operative interplay as competition... Jolly
guides us through these debates and others with a delightful
mixture of common sense, panache, and up-to-date erudition...
[Lucy's Legacy] is stuffed with a wonderful array of facts
that ground Jolly's assertions. -- Andrew Whiten * Times Literary
Supplement *
Lucy's Legacy is really a compendium of all that has been
accomplished in animal behavior and evolutionary biology since
1960... Here we have all the major achievements from the past few
decades and, taken together, as they are in this book, the whole is
impressive... Jolly is at her best when writing about humans. --
Meredith Small * Evolutionary Anthropology *
Mention should be made of the graceful embellishment of the text
with poems. A rich tapestry, provocative and fun. * Science,
Technology and Society *
Jolly has made two of the most significant contributions to
paradigm shifts in primatology. She was the first to recognise the
social power of females in groups, and she formulated the first
statement of the social intelligence hypothesis, which argues that
intelligence and mentality are consequences of social
opportunities, not by-products of tool use, bipedalism or human
language... Lucy's Legacy is beautifully written, elegant,
poetic and artistic as well as deeply knowledgeable. -- Phyllis Lee
* Times Higher Education Supplement *
Primatologist Jolly accents the imperatives of reproduction as an
evolutionary force, from the australopithecines onward,
particularly as an influence on increasing brainpower. -- Gilbert
Taylor * Booklist *
Princeton primatologist Jolly brings good news from prehistory and delivers it with style. Neither evolutionary theory nor sociobiology, as popularly understood, flatter humanity. Evolution paints a grim picture of survival of the fittest, and sociobiology has more than a few sexist implications. Jolly argues that human development is not the story of battle after battle to determine survival of the fittest. Instead, she portrays evolution as a story of ever-increasing cooperation. Not that she doesn't take into account the myriad ways in which nature, including human nature, is red in tooth and claw. She does, but she also insists that "[t]he fascination of sociobology is not [in the] repugnant actions that it can explain," but "in understanding how loving families and supportive communities could grow from such unpromising ground." Jolly considers neo-Darwinian explanations of human feelings and decisions, from white lies to charitable giving to abortions. As she moves from discussions of human culture (from sex-testing of female Olympic athletes to Freud's ideas about sexual development) to her own research among the lemurs of Madagascar, Jolly proves an illuminating guide to the complex intersection of nature and nurture. In the second half of the book, she first examines different primate societies before moving on to a discussion of how human individuals and communities develop, including the evolution of gender, tool use, abstraction, imagination and cooperation. In this accessible, comprehensive and thought-provoking work, Jolly also adduces surprising texts from the humanities, among them poems in translation from French, Chinese and Yoruba. (Nov.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
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