"In Close Encounters with Humankind, Korea's first paleoanthropologist, Sang-Hee Lee, explores some of our greatest evolutionary questions from new and unexpected angles. He presents fresh perspectives into our first hominin ancestors and ways to challenge perceptions about the traditional progression of evolution. By combining anthropological insight with research, Lee?s conclusions shed light on our beginnings and connect us to a faraway past. As we mine the evolutionary path to the present, Lee helps us to determine where we are heading and tackles one of our most pressing scientific questions?does humanity continue to evolve?"--From publisher.

2018-09

Introduction: Let's take a journey together -- Are we cannibals? -- The birth of fatherhood -- Who were the first hominin ancestors? -- Big-brained babies give moms big grief -- Meat lovers R us -- Got milk? -- A gene for Snow White -- Granny is an artist -- Did farming bring prosperity? -- Peking man and the Yakuza -- Asia challenges Africa's stronghold on the birthplace of humanity -- Cooperation connects you and me -- King Kong -- Breaking back -- In search of the most humanlike face -- Our changing brains -- You are a Neanderthal! -- The molecular clock does not keep time -- Denisovians: the Asian Neanderthals? -- Hobbits -- Seven billion humans, one single race? -- Are humans still evolving? -- Epilogue: Precious humanity -- Epilogue 2: An invitation to an unfamiliar world of paleoanthropology -- Appendix 1: Common questions and answers about evolution -- Appendix 2: Overview of hominin evolution.