Section 4: Resources
- Books for Adult Readers
- Books for Younger Audiences
- Related Websites
- Classroom Resources
- Films
- Exhibit Panels
- Exhibit Script
- Traveling Exhibition Organization by Dr. Rick Potts
- Traveling Exhibition Messages and Themes by Dr. Rick Potts
Return to Exploring Human Origins Site Support Notebook Main Page.
Books for Adult Readers
Books about the science of evolution:
Bowler, Peter J. Darwin Deleted: Imagining a World Without Darwin. University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Coyne, Jerry A. Why Evolution is True. Viking Adult, 2009.
Darwin, Charles. The Origins of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition. Signet Classics, 2003.
Dawkins, Richard. The Ancestor’s Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004.
Dawkins, Richard. The Greatest Show on Earth. Simon and Schuster Free Press, 2009.
Gould, Stephen Jay. Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History. W.W. Norton & Company, 1990.
Lane, Nick. Life Ascending: The Ten Greatest Inventions of Evolution. W.W. Norton & Company, 2009.
Larson, Edward J. The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory. Modern Library, 2006.
Mayr, Ernst. One Long Argument: Charles Darwin and the Genesis of Modern Evolutionary Thought. Harvard University Press, 1993.
Mayr, Ernst. What Evolution Is. Basic Books, 2001.
Milner, Richard and Gould, Stephen Jay. Darwin’s Universe: Evolution from A to Z. University of California Press, 2009.
Mindell, David P. The Evolving World: Evolution in Everyday Life. Harvard University Press, 2006.
Prothero, Donald R. Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters. Columbia University Press, 2007.
Quammen, David. The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution. W.W. Norton, 2006.
Rothenberg, David. Survival of the Beautiful. Bloomsbury Press, 2011.
Zimmer, Carl. Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea. Harper, 2001.
Zimmer, Carl. The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution. Roberts and Company Publishers, 2009.
Books about the scientific understandings of human origins:
Arsuaga, Juan Luis. The Neanderthal's Necklace: In Search of the First Thinkers. Basic Books, 2004.
Ayala, Francisco, J. Am I a Monkey? Six Big Questions About Evolution. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010.
Cohen, Jon. Almost Chimpanzee: Redrawing the Lines that Separate Us from Them. St. Martin's Griffin, 2010.
Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex.
De Waal, Frans. Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are. Riverhead Books, 2005.
Fagan, Brian. Cro-Magnon: How the Ice Age Gave Birth to the First Modern Humans. Bloomsbury Press, 2010.
Fairbanks, Daniel. Relics of Eden: The Powerful Evidence of Evolution in Human DNA. Prometheus Books, 2007.
Finlayson, Clive. The Humans Who Went Extinct: Why Neanderthals Died Out and We Survived. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Gazzaniga, Michael S. Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique. HarperCollins, 2008.
Gee, Henry. The Accidental Species: Misunderstandings of Human Evolution. University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Gibbons, Ann. 2007. The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors. Doubleday, 2006.
Gurche, John. Shaping Humanity: How Science, Art, and Imagination Help us Understand our Origins. Yale University Press, 2013.
Harar, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Harper, 2015.
Huxley, Thomas H. Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature. Barnes and Noble Library of Essential Reading, 2006.
Johanson, Donald. Lucy: The Beginnings of Human Kind. Simon and Schuster, 1990.
Johanson, Donald and Wong, Kate. Lucy's Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins. Crown, 2009.
Jolly, Alison. Lucy's Legacy: Sex and Intelligence in Human Evolution. Harvard University Press, 2001.
Klein, Richard G. The Dawn of Human Culture. Wiley, 2002.
Lieberman, Daniel E. The Story of the Human Body. Pantheon Books, 2013.
McKee, Jeffrey K. The Riddled Chain: Chance, Coincidence and Chaos in Human Evolution. Rutgers University Press, 2000.
Olson, Steve. Mapping Human History: Genes, Race, and Our Common Origins. Mariner Books, 2003.
Pääbo, Svante. Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes. Basic Books, 2014.
Potts, Rick. Humanity's Descent: The Consequences of Ecological Instability, William Morrow & Co, 1996.
Potts, Rick and Sloan, Chris. What Does it Mean to Be Human? National Geographic, 2010.
Richerson, Peter J. and Boyd, Robert. Not by Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution. University of Chicago Press, 2005.
Ridley, Matt. Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. HarperCollins, 1999.
Roberts, Alice. Evolution: the Human Story. Dorling Kindersley, 2011.
Shreeve, James. The Neandertal Enigma: Solving the Mystery of Modern Human Origins. Viking, 1996.
Shubin, Neil. Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body. Pantheon, 2008.
Stringer, Chris. African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity. Henry Holt & Co., 1997.
Stringer, Chris. Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth. Holt & Company, 2012.
Tattersall, Ian. Becoming Human: Evolution and Human Uniqueness. Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Tattersall, Ian. The Fossil Trail. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Tattersall, Ian. Masters of the Planet: The Search for Our Human Origins. Macmillan, 2013.
Taylor, Jeremy. Not a Chimp: The hunt to find genes that make us human. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Trinkaus, Erik and Shipman, Pat. The Neandertals: Changing the Image of Mankind. Knopf, 1993.
Wagner, Andreas. Arrival of the Fittest: Solving Evolution’s Greatest Puzzle. Current 2014.
Walker, Alan and Shipman, Pat. The Wisdom of the Bones: In Search of Human Origins. Knopf, 1996.
Walter, Chip. Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived. Walker & Company, 2013.
Wilson, Edward O. The Meaning of Human Existence. Liveright, 2014.
Wrangham, Richard. Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. Basic Books, 2009.
Wynn, Thomas and Coolidge, Frederick L. How to Think Like a Neanderthal. Oxford University Press, 2012.
Books about science, evolution, and religion:
Baker, Catherine and James B. Miller. The Evolution Dialogues: Science, Christianity, and the Quest for Understanding. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2006.
Bertka, Constance M., ed., Exploring the Origin, Extent, and Future of Life: Philosophical, Ethical, and Theological Perspectives. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Collins, Francis S. 2007. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
Gould, Stephen Jay. Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life, 2002.
Haught, John F. Responses to 101 Questions on God and Evolution. Paulist Press, 2001.
Larson, Edward J., Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion. Basic Books, 1997.
Matt, Daniel C. God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality. Jewish Lights, 1996.
Miller, Kenneth R. Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientists Search for Finding Common Ground Between God and Evolution. HarperCollins, 1999.
Miller, Kenneth R. Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul. Viking Adult, 2008.
Nelson, David W. Judaism, Physics, and God: Searching for Sacred Metaphors in a Post-Einstein World. Jewish Lights, 2005.
Peters, Ted and Martinez Hewlett. Evolution from Creation to New Creation. Abingdon Press, 2003.
Scott, Eugenie C. Evolution vs Creationism: An Introduction. University of California Press, 2009.
Towne, Margaret Gray. Honest to Genesis: A Biblical and Scientific Challenge to Creationism. PublishAmerica, 2003.
Van Huyssteen, Wentzel. Human Uniqueness in Science and Theology. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2006.
List of Suggested Books for Book Discussions
The following book discussion selections have been recommended by Dr. Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator in the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins Program (in order of preference):
Potts, Rick and Chris Sloan. What Does it Mean to Be Human? National Geographic, 2010.
The traveling exhibition is complemented by this companion volume written by exhibit curator Rick Potts and Chris Sloan. The book amplifies and clarifies many aspects of the original exhibition hall and expands the experience for the visitor. Consider using this book to deepen discussion about the content of the exhibition. Dr. Potts will bring a copy of the book to each site to keep and make available with the exhibition.
Gurche, John. Shaping Humanity: How Science, Art, and Imagination Help us Understand our Origins. Yale University Press, 2013.
Shubin, Neil. Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body. Pantheon, 2008.
Tattersall, Ian. Masters of the Planet: The Search for Our Human Origins. Macmillan, 2013.
Taylor, Jeremy. Not a Chimp: The hunt to find genes that make us human. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Mindell, David P. The Evolving World: Evolution in Everyday Life. Harvard University Press, 2006.
Pääbo, Svante. Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes. Basic Books, 2014.
Gazzaniga, Michael S. Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique. HarperCollins, 2008.
Stringer, Chris. Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth. Holt & Company, 2012.
In addition to the above books selected by Dr. Briana Pobiner, you may also want to consider the following titles for a possible book discussion program:
Bowler, Peter J. Darwin Deleted: Imagining a World Without Darwin. University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Dawkins, Richard. The Greatest Show on Earth. Simon and Schuster Free Press, 2009.
Harar, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Harper, 2015.
Lane, Nick. Life Ascending: The Ten Greatest Inventions of Evolution. W.W. Norton & Company, 2009.
Larson, Edward J., Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion. Basic Books, 1997.
Miller, Kenneth R. Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul. Viking Adult, 2008.
Rothenberg, David. Survival of the Beautiful. Bloomsbury Press, 2011.
Wrangham, Richard. Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. Basic Books, 2009.
Books for Younger Audiences
Bonner, Hannah. When Bugs Were Big, Plants Were Strange, and Tetrapods Stalked the Earth: A Cartoon Prehistory of Life Before Dinosaurs. National Geographic Children’s Book, 2004. (Ages 8-12)
Brett, Jan. 1992. The First Dog. G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Reissue edition, 2015. (Ages 4-8)
Byrne, Eugene. Darwin: A Graphic Biography. Smithsonian Books, 2013. (Ages 12 and up)
Campbell, Eileen. Charlie and Kiwi: An Evolutional Adventure. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011. (Ages 4-8)
Dolenz, Micky. Gakky Two-Feet. Putnam, 2006. (Ages 4 and up)
Gamlin, Linda. Eyewitness: Evolution. Eyewitness Books, 2000. (Ages 8-12)
Green, John. Charles Darwin. Dover History Coloring Book, 2009. (Ages 8-14)
Keller, Michael. Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation. Rodale Books, 2009. (Ages 14 and up)
Lawson, Kristan. Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21Activities. Chicago Review Press, 2003. (Ages 9 and up)
Layton, Neal. The Story of Everything: From the Big Bang until Now in 11 Pop-up Spreads. Barron’s Educational Series, 2006. (Ages 6-9)
Lee, T.S. The Darwin Story: A Lifetime of Curiosity, a Passion for Discovery. Great Heroes, 2009. (Ages 9 and up)
Loxton, Daniel. Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be. Kids Can Press, Ltd., 2010. (Ages 8-13)
MacDonald, Fiona. Inside the Beagle With Charles Darwin. Enchanted Lion, 2005. (Ages 8 and up)
Manning, Mick. What Mr. Darwin Saw. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2009. (Ages 6-9)
Matejovsky, Char. Stones & Bones: A Child’s Guide to Evolution. Polebridge Press, 2007. (Ages 4-6)
McNulty, Faith. How Whales Walked into the Sea. Scholastic Paperbacks, 2000. (Ages 8-10)
New York Hall of Science. Charlie and Kiwi: An Evolutionary Adventure. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011. (Ages 4-8)
Peters, Lisa Westberg. Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story. Hardpress Publishing, 2003. (Ages 4-8)
Sis, Peter. The Tree of Life: A Book Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin – Naturalist, Geologist, and Thinker. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003. (Ages 5-8)
Weaver, Anne H. Children of Time. University of New Mexico Press, 2012. (Ages 7-15)
Winston, Robert. Evolution Revolution. DK Publishing, 2009. (Ages 7-10)
Please see http://www.charliesplayhouse.com/evolution-books-for-kids.html for additional suggestions for evolution books for kids.
Related Websites
The following websites are provided to offer additional context to project themes. The American Library Association does not maintain the following sites and is not responsible for their content.
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History:
Official website for the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program
http://humanorigins.si.edu/exhibit
Official website for the Smithsonian’s David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins exhibit
http://www.humanorigins.si.edu/about/bsic/science-religion-evolution-creationism-primer
The BSIC has developed the Primer on Science, Religion, Evolution, and Creationism, a document that promotes a respectful, welcoming, and insightful public conversation on a topic audiences often see as troubling or prefer to avoid.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/press_office/statements/evolution.htm
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s statement on evolution
Evolution:
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
Understanding Evolution is a non-commercial, education website, teaching the science and history of evolutionary biology. The site is a collaborative project of the University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/index.html
Videos from PBS and WGBH are starting points for topics in evolution.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/
NOVA television series focused on evolution.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/becoming-human.html#becoming-human-part-1
NOVA's comprehensive, three-part special, "Becoming Human," examines what the latest scientific research reveals about our hominid relatives.
http://www.pbs.org/your-inner-fish/home/
Your Inner Fish is now a three-part series on PBS. The series is based on the best-selling book and hosted by author and evolutionary biologist Dr. Neil Shubin.
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/explore-evolution
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has a series of videos about evolutionary topics and interviews with evolutionary biologists.
http://www.nationalacademies.org/evolution/
The National Academy of Sciences and its sister institutions have created a website with evolution resources, including information on books published by the NAS, as well as statements, research papers, and other resources.
http://www.nescent.org/eog/resources.php
Education resources from the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit, membership organization providing information and resources for schools, parents, and concerned citizens working to keep evolution and climate science in public school science education.
http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/projects/human/
University of California, Santa Barbara online 3D gallery of modern primate relatives and fossil ancestors of humans
Journey through the story of human evolution in a broadband documentary experience. Presented by the Institute of Human Origins, a non-profit, multidisciplinary research organization affiliated with Arizona State University, dedicated to the recovery and analysis of the fossil evidence for human evolution.
eLucy is a website that will help you to learn about the world’s most famous fossil, Lucy, a member of the species Australopithecus afarensis, who lived 3.2 million years ago.
eSkeletons provides an interactive environment in which to examine and learn about skeletal anatomy through an osteology database.
http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/biological-anthropology-98009799
This free, science library page focuses on biological anthropology – Where do we come from? Where are we going? These are some of the big questions biological anthropology seeks to answer, using the principles of evolution as a backdrop for formulating and testing hypotheses about humanity's past, present, and future.
http://www.newscientist.com/topic/evolution
New Scientist magazine page features current articles focused on evolution.
Searchable collection of Darwin's books, articles and manuscripts. Provides both searchable text and facsimile images.
https://evolution-institute.org/this-view-of-life/
This 'webzine' is an online general interest magazine in which all of the content is from an evolutionary perspective. It includes content aggregated from the Internet, following the example set by the Huffington Post, as well as new content generated by a staff of editors and contributing authors in eleven subject areas: biology, culture, health, arts, technology, religion, politics, mind, economy, environment, and education.
http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/darwin_200/
SEED magazine honors Darwin with a curated exploration of the culture of ideas that has arisen as a result of Darwin's life and work.
https://www.koshland-science-museum.org/sites/all/exhibits/exhib_infectious/index.jsp
The Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences' Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health exhibit examines impacts of microbial evolution on the spread of disease over the centuries. Visitors can explore characteristics of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as the diseases that are caused by many of them both virtually and in-house.
http://www.charliesplayhouse.com/
Evolution for Kids is a gathering place for parents and others who want to inspire children with the vast, dazzling history of life on Earth.
http://rapguidetoevolution.co.uk/
The Rap Guide to Evolution is a hip-hop tour of modern biology, exploring the implications of Charles Darwin's theory of "Evolution by Natural Selection" through the medium of the rap music.
http://www.talkorigins.org/
This website offers a collection of articles and essays to provide mainstream scientific responses to the frequently asked questions about evolution.
In 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', the BBC aired a season of landmark TV and radio programs.
http://www.understandingrace.org/home.html
Website for the “Race: Are We So Different?” project, which explains differences among people and reveals the reality – and unreality – of race. The story of race is complex and may challenge how we think about race and human variation, about the differences and similarities among people.
Science and Religion
http://biologos.org/
BioLogos invites the church and the world to see the harmony between science and biblical faith as we present an evolutionary understanding of God’s creation.
http://www.ctns.org/
The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences promotes the creative mutual interaction between theology and the natural sciences.
http://www.theclergyletterproject.org/
The Clergy Letter Project is an endeavor designed to demonstrate that religion and science can be compatible and to elevate the quality of the debate of this issue. It sponsors annual Evolution Weekend events and has created a data base of scientists interested in working with clergy members to answer questions about all aspects of evolution.
http://www.counterbalance.org/
The Counterbalance Interactive Library offers new views on complex issues from science, ethics, philosophy, and religion. Here you'll find extensive resources on the evolution/creation controversy, biomedical ethical challenges, and much more.
http://www.zygoncenter.org/
The Zygon Center is dedicated to relating religious traditions and the best scientific knowledge in order to gain insight into the origins, nature, and destiny of humans and their environment. The purpose of the Center is to bring together scientists, theologians, and other scholars to discuss and carry out research on basic questions and issues of human concern.
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=394
The Pew Forum investigates religious group’s views on evolution
http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp961022.htm
On October 22, 1996, Pope John Paul II addressed the Pontifical Academy of Science on evolution with particular attention to human origins. This is the transcript of that address as it appeared in L'Osservatore Romano.
http://episcopalscience.org/resources/catechism-creation/
The Episcopal Network for Science Technology and Faith produced this document in the form of a series of questions and answers as a resource for members of the U.S. Episcopal Church on the theology of creation, science and creation and caring for creation.
http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Publicly-Engaged-Church/Faith-Science-and-Technology
This is the site for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s work in the area of faith, science and technology including a link to the Lutheran Alliance and its online publication, Covalence.
Classroom Resources
Meadows, Lee. The Missing Link: An Inquiry Approach for Teaching All Students About Evolution. Heinemann, 2009.
http://humanorigins.si.edu/education/lesson-plans
Smithsonian site includes well-vetted lesson plans focused on human evolution.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/teach/index.php
Understanding Evolution is a non-commercial, education website, teaching the science and history of evolutionary biology. The site is a collaborative project of the University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education. This section of the website offers lesson plans for different grade levels.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/
Professional development courses, lesson plans, and teaching strategies from PBS.
http://www.becominghuman.org/node/learning-center
Subject-designed exercises, activities, and games related to human evolution. Presented by the Institute of Human Origins, a non-profit, multidisciplinary research organization affiliated with Arizona State University, dedicated to the recovery and analysis of the fossil evidence for human evolution.
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit, membership organization providing information and resources for schools, parents, and concerned citizens working to keep evolution and climate science in public school science education.
www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/evol.fs.html
Evolution lesson plans available from the Evolution and Nature of Science Institutes
http://ncse.com/media/voices/science
National Center for Science Education’s compilation of statements on evolution from scientific and scholarly organizations.
http://ncse.com/media/voices/religion
National Center for Science Education’s compilation of statements on evolution from religious organizations.
http://ncse.com/media/voices/education
National Center for Science Education’s compilation of statements on evolution from educational organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers.
http://ncse.com/media/voices/civil-liberties
National Center for Science Education’s compilation of statements on evolution from civil liberties organizations.
Films
Following is a general list of films that might be used with Exploring Human Origins. This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it an ALA-reviewed or recommended list. Please preview films for quality and appropriateness for your audience.
Each library wishing to show films related to Exploring Human Origins must arrange for public performance rights (PPR) and payment of fees for those rights, as necessary. (Please see Swank Motion Pictures, www.swank.com, 1-800-876-5577; Swank rental fees include public performance rights.)
Ape to Man. The History Channel, 2005.
Are We Still Evolving? BBC, 2010.
Becoming Human. PBS NOVA, 2009.
Bones, Stones, and Genes: The Origin of Modern Humans. HHMI BioInteractive Holiday Lecture series, 2011.
Evolution: A Journey Into Where We're From and Where We're Going. PBS, 2001.
Inherit the Wind. Stanley Kramer Productions, 1960.
The Journey of Man: The Story of the Human Species. PBS Home Video, 2003.
Walking with Cavemen. BBC, 2003.
Walking with Prehistoric Beasts. BBC, 2001. (Episodes 4 and 6 feature human evolution)
Your Inner Fish. PBS, 2014.
Exhibit Panels
Download the Exhibit Panels (zipped PDFs)
Exhibit Script
Download the Exhibit Script (PDF)
Traveling Exhibition Organization by Dr. Rick Potts
Download Traveling Exhibition Organization by Dr. Rick Potts (PDF).
Traveling Exhibition Messages and Themes by Dr. Rick Potts
Download the Traveling Exhibition Messages and Themes by Dr. Rick Potts (PDF).