Dragon Bones: The Story of Peking Man

Penny Van Oosterzee's, 'Dragon Bones : The Story of Peking Man' is one of the best books that I have read regarding this subject. 'Dragon Bones' is presented in an unpretentious and non-academic style that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Van Oosterzee also puts forth an interesting scenario for the missing bones of the Peking Man. So if you love adventure, mystery, or anthropology then I would highly recommend reading 'Dragon Bones'. This book would also make an excellent general introduction text for undergraduates taking their first anthropology class in college.

This is the story of how human perspective shifted from the perspective of a literal reading of the Bible to pursuing the implications of Darwin's work in search of human origins. Darwin speculated that there would be a link between humans and apes. How was that link to be investigated? Before Darwin, fossils were a curiosity rather than a source of scientific study. This wonderful book focuses on the activities that led to locating an important set of fossils (Peking Man) in China.Unlike most such books, the perspective is quite varied. The author talks about how uneducated Chinese perceived fossils, how apothecaries used them to make medicines, what life as a human precursor might have been like in China, the task of finding the fossil sources, convincing scholars that this was significant, and the battle to save the fossils (unsuccessfully). The story-telling style is wonderful, so this reads more like an adventure novel (almost like Indiana Jones) rather than dry scientific history. The photographs are very helpful in expanding the reader's understanding of the subject. The backdrop of a rapidly modernizing China going through foreign interference and civil wars is a powerful context for a fascinating pursuit of human knowledge. Overcome your disbelief stall that scholarship moves quickly and surely to accurate conclusions. The pathway is much more like two steps forward, one step backward, three steps sidewise, and then two steps diagonally. You will also enjoy the perspective of the other key prehuman fossils, their discovery, and what was learned from each.Even if you have no interest in evolution or anthropology, you will find this book a great read.

Dragon Bones is an exciting historical account of the discovery of Peking Man and the mysterious disappearance of the fossil during World War Two. The author, Penny van Oosterzee explores the discovery of the important anthropological fossil from many different perspectives, and sets it against the background of the Chinese civil war. She skilfully explores the importance of the find. The story is convincingly told with authoritative descriptions of the political and social climate of the time. She captures the obsessive determination of the anthropologists who laboured on, oblivious to the political and social vortex in which China found herself throughout the Boxer Revolution. I am not a science reader however the author has balanced the science and factual content with an innovative and gripping story which captivates the reader. This is a read that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.

Brilliant, I really enjoyed it. Written for easy reading and the story flows well. Not just the story of the paleantology but the personalities too. The story of the discovery of our past ond origins in the same league as Dava Sobel's Latitude and Micheal Allin's Zarafa. Especially liked the final message which confirmed a suspicion which I've been harbouring for some years - what was the difference between H. erectus and H. sapiens? I was pleased to hear Penny suggest they are one and the same. It gets around the impossibility of how the whole species evolved planet wide in so brief a time. What's next?

The title, "Dragon Bones" refers to what fossils were called by the Chinese, who believed them to have magical healing powers. The subtitle says the book is about Peking Man. However, it really is about a lot more than that. The author discusses the history of the area, the wars that interfered with the discovery and study of Peking Man, etc. Also discussed are other discoveries relevant to human evolution. A pretty good, easily readable, little book.