Origins: How Earth’s History Shaped Human History, Lewis Dartnell,  Basic Books, NY, 2019, 287 Pages.

'Origins' isn't Just for Science Geeks

Even if you are only a little bit of a science geek, start rubbing your palms together in anticipatory glee. A historian, biologist, geographer, oceanographer, cosmologist, geneticist, geologist, paleontologist, and professor of science communication have taken form in one man: Lewis Dartnell. Technically he is an astrobiologist, an interdisciplinary scientist, and a  Professor of Science Communication at the University of Westminster.

'Origins' Answers Questions

Origins answers hundreds of questions, most of which you wonder why you never asked. While full of facts, the chapters are organized around stories of the Earth and its people.

With astounding lucidity, Darnell takes the reader on a journey that begins before time itself.  Where did the constituents that make up the human body originate? A peek at some of the answers--  they came from the nuclear fusion of stars. How does human development differ when land masses are latitudinal (Eurasia) versus longitudinal (the Americas)?

Another peek-- climate zones across latitudes tend to be more similar, therefore, agriculture and husbandry advances are easier to share.  Why does India have Monsoons? Dartnell will call to mind an ocean breeze at sunset to offer you a visceral analogy to understand what could be, for a typical science writer, a complicated explanation.

Real-World Connections to Today

Anyone who loves the Earth is bound to love her more and certainly will understand the complexity of the planet, its life, and its culture after reading Origins. Readers will even see connections between Earth’s resources and voting patterns. This book offers dense, but not difficult, reading. The index makes information useful for later reference.

Identity and Connections

As we work to keep our planet habitable for humans, it’s in our best interest to understand the Earth better.  After all, we are physically a part of the Earth, just as much as any rock, any mountain, or any ocean. We can’t fight nature without destroying ourselves. Dartnell helps us to be more competent stewards by steeping us in a rich interdisciplinary understanding of our home and our people. It’s good: really good.

Amy Lou Jenkins’ BSN MFA latest book is Corners: Voices on Change. If you would like to send a book for review, contact her through JackWalkerPress.com.