The Evolution of the Human Head by Daniel E. Lieberman


The Evolution of the Human Head
Title : The Evolution of the Human Head
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0674046366
ISBN-10 : 9780674046368
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 768
Publication : First published January 3, 2011

In one sense, human heads function much like those of other mammals. We use them to chew, smell, swallow, think, hear, and so on. But, in other respects, the human head is quite unusual. Unlike other animals, even our great ape cousins, our heads are short and wide, very big brained, snoutless, largely furless, and perched on a short, nearly vertical neck. Daniel E. Lieberman sets out to explain how the human head works, and why our heads evolved in this peculiarly human way.



Exhaustively researched and years in the making, this innovative book documents how the many components of the head function, how they evolved since we diverged from the apes, and how they interact in diverse ways both functionally and developmentally, causing them to be highly integrated. This integration not only permits the head's many units to accommodate each other as they grow and work, but also facilitates evolutionary change. Lieberman shows how, when, and why the major transformations evident in the evolution of the human head occurred. The special way the head is integrated, Lieberman argues, made it possible for a few developmental shifts to have had widespread effects on craniofacial growth, yet still permit the head to function exquisitely.

This is the first book to explore in depth what happened in human evolution by integrating principles of development and functional morphology with the hominin fossil record. The Evolution of the Human Head will permanently change the study of human evolution and has widespread ramifications for thinking about other branches of evolutionary biology.

The Evolution of the Human Head Reviews

  • Forrest Crock

    Excellent book, but highly technical. I would not suggest this book for most of my non-biologist/anthropologist friends. This book was written extremely well and has covered the subject extensively. People with some technical knowledge of human anatomy would be able to enjoy this book with very little prep. Of course knowledge of skull anatomy is most important to understand a lot of this book. If you are like me, someone who has studied other aspects of biology, or are more of a lay person may I suggest two books to get you ready for Lieberman’s book. Evolution’s Bite: A Story of Teeth, diet, and human origins by Peter S Ungar and Making Faces: The Evolutionary Origins of the Human Face by Adam S Wilkins. Both of these books make great reads before you tackle Lieberman’s book.

  • Lauren

    This book is very well written. As an undergraduate studying dentistry and so already had a good understanding of the human head I felt I understood the majority of what was being written - however it can sometimes become very heavy and requires a lot of concentration to follow. I would thoroughly recommend it as an enjoyable read alongside studies concerning the relevant subjects. It definitely helped to solidify my understanding of such a complex topic as the human head, particularly as the chapters concentrate on specific systems - for example there is a whole chapter on the human dentition and mastication which was obviously highly relevant to my University course!

  • Joe Iacovino

    Well-written but a bit beyond my pay grade. Lots of terminology and, for me, is better suited as a reference manual than a straight-read book. The sections are broken down very well for such a usage and I am going to take advantage of that.

  • Scott

    For my LJ review check out the following:


    Science & Technology