In Origins, Frank H. T. Rhodes explores the origin and evolution of living things, the changing environments in which they have developed, and the challenges we now face on an increasingly crowded and polluted planet. Rhodes argues that the future well-being of our burgeoning population depends in no small part on our understanding of life’s past, its long and slow development, and its intricate interdependencies.
The book describes the nature of the search for prehistoric life, the significance of geologic time, the origin of life, the emergence and spread of flora and fauna, the evolution of primates, and the emergence of modern humans.
Origins is accessible enough for the layperson but also can be used as an entry-level text for students of evolution, paleontology, and geology.
Frank H. T. Rhodes is President Emeritus of Cornell University. He is a graduate of the University of Birmingham, England, from which he holds four degrees. His numerous published works on geology and education include two books from Cornell—Earth: A Tenant’s Manual and The Creation of the Future: The Role of the American University. He holds the Bigsby Medal of the Geological Society, the Ian Campbell Medal of the American Geological Institute, and the Clark-Kerr Medal of the University of California–Berkeley. He holds more than thirty honorary degrees from universities in the United States and abroad.
A native of the United Kingdom, Audie and AudioFile Earphones Award winner Derek Perkins's audiobook narration skills are augmented by a knowledge of three foreign languages and a facility with accents. He has narrated numerous titles in a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA.