Books that explain the myriad intricacies of what makes humans human.
The human genome differs from chimpanzees by a measly 1.2 percent. We have the same number of hair follicles as many of the great apes. Like dolphins, many of us talk in our sleep; and, just like Flipper, sex isn’t only about reproduction. Just like mice, our faces grimace in pain. Like cows, we have regional accents. We can be loyal, like dogs. Aloof, like cats. We can hold grudges, like crows; and grieve, like whales. So, what’s so special about human beings and being human? From the physiological to the psychological, behavioural to philosophical, here are some books that unpack the complexities of what makes us, us.
Long ago, when I was a junior high school student in America, I remember being taught by a biology teacher that all the chemicals that make up a human body could be bought in a hardware store for $5 or something like that.
