Preview
  • Evolution Gone Wrong

  • The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don't)
  • By: Alex Bezzerides
  • Narrated by: Joe Knezevich
  • Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (219 ratings)

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Evolution Gone Wrong

By: Alex Bezzerides
Narrated by: Joe Knezevich
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Publisher's summary

A fascinating, irreverent guide to human evolution and what it means for our bodies today

An eye-opening look into why our bodies work—or don't—the way they do. From blurry vision to crooked teeth, ACLs that tear at alarming rates and spines that seem to spend a lifetime falling apart, it's a curious thing that human beings have beaten the odds as a species. After all, we're the only survivors on our branch of the tree of life. Why is it that human mothers have such a life-endangering experience giving birth? And why are there entire medical specialties for teeth and feet? In this funny, wide-ranging and often surprising book, biologist Alex Bezzerides tells us just where we inherited our adaptable, achy, brilliant bodies in the process of evolution.

The book traces the delightfully unexpected answers to these questions and many more:

Why do we blink?

Why don't our teeth regularly fit in our mouths?

Why do women menstruate when so many other mammals don't?

Why did humans stand up on two legs in the first place?

©2021 Alexander Bezzerides (P)2021 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
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What listeners say about Evolution Gone Wrong

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Thoroughly entertaining and enlightening

This is a great science book. The science is detailed and well documented, but not dry or boring. Bezzerides sense of humor comes across clearly.

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Great listen!

I should meet this guy. PhDs in the same subjects. Wanted to be educators rather than researchers. Became college professors teaching A&P. Wives from Montana we met in grad school. Shoot, even the labor story was almost identical.

Needless to say, I identified with the author and found his research and retelling of human anatomy and the issues that arise from our anatomy, compelling. This was an excellent listen and I hope to relished again before next semester starts.

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1 person found this helpful

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Wonderful Overview of Why We Hurt & Can't See

I loved this book, which is aimed at the educated but not expert reader. It explained why none of my numerous dogs or cats ever suffered back pain, but most of my friends and I have experienced at least some level of spine trouble. Almost all of us wear glasses and our teeth are a mess from childhood, providing great college educations for the children of dentists and orthodontists. I plan on listening to this gem again. oh, the narration is first, as well.

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1 person found this helpful

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Very interesting

Excellent perspective on shortcomings of the human body. Shows how traits that were adaptive in previous species became maladaptive for us.

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2 people found this helpful

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Perfectly relatable for the moderately scientifically literate reader.

You can tell this author has many years of experience finding the perfect way to explain complex ideas to learners. I will definitely buy the next book he writes.

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Answers questions you haven't thought of yet!

This is a great book! The presentation sparks curiosity in the reader and then delivers scientific explanations mixed with humor and interesting stories. I’ve read quite a bit in the popular science and evolution/behavior genre and this book exceeds expectations. The narration is top quality as well.
Bezzerides engages the reader by asking (sometimes surprising) questions, keeps you curious, and makes you want to keep reading to see what comes next. You won’t be disappointed.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

oh! that makes sense.

reader is clear and the writing is relational and funny. makes sense out of a lot of common ailments.

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Evolution and us...

This book was a fun and educational journey. I've always been fascinated by our biology and it was cool to learn about our history and get a glimpse into the future of humans.

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Awesome!

Great information, fascinating, loved his writing style & sense of humor and the narrator was a perfect fit for it as well!

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One of my favorites

Easy listening with tons of great information broken down simple definitely one of my favorites found on here thus far

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