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Author:   Ludovic Slimak ,  David Watson
Publisher:   Penguin Books Ltd
Imprint:   Allen Lane
Dimensions:   Width: 14.40cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 22.20cm
Weight:   0.331kg
ISBN:  

9780241617663

ISBN 10:   0241617669
Pages:   208
Publication Date:   21 September 2023
Audience:   General/trade ,  Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  General ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
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Language:   English

Table of Contents

Reviews

With the style of a poet and imagination of a philosopher, Ludovic Slimak probes the minds of Neanderthals, our closest cousins. All too often Neanderthals are envisioned as either prehistoric brutes or full humans, but Slimak argues that they were something unique, a species that developed their own forms of consciousness and intelligence. In an age of artificial intelligence, this fun and provocative book is a reminder that we still have a lot to learn about biological intelligence -- Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs Ludovic Slimak provides a remarkable and well-informed account of the many facets of the lost Neanderthals. It shows us what it means to be human and allows us to better imagine what extraterrestrials might be like -- Avi Loeb, author of Extraterrestrial Roaming through caves, digging through earth and rocks, and unearthing fossils, this adventurous, bearded archaeologist takes us from the Arctic Circle to Mediterranean forests in his search for the famous Neanderthal. His personal quest combined with the scientific argument gives the book its real weight. The writing is lively and the author deftly uses sarcasm and shock factor * Les Echos * A candid and uncompromising approach to a much-debated part of humanity's early history ... Slimak immerses us in the daily life of a prehistoric archaeologist ... a bold book * L'Histoire.fr * Ludovic Slimak takes us on an astonishing archaeological quest. . . he squarely confronts the myths surrounding this extinct species ... This human 'creature' is the Neanderthal, of course. But it's us too, whose unexpected portrait emerges from this comparison across millennia * Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco *

Neanderthal hunter Ludovic Slimak has dedicated decades to unearthing the mystery of our prehistoric ancestors. Now he has found a missing piece that radically reshapes our understanding – not just of the Neanderthals but of humanity itself -- Michael Segalov * Observer * One of the most enjoyable and enlightening history books of the year, Ludovic Slimak’s The Naked Neanderthal, attempts to teach us about ourselves by teaching us about the mysterious, dead creatures we call Neanderthals * Prospect Magazine, Books of the Year 2023 * Intriguing … Ludovic Slimak finds unique insights through an exhaustive excavation he conducted of a rock shelter in France – a Rosetta Stone of the Neanderthal world … The Naked Neanderthal sets out to free this extinct species of the prejudices we have imposed – and, as such, is a resounding success -- Alison George * New Scientist * With the style of a poet and imagination of a philosopher, Ludovic Slimak probes the minds of Neanderthals, our closest cousins. All too often Neanderthals are envisioned as either prehistoric brutes or full humans, but Slimak argues that they were something unique, a species that developed their own forms of consciousness and intelligence. In an age of artificial intelligence, this fun and provocative book is a reminder that we still have a lot to learn about biological intelligence -- Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs A thrilling, bracing and scholarly introduction to modes of being and of paying attention to the world which are both akin to ours and importantly and revealingly different. We need urgently to consider less dysfunctional ways of occupying the cosmos and our own heads. The Neanderthals, speaking movingly and iconoclastically through Slimak, might be able to help -- Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast Ludovic Slimak provides a remarkable and well-informed account of the many facets of the lost Neanderthals. It shows us what it means to be human and allows us to better imagine what extraterrestrials might be like -- Avi Loeb, author of Extraterrestrial Who were the Neanderthals, and what do we really know about their artefacts and tools, customs and culture? An eye-opening and refreshing account, full of surprising revelations and personal reflections from a researcher who has spent thirty years coming face-to-face with another human species -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Being Human A fascinating, immensely enjoyable read by a brilliant and original thinker who has dedicated his working life to studying Neanderthals -- Jonathan Kennedy, author of Pathogenesis Roaming through caves, digging through earth and rocks, and unearthing fossils, this adventurous, bearded archaeologist takes us from the Arctic Circle to Mediterranean forests in his search for the famous Neanderthal. His personal quest combined with the scientific argument gives the book its real weight. The writing is lively and the author deftly uses sarcasm and shock factor * Les Echos * A candid and uncompromising approach to a much-debated part of humanity's early history ... Slimak immerses us in the daily life of a prehistoric archaeologist ... a bold book * L'Histoire.fr * Ludovic Slimak takes us on an astonishing archaeological quest. . . he squarely confronts the myths surrounding this extinct species ... This human 'creature' is the Neanderthal, of course. But it's us too, whose unexpected portrait emerges from this comparison across millennia * Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco *

With the style of a poet and imagination of a philosopher, Ludovic Slimak probes the minds of Neanderthals, our closest cousins. All too often Neanderthals are envisioned as either prehistoric brutes or full humans, but Slimak argues that they were something unique, a species that developed their own forms of consciousness and intelligence. In an age of artificial intelligence, this fun and provocative book is a reminder that we still have a lot to learn about biological intelligence -- Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs A thrilling, bracing and scholarly introduction to modes of being and of paying attention to the world which are both akin to ours and importantly and revealingly different. We need urgently to consider less dysfunctional ways of occupying the cosmos and our own heads. The Neanderthals, speaking movingly and iconoclastically through Slimak, might be able to help -- Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast Ludovic Slimak provides a remarkable and well-informed account of the many facets of the lost Neanderthals. It shows us what it means to be human and allows us to better imagine what extraterrestrials might be like -- Avi Loeb, author of Extraterrestrial Who were the Neanderthals, and what do we really know about their artefacts and tools, customs and culture? An eye-opening and refreshing account, full of surprising revelations and personal reflections from a researcher who has spent thirty years coming face-to-face with another human species -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Being Human Roaming through caves, digging through earth and rocks, and unearthing fossils, this adventurous, bearded archaeologist takes us from the Arctic Circle to Mediterranean forests in his search for the famous Neanderthal. His personal quest combined with the scientific argument gives the book its real weight. The writing is lively and the author deftly uses sarcasm and shock factor * Les Echos * A candid and uncompromising approach to a much-debated part of humanity's early history ... Slimak immerses us in the daily life of a prehistoric archaeologist ... a bold book * L'Histoire.fr * Ludovic Slimak takes us on an astonishing archaeological quest. . . he squarely confronts the myths surrounding this extinct species ... This human 'creature' is the Neanderthal, of course. But it's us too, whose unexpected portrait emerges from this comparison across millennia * Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco *

Neanderthal hunter Ludovic Slimak has dedicated decades to unearthing the mystery of our prehistoric ancestors. Now he has found a missing piece that radically reshapes our understanding – not just of the Neanderthals but of humanity itself -- Michael Segalov * Observer * With the style of a poet and imagination of a philosopher, Ludovic Slimak probes the minds of Neanderthals, our closest cousins. All too often Neanderthals are envisioned as either prehistoric brutes or full humans, but Slimak argues that they were something unique, a species that developed their own forms of consciousness and intelligence. In an age of artificial intelligence, this fun and provocative book is a reminder that we still have a lot to learn about biological intelligence -- Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs A thrilling, bracing and scholarly introduction to modes of being and of paying attention to the world which are both akin to ours and importantly and revealingly different. We need urgently to consider less dysfunctional ways of occupying the cosmos and our own heads. The Neanderthals, speaking movingly and iconoclastically through Slimak, might be able to help -- Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast Ludovic Slimak provides a remarkable and well-informed account of the many facets of the lost Neanderthals. It shows us what it means to be human and allows us to better imagine what extraterrestrials might be like -- Avi Loeb, author of Extraterrestrial Who were the Neanderthals, and what do we really know about their artefacts and tools, customs and culture? An eye-opening and refreshing account, full of surprising revelations and personal reflections from a researcher who has spent thirty years coming face-to-face with another human species -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Being Human A fascinating, immensely enjoyable read by a brilliant and original thinker who has dedicated his working life to studying Neanderthals -- Jonathan Kennedy, author of Pathogenesis Roaming through caves, digging through earth and rocks, and unearthing fossils, this adventurous, bearded archaeologist takes us from the Arctic Circle to Mediterranean forests in his search for the famous Neanderthal. His personal quest combined with the scientific argument gives the book its real weight. The writing is lively and the author deftly uses sarcasm and shock factor * Les Echos * A candid and uncompromising approach to a much-debated part of humanity's early history ... Slimak immerses us in the daily life of a prehistoric archaeologist ... a bold book * L'Histoire.fr * Ludovic Slimak takes us on an astonishing archaeological quest. . . he squarely confronts the myths surrounding this extinct species ... This human 'creature' is the Neanderthal, of course. But it's us too, whose unexpected portrait emerges from this comparison across millennia * Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco *

Roaming through caves, digging through earth and rocks, and unearthing fossils, this adventurous, bearded archaeologist takes us from the Arctic Circle to Mediterranean forests in his search for the famous Neanderthal. His personal quest combined with the scientific argument gives the book its real weight. The writing is lively and the author deftly uses sarcasm and shock factor * Les Echos * A candid and uncompromising approach to a much-debated part of humanity's early history ... Slimak immerses us in the daily life of a prehistoric archaeologist ... a bold book * L'Histoire.fr * Ludovic Slimak takes us on an astonishing archaeological quest. . . he squarely confronts the myths surrounding this extinct species ... This human 'creature' is the Neanderthal, of course. But it's us too, whose unexpected portrait emerges from this comparison across millennia * Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco * With the style of a poet and imagination of a philosopher, Ludovic Slimak probes the minds of Neanderthals, our closest cousins. All too often Neanderthals are envisioned as either prehistoric brutes or full humans, but Slimak argues that they were something unique, a species that developed their own forms of consciousness and intelligence. In an age of artificial intelligence, this fun and provocative book is a reminder that we still have a lot to learn about biological intelligence -- Steve Brusatte, author of THE RISE AND FALL OF THE DINOSAURS

Ludovic Slimak invites us to follow his trail over an immense expanse, from France to the frozen steppes, but also in our own imaginations, our thoughts and perhaps those of fossilised communities dating back 42 millennia * France Culture * Ludovic Slimak has been tracking down Neanderthals for thirty years ... The Naked Neanderthal revisits our shared image of these other humans * Le Monde * For thirty years, Ludovic Slivak has tirelessly tracked down the fossils of Neanderthals, which hold a near-mystical fascination ... With a keen eye, he guides the reader through his research in museums and polar expanses, but also through his thoughts, ideas, questions, doubts and hypotheses, and ignites the reader's passion * Les Echos.fr * Roaming through caves, digging through earth and rocks, and unearthing fossils, this adventurous, bearded archaeologist carries us from the Arctic Circle to Mediterranean forests in his search for the famous Neanderthal. He rehabilitates this creature: as much a prisoner of our gaze as the fruit of our projections, and about which we have much to learn. It is in the back-and-forth between the long, personal quest and the scientific argument that gives the book, which reads as both novel and appeal, its real weight. The writing is lively and the author deftly uses sarcarsm and shock factor * Les Echos * Ludovic Slimak, has spent three decades studying Neanderthals, and has revolutionized our approach to their relationship with Homo Sapiens. The relationship we Sapiens have with the 'other', Neanderthals, invites introspection and reflection on who we are * La Vie * A candid and uncompromising approach to a much-debated part of humanity's early history ... Slimak takes us on a journey from Siberia to his excavations in the Rhone Valley. In so doing, his work immerses us in the daily life of a prehistoric archaeologist ... audacious * L'Histoire.fr * Ludovic Slimak takes us on an astonishing archaeological quest. For thirty years, he has tirelessly tracked down what he calls 'the creature' ... His journey takes us on twists and turns, through the icy expanses of the Arctic Circle to the surprising traces of cannibals living deep in the Mediterranean forests ... The human 'creature' is described in a lively voice, which squarely confronts the myths surrounding this extinct species ... This human 'creature' is the Neanderthal, of course. But it's us too, whose unexpected portrait emerges from this comparison across millennia * Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco * On Ludovic Slimak's work: This new discovery pushes back the timeline for the earliest modern human settlements in Europe ... and adds to scientists' growing understanding that modern humans' migration into Europe was a staggered, complex process * The New York Times * On Ludovic Slimak's work: Astonishing findings shed new light on the links between modern humans and Neanderthals ... after 10 years of excavation, Ludovic Slimak and his team have uncovered a cave occupied by both Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals - a kind of co-habitation never seen before now! * Québec Science * On Ludovic Slimak's work: The news has caused a sensation in the media: Homo Sapiens arrived in Europe much earlier than we initially thought ... a major discovery * Archéologia *

Author Information

Ludovic Slimak is a paleoanthropologist at the University of Toulouse in France and Director of the Grotte Mandrin research project. His work focuses on the last Neanderthal societies and he is the author of several hundred scientific studies on these populations. His research has been featured in Nature, Science, The New York Times and more. The Naked Neanderthal was published to great acclaim in France.

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