Mr Olson's book starts out extremely well, but sags after a few chapters. The initial segments on mitonchondrial DNA and our genetics is probably the most readable and understandable treatment that I have seen. About halfway through the book, however, Olson stops trying to trace human migration and development. His emphasis becomes avoiding rascism. At this point, the history and science dwindles away and the emphasis becomes how intermixed our gene pools are. It was almost as if his underlying motivation was a desire to use science to prove a political position. It became rather pedantic at this point. I was very disappointed after the strong start that the book made.

Olson's "Mapping Human History" is written in a clear, easy to understand style that makes mitochondira, haplotypes and other archana of modern genetics fairly understandable to the lay reader.

Olson explains why most geneticists believe that modern humans, no matter how different they may seem, are biologically very similar. There is no room in this book for theories about how one "race" is somehow better than another--or even for the idea that the term "race" has any meaning at all. Our cultures may have divided us, but our DNA betrays the fact that we are all descended from a small group of modern humans who lived in eastern Africa about 100,000 years ago. There simply hasn't been enough time to make us dramatically different from each other, despite what racists would have us believe.

The theory that modern humans originated in Africa fairly recently and then spread throughout the world is still, of course, hotly debated. A number of reputable scientists favor the multiregional hypothesis, which claims that modern humans evolved in various places around the world from archaic populations already living in those regions. The mutliregional hypothesis implies that the differences between modern groups are deeply rooted in the very distant past. Olson clearly disagrees with that view, and he does a good job of presenting the genetic evidence that points to a more recent African origin (sometimes called the "Out of Africa II" hypothesis).

In the course of doing so, Olson touches on many interesting points. A few of the more striking were these:

First, Olson describes recent DNA research indicating that Neanderthals were in fact a different species from our own. This is another hotly debated proprosition, and I suspect that experts could criticize the DNA analysis that Olson describes on the grounds that it's pretty hard to make sense of 35,000 year old DNA. Still, Olson makes a good case that the new results are compelling and consistent with other evidence.

Second, Olson describes the Jewish tradition that the male descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, will be the high priests of the Israelites. Genetic research among the kohanim (priests), who often have a surname like Cohen, Cohn, or Kahn, suggests that many of these persons are in fact descended from a common male ancestor, who may indeed have been Aaron.

Finally, Olson explains why everyone on the planet at this point probably has some genetic material contributed by Julius Caesar and Confucius, among others. It's a small world after all, at least as far as our DNA is concerned.

The only part of the book that I didn't enjoy were the last couple of chapters, which shift from the topic at hand (i.e., "mapping human history") to questions of ethics. While these issues are important, they are too complex to be explored well in the fifty or so pages that Olson alots to them, and the discussion tends to detract from the fascinating "deep history" that is the focus of the rest of the book.

Steve Olson's engaging, convincing and entertaining book draws on the latest dramatic research in genetics to demonstrate that, while we squabbling human beings tend to focus on and, so often tragically, attack each other over the racial and ethnic differences among us, the real story of humanity is that we are--under the skin, in the blood--hardly different at all. Olson's book and Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel," which carries a similar message via the vehicle of anthropology, are wonderfully complementary.

Olson, like all of our best science writers, uses an informal and conversational style to bring hard science to lay readers digestably. Get ready to learn about mitochondrial DNA, haplotypes and the impact of archaic humans.

Olson's message will be a troubling one for those who draw comfort and, sometimes, murderous fury from human divisiveness. But this book adds to the growing body of significant science and scientific journalism that will lay arguments of inherent cultural superiority to rest among any who are able to approach this material with an open mind and a hate-free heart. This book should be required reading for every member of the human race.

Worst book I ever bought. The Poll in the back of the book IS EXCELLENT. In my opinion, the rest of the book is nothing more than one man's pompous opinion. For example, in his poll of approximately 253 flyfishing experts, 71% said that the fly rod was most important element in good fly casting. The author then comments that the pollees have "flyroditis",one of his pet peeves. In another question, he asks which hand should a right handed person have their reels to be wound by. 64% of the pollees said left hand. The author's comment: "There is misunderstanding here". These are just two of many examples where the author's experience overshadows the 6,655 years combined experience of the pollees.

If you actually decide to buy this book, START by reading the poll in the back of the book (skip the author's comments). THEN start at the beginning.

I am NOT part of the flyfishing industry, other than I do purchase and use their products. After reading this book, I think I'll take the pollees' advice and keep my stiff rod and WF line and have fun.

This is one of the most interesting books I have read on flyfishing. It is not the usual rehash and rewrite of existing ideas. Some insights into the ff industry that you won't find anywhere else in print. Apparently it was sent to all the mags and never reviewed. Will be hard to find in a fishing or ff store Some how-to but in a general sense. Lots of good reflection, philosophy and observations concerning most aspects of the sport. Some good thoughts concerning industry sponsored fish and tell ff writers, DT lines, ff gimmicks etc. You may not agree with everything but he has more to say than most. I read a lot about ff and this stands out from the pack. The survey itself is almost worth the price of the book.

This is a unique, apparently self-published book by a plain-spoken, opinionated fisherman who calls it as he sees it. No fancy packaging, pretty pictures and, apparently, no re-writing by a professional editor. Nevertheless, it is a well-organized discussion of tackle, techniques, tactis and ethics from a particular point of view. Reading it is like spending a day or two with a crusty, experienced fishing guide who definitely has his own way of doing things. The bottom line: focus on fishing, not tackle; worry more about leaders than high-price rods; resist the temptation to buy every "new" thing that comes along. You can agree or disagree, but you won't be bored.