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The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being

Evolution and the Making of Us

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The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being

By: Dr Alice Roberts
Narrated by: Dr Alice Roberts
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About this listen

The presenter of the BBC's The Incredible Human Journey gives us a new and highly accessible look at our own bodies and into the past to uncover the evolutionary secrets hidden in all of us.

Shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize.

Alice Roberts takes you on the most incredible journey, revealing your path from a single cell to a complex embryo to a living, breathing, thinking person. It's a story that connects us with our distant ancestors and an extraordinary, unlikely chain of events that shaped human development and left a mark on all of us.

Alice Roberts uses the latest research to uncover the evolutionary history hidden in all of us, from the secrets found only in our embryos and genes - including why as embryos we have what look like gills - to those visible in your anatomy. This is a tale of discovery, exploring why and how we have developed as we have. This is your story, told as never before.

©2014 Alice Roberts (P)2023 Quercus Editions Limited
Biological Sciences Biology Evolution Genetics Physiology
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Critic reviews

"From your brain to your fingertips, you emerge from her book entertained and with a deeper understanding of yourself." (Richard Dawkins)

"A masterful account of why our bodies are the way they are...this book really shines.... Roberts's lightness of touch is joyous, and celebratory." (Observer)

"Witty, personal and above all informed by passion and deep knowledge, this is the story of you, not just from conception onwards but from the millions of years of evolution that have shaped the way we are today." (Adam Rutherford)

What listeners say about The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being

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Wow!

Since I was a Medical Student, 1980-85, a lot has happened. I learnt loads from this audiobook. Even on the 4-5th listen through. Awesome.

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Fascinating story of Us

This was another fantastic book from Alice, and great that she was the narrator too as I find it adds something extra to the reading. The story of our development as humans and the evolution that got us to where we are today never ceases to amaze. Alice has a way of making this complicated process very enjoyable to listen to and describes processes and developments in scientific understanding easy to relate to and remember. I enjoyed this book a great deal and look forward to the next one.

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Beautiful read and I actually understood everything she said

I took this a s punt and thoroughly enjoyed all of it. As a grandparent with more to come this was a fascinating journey through the whole process and much more.

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Factual

I love the depth but also the ease at which the author/narrator imparts her knowledge, so that even the listener with a passing grasp of how we are all here can take it in and understand the subject

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Fascinating and informative

Love that she explains everything in understandable terms. Would not have looked into such a niche field otherwise. As ever, Prof Alice Roberts has produced an excellent book. I never get tired of listening to her voice.

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Evolution at its best

Perfect Narration, by Alice. Clear and informative.......How will Creationism Square with Evolution?..... well God must of given that asteroid a nudge that wiped out the Dinosaurs...?

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good listen

very good and well read , I learnt a lot about being me and how we all got here.

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Interesting subject

Alice has her usual way of making it interesting and enjoyable. Great to listen to

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Astonishing, clear account

I am completely in awe of Alice Roberts for producing such a clear and concise account of hitherto unknown accounts of what we are and how we came to be. I am pleased that she does not put definitive spin on the development of man in the context of other beings but instead makes it clear that what we know can change at any time. Fascinating and well worth reading!

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Review of The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being

A fascinating book on human evolution, wide-ranging, very clear both in content and Alice Roberts reading style. Well structured and understandable for non scientists. There is much complex information but this is neatly clarified by the author. imo possibly one of the best books ever. Thank you Alice Roberts.

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