"Ancestral Landscapes in Human Evolution: Culture, Childrearing and Social Wellbeing provides an invitation to reflect on the fact that human nature is exquisitely complex. The authors of these chapters are well-known researchers from diverse fields. The diversity of backgrounds represented here is one of the main assets of this book. The chapters are masterfully placed in a way that connects ideas and knowledge through diverse perspectives. [The book] is undoubtedly comprehensive in the material it covers. In sum, Ancestral Landscapes in Human Evolution is a well-written, captivating book." --Alejandra Rossi, PsycCRITIQUES "The evolutionary roots of human childrearing are superbly illuminated in this deeply moral book. Due respects are paid to relevant sciences and ancestral traditions almost abandoned, with sympathy and understanding.

The return of cooperative, loving ways of living may yet counter the abandonment of traditional values evident in the sufferings of our modern dominance-based societies. An exceptional resource for insights into our better nature and nurture."-Jaak Panksepp, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience and Baily Endowed Chair of Animal Well-Being Science, Washington State University, and author of Affective Neuroscience and Archaeology of Mind "This is a magnificent and much needed synthesis of recent scholarship in developmental psychology, evolutionary biology, ethology, neurobiology, epigenetics, and anthropology that converges on the critical tasks of childrearing. It should be widely read by students in all of these fields, as well as by healthcare and educational professionals and policymakers concerned about the future impact of current unprecedented social experimentation with child care, education, family structure, and parenting practices." -Joshua D. Sparrow, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School "The authors and editors of Ancestral Landscapes in Human Evolution examine culture and early life experiences through the prism of evolution, small hunter-gatherer society, and mammalian needs. The volume provides excellent evidence that there is a 'fundamental' basis of common infant care given to social mammals, especially to primates. It examines the range of the evolved, expectable circumstances for mammalian and human development and offers ideas that might lead to better modern human childrearing practices.

"-Robert Sussman, PhD, Professor of Physical Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis The book succeeds in a number of respects, [noteably] the selection of contributing authors. it would be a gross oversight not to mention the caliber of the team that provided the volume's editing; the brief thumbnail sketches in the 'About the Editors' section make it obvious that, without exception, this is a stellar assemblage. A second area where this volume succeeds is that of topic coverage. [T]he book as a whole provides an exceedingly rich coverage of evolutionary aspects of childhood and parenting. It is hoped that numerous topics will branch off from now and provide widereaching examinations related to the question of optimal childcare and its impact on the developing individual and his/her behavior. With foundations this strong, the field can truly expand and flourish." -Craig Bielert, Andrew C.

Gallup, Evolutionary Psychology Featured in The Scientific & Medical Network Review.