Book Review: The Lucy Man

By Sandy Amazeen Apr 7, 2011, 2:24 GMT

This is a highly readable and informative biography of the man who discovered \'Lucy\' - the most famous fossil ever. Scientists dream of making a discovery that changes the way we think. That dream came true for Dr. Donald C. Johanson when he found the most famous fossil in history, known to us as \'Lucy\' (Australopithecus afarensis), a discovery that changed everything we know about human evolution. This revealing and ...more

This engaging biography about Don Johanson, one of the most famous paleoanthropologists of all time will inspire young people to pursue their natural interest in fossils while educating them about humanity’s extensive family tree. Although Dr. Johanson rocked the scientific community with his discovery of Lucy, the earliest known hominid, named after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” there is much more to the story. As a youth, Dr. Johanson did not apply himself to his studies and was not thought to be suitable college material. Saucier shows how Dr. Johanson’s life changed after discovering Lucy and how some of his actions antagonized others in the field. Along the way, readers are educated about fossils, how they are identified, the fieldwork and dangers that go into their discovery. Readers see how the brash young man grew into a thoughtful, mature person who realized the value of taking calculated risks, defending his discoveries and acknowledging the opinions of others.

Though written for the middle school aged children, their parents will also find this an educational and inspiring read that is practically guaranteed to stimulate their kid’s interest in paleontology. It is rare to find such an entertaining educational book that captures the attention of this age group written in a biographical format but this one does so with aplomb.