Reviews

Interesting, but doesn't compare to other books like it. Man After Man is bleak and feels like it holds a disdain towards humanity and holds a primitivist misanthropic idea that intelligent beings paired with technology could only result in a pathetically weak and overpopulated species that destroy everything around them.

The speculative science behind it doesn't feel very realistic, evolution runs way too fast and I couldn't suspend my disbelief for some of the traits that the species developed seemingly out of nowhere. A random one-off experience in an individual can jumpcut to the entire species rocking a dedicated lifestyle centered around that unlikely experience. Definitely a lot more fiction than science, and not in the way that can be excused by the rule of cool either. I think the issue is it's inconsistent in its realism. If everything was semi-grounded in relative reality or if everything was out-there and goofy then it'd all fit in, but instead there's this mix of both that does not blend together well.

But on a positive note, I did like that it was a series of very short stories from the perspectives of various members of each species. I think there was a good mix of general species-wide statements and the perspectives of random individuals.

Also apparently that "Seasons Greasons" meme is from this book. Was not expecting to see that here.

ann_a_lytics's review against another edition

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adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

scafae's review against another edition

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2.0

Only looked at the pictures. Too much writing. Wanted something in the style of All Tomorrows. A bit disappointed

kfan's review against another edition

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4.0

I totally forgot about this book until Alana posted a picture from it to Facebook. I got it in a bookstore in London. It was super creepy and I know it's speculative but I still kind of doubted the author's scientific reasoning, even as a teenager. But still I was kind of obsessed with it.

withnothing's review against another edition

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2.0

Pls find this book just to look at the pictures, you can skim the text, they’re so good.
The premise is silly in the extent it goes to, there’s some weird shit in here, but by golly those pictures.

ryner's review against another edition

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3.0

Although somewhat fanciful and largely conjecture, this "anthropology of the future" is also based on science and what we know of evolutionary history up until now. Some of these future humans are hard to swallow, but nature has already created bizarre variations that surprise us. It’s good lunchtime entertainment, and although the book was written nearly 20 years ago, we are still experiencing many of the same social and environmental concerns today that are mentioned in the book.

desertnaga's review

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adventurous informative fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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