Physical anthropology, through relatively new in the diverse world of science, has undergone a period of rapid growth in the past three decades. In large part this growth is brought about by a realization that the anthropological approach to the study of human beings has much to offer a species that is coming more and more to look at itself and its relationship to the surrounding world. At its best physical anthropology is exciting in its attempts to unravel the wonder of human biological diversity. This would be a terribly dull word if people were all like, and physical anthropologists, studying the differences that exist, have shown exists is not random and haphazard, but systematic and patterned in its relationship to the living world and the physical environment. The studies of physical anthropologists are important to those who seek to understand humankind and to utilize that understanding to improve the human condition. It is in the spirit of increasing that awareness of differences and furthering an understanding of the human species that this book has been written. It is my hope that by providing a window to the world of human biology as viewed by physical anthropologists i can help you find the world a more interesting and more wonderful place and that you will appreciate the world's peoples for the differences that all of us exhibit.