The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

pick

A bit of work, but there is a whole lot of interesting information and it‘s very thorough. Roberts brings in ideas and hunts down perspectives, and it left me feeling very up-to-date. I‘m left thinking about about how evolution works, and about our pronate knees, twisting forearms (which the dog and cat lack), and all the intricate movements behind throwing - something we do really well.

Graywacke #naturalitsy @AllDebooks 2y

AllDebooks That's a great review. 👍 2y

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AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

so-so

This book has some fascinating details on human evolution, delving into embryology and anatomy. It is quite heavy going at times, due to the sheer amount of information. You need to have a deep interest in evolution and anatomy to persevere. This would be a soft pick for me, but I'm put off with the author's jovial asides. It feels like she's trying to convey detailed scientific topics but still be your bff.

Read for #NaturaLitsy July #buddyread

jlhammar Great review! 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar thanks x 2y

30 likes2 comments

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Our final discussion thread before we leave behind evolution, for now.

What were your final thoughts on this one? Would you read more by Alice Roberts?

I've always loved The march of progress image. I never fully appreciated how ingrained into our culture it really is until reading Roberts take on it.

📣 Next up Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy, starts 1st August. 📣

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @Blackink_WhitePaper @BookwormAHN @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Chelsea.Poole @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar @MelisK @LeeRHarry @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue @tdrosebud @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken 2y

AllDebooks @Caterina @sebrittainclark @bnp @daena @TEArificbooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx @Cuilin @Morr_Books @Read4life @vonnie862 @Eyelit @Roary47 2y

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Hooked_on_books Love the pic! 😂 I really enjoyed the chapter on the lower extremity. I found it interesting to compare the gait and pelves of humans and other apes and how our knowledge of human anatomy allows us to gather info on our past hominid ancestors from their bones alone. That was really cool. Overall, I enjoyed the info in this book, but felt she needed to work a bit more on her writing. 2y

AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books me too, can't beat Homer 🤣 💯 agree on your comments 😊 2y

vonnie862 The Simpsons' March of Progress is hilarious! I also looked up the Dalek version she mentioned and I had to guffaw. 2y

vonnie862 What I liked about this book was it read easily. I was able to understand everything she was saying. BUT...there was soooo much information that it was hard to remember things. However, I did learn a few things and it has me wondering of things that I never thought about. For instance, the chapter about our limbs was fascinating. We always think about the evolution of walking but not running. 2y

jlhammar 😂 Great image choice! These last chapters when she was referencing the hominid skeletons were by far my favorite. Had me researching Lucy, Turkana/Noriikotome Boy and Kadanuumuu (Big Man) to learn more. Overall though, I didn‘t enjoy this enough to want to read more by Roberts. 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar I found these last few vhapters more interesting. I don't think I would be too interested in reading more of her books, love her as a presenter though 2y

BookwormAHN Love the graphic 😸 2y

Graywacke I‘m glad i read this. A whole lot of interesting information and it‘s very thorough. She brings in a lot of complex ideas and hunts down perspectives, and it left me feeling very up-to-date. (The last section had me thinking of the opening scene in the Curious George movie and Ted‘s take on Australopithecus. ☺️) 2y

Graywacke My take on Alice Roberts is that she‘s very attuned to short presentations. She has a charming writing style and a nice voice. But she hadn‘t worked out a strong book length structure for this book. She has the content, but it comes across as a list. The thread tying it all together was weak and got lost. Reading an e version, I kept thinking i had just read the last paragraph of a section and was constantly surprised I was still mid-chapter. 2y

Graywacke I would definitely read her again. She‘s thorough and feels reliable. I feel like she will always get to the key point of a specific topic. 2y

AllDebooks @Graywacke great feedback!! I've just discovered I have another of her books, so I will be reading her again

Ancestors: A History of Britain in Thirteen Burials

AllDebooks @BookwormAHN who doesn't love The Simpsons, right? 😊 2y

Graywacke So, I‘m still thinking about several things from this last section - how there are muscles we only use when we run, and how (in shape) humans can outrun other animals, and that our twisty forearms are unique (and how I thought it was all in the wrist), and all the motions involved in throwing. Also i‘m still annoyed she claimed we can scratch our back, because we can, but never that one itchy spot. ☹️ 2y

Graywacke @AllDebooks cool. Ancestors sounds terrific. 2y

AllDebooks @Graywacke 😅 not all of us can reach that scratch, rein yourself in, Alice!!
Also have her latest which looks fascinating

Buried: An alternative history of the first millennium in Britain

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Hooked_on_books

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

pick

This book looks at human evolution by pulling in aspects of human embryology and anatomy with comparative anatomy and fossils of extinct hominids. The info is quite interesting (though much of it wasn‘t new to me), but the book can be a bit choppy with poor transitions. A low pick for that. (Though I did learn that chimpanzees have much larger testicles than humans, which I found fascinating.)

AllDebooks Great review x 2y

Megabooks And gorillas have much smaller ones! 2y

Megabooks This book sounds really interesting. 2y

Hooked_on_books @Megabooks Yes, she mentioned gorillas, too! I also thought the discussion of why each species has the size testicles they do was fascinating. Apparently she‘s a tv presenter for these topics and quite good at it. She does need a little polishing/editing with her writing, but the info is fascinating for sure. 2y

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vonnie862

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

so-so

Read this for the #naturalitsy buddy read. I usually don't do nonfiction books (other than memoirs) so this one was a challenge. It reads easily but there is so much information and vocabulary that it had my head spinning. However, I am glad I read it because I learned a few things about our evolution. 3⭐️

32 likes

jlhammar

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

pick

Rounding up to a pick. Definitely had some fascinating bits and Roberts clearly knows her stuff, but I guess I‘m just not all that interested in human anatomy. #NaturaLitsy

AllDebooks

AllDebooks Great review x 2y

66 likes1 comment

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Catching up on Sunday's Observer and came across this article.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/22/small-brained-early-humans-homo-...

May be of interest 🤔 Fyi, same article, just different headline.

jlhammar Thanks for sharing! 2y

Soscha I got that audio book on preorder already! 2y

34 likes2 comments

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Our reading schedule for the last week with evolution.
Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

Eyelit I‘d like to be added to the tag list please and thank you! 2y

AllDebooks @Eyelit that's great, welcome. We're just in the process of selecting our Sept/Oct reads. I'll set up voting tomorrow. Here's what has been suggested so far x https://litsy.com/p/SWxnc0lmNGhr 2y

AllDebooks @Eyelit here's August buddy read

Migrations: A Novel

Eyelit Thanks! 2y

19 likes4 comments

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Week 3 discussion thread

Is anyone else captivated by the acanthostega and its 8 fingers/toes?

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Blackink_WhitePaper @BookwormAHN @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Chelsea.Poole @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 2y

AllDebooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx @Cuilin @Morr_Books @Read4life @vonnie862 2y

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Soubhiville Wow, cool animal! I‘m not reading along this month, but he look intriguing to me. 2y

vonnie862 Lol I was just talking about the toes/fingers with my husband! I also found it interesting that this creature didn't have weight bearing wrists so it couldn't walk but crawl instead. I am looking forward to reading about how we started walking. 2y

vonnie862 Also, the chapter on gonads was interesting. I had to look up bonobos for a visual aide. 😅 2y

jlhammar Oooh, cool photos! Yes, that was really interesting. I have to say, “Guts and Yolk Sacs” might be the most disgusting chapter title I‘ve ever encountered 😆 2y

Graywacke Enjoyed these chapters. Evolution is a funny thing - or simultaneous series of endless things. 2y

AllDebooks @Soubhiville it's one of the first animals with recognisable animals with limbs but no structures to support weight, as @vonnie862 mentioned. 2y

AllDebooks @vonnie862 lol 😆 🫣 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar lol, I agree, squeamish chapter too. 2y

AllDebooks @Graywacke isn't it just? I think these have been my favourite chapters so far, although every time we go back to embryology, I inwardly groan 🤯 2y

Hooked_on_books I felt like most of these chapters were a lot of human anatomy and embryology, well done but not a lot new for me. I did find the toes but interesting and am floored by the relative hugeness of chimpanzee testicles. Some men would be very jealous if they knew! 😂 2y

AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books 🤣🤣🤣🤣 2y

TheKidUpstairs I'm SUPER behind on this one, as I was only able to start reading this week. I'm finding it fascinating, but slow going, so I'll be continuing in August alongside

Migrations: A Novel

AllDebooks @TheKidUpstairs No worries, it's always a relaxed buddyread. Glad you're engaged with it but it is a lot of information to take in. I think we've all gone slowly with this one. I know I've had to reread a few pages 😅 2y

TheBookHippie I‘m enjoying this I just started as well as just got book! 2y

TheBookHippie @TheKidUpstairs SAME! 2y

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AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Our 2nd week discussion thread is open.

All welcome to join us. Please do let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

📣📣 Please see my next post re recommendations for September and October #buddyreads 📣📣

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Blackink_WhitePaper @BookwormAHN @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Chelsea.Poole 2y

AllDebooks @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @LeeRHarry @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue @tdrosebud @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken 2y

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Graywacke I‘m way behind. I‘ll come back when I catch up 2y

jlhammar The most interesting bit for me in this week‘s chapters was the recent study finding not only women‘s preference for deeper voices, but that they remembered things better when they‘d been told them by a man with a low voice. I‘m finding that my mind keeps wandering while reading this one. I don‘t dislike it, but it isn‘t really grabbing me either. 2y

Cuilin Apologies I 🪂 . The writing and subject is fabulous and interesting but I can‘t seem to focus for long on it. 2y

SamAnne @jhammar oh that‘s depressing. And believable. I wasn‘t able to fit this book in this month but always enjoy the discussions. 2y

vonnie862 @jlhammar I too found it interesting about the male voices. 2y

vonnie862 It's hard to remember everything I read since there was so much information. However, the chapter on the deep voices and the importance of the coccyx were interesting. I always wondered why and the important of the tail bone. 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar I feel the same. I read it, I'm engaged and find it interesting, but nothing is staying with me 2y

Hooked_on_books I found the comparative anatomy of skulls to be really interesting. I liked reading about and seeing the picture of a human and chimp skull side by side to see the differences. But I also found that chapter odd, since the first section was super engaging, then she slapped some embryology into the chapter and it just didn‘t fit. The choppiness we mentioned last week clearly continues. 2y

rockpools I‘m afraid I‘m with @Cuilin on this one, and have bailed. It‘s really interesting, but is light years out of my reading comfort zone, and I just don‘t have the brain energy to get through it right now. 2y

Graywacke Ok. Caught up. This is all very interesting. But it‘s intense info. Feels like the author is taking class she teaches and putting it into a popular science book format, and feeling very committed to include all the essential info. I need to take breaks. 2y

Graywacke I found myself sharing about the larynx and about the different torso shapes of our dog vs us, and I wasn‘t boring anyone. 🙂 2y

26 likes14 comments

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Week 3 reading schedule

Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist. All welcome to join us

21 likes

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

#Thisbook🤯

I have to say, 'splanchnocranium' is my new favourite word.
I'm also having anxiety-inducing dreams about having to resit my nursing exams from years ago, and failing on anatomy 🙃 😅🫣

23 likes

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

🤔 Are you enjoying this so far?
🤯 Are you learning new things?
😐 Likes/dislikes
🖋 Do you like the author's style?

Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist. All welcome to join us.

AllDebooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @LeeRHarry 🙂 @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue 2y

AllDebooks @tdrosebud @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken @Caterina @sebrittainclark @bnp @daena @TEArificbooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx @Cuilin @Morr_Books @Read4life @vonnie862 2y

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Cuilin The author‘s style is very approachable, however most of it I‘m not retaining. I‘m reminding myself there‘s no exam at the end so just keep going. 2y

jlhammar Interesting so far. Funny that you mention an exam @Cuilin as I was thinking this one feels a bit more like homework than pleasure reading. I had no idea that historically some cultures would bind the heads of babies to produce a more conical skull. Fascinating! 2y

Graywacke Like @Cuilin , i like the author‘s voice. I keep thinking it should be really good on audio. She sets things up well, writes engagingly. On the negative side, she ultimately jumps around a bit, and is “wordy” and runs on a bit. And what do we do with this info in the next chapter? But I‘m intrigued. Never thought to ask why i have a head, or why doesn‘t a starfish have one. 2y

vonnie862 @Graywacke I'm with you about how it jumps around and how it's too "wordy." I keep telling myself, "I am so not going to remember this." LOL however, I do like gow easy it is to read despite all of the words. BTW, I found the skull chapter fascinating. I had to touch my husband's skull and mine to see the differences the author was talking about. ? 2y

AllDebooks @Cuilin lol, I hear you on that one 😅 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar I had heard of it before but not that is was a custom among so many different cultures 2y

AllDebooks @Graywacke I've never thought about why we have heads either 😅 2y

AllDebooks @vonnie862 the skull difference astounded me too 2y

AllDebooks I like her narrative style, tho agree it's erratic and wordy in places @Graywacke @vonnie862 I have a nursing background and the first chapter completely frazzled me. Hopefully, as the brain is the most complex organ to discuss, and we've got that one ticked off, it gets easier from here 😅 2y

Hooked_on_books I‘ve taken embryology, so the first two chapters didn‘t hold much new info to me, though I do think her writing style is quite engaging. I found the section on mirror neurons interesting and like others, the skull shaping in various cultures was quite interesting. I don‘t like how her chapters end, it seems abrupt and awkward. 2y

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm My copy still hasn‘t come in at the library, so I‘m behind. 😅 2y

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AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Week 2 of our Evolution #buddyread

16 likes

rockpools

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

Giving this a go for #natualitsy.

It‘s interesting, but anatomy and evolution are not my go-to topics. So many new words 😵‍💫

Cuilin Oh me too, I‘m trying to read on knowing I‘m missing some. 2y

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Graywacke

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

Ok, #naturalitsy , I‘ve started.

Tamra This looks great - anxious to find out what you think! 2y

34 likes1 comment

LitsyEvents

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

repost for @AllDebooks:

#Naturalitsy July's #buddyread
Theme - Evolution

Here's the reading schedule for our next book, starting today. All welcome to join us.

Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2605169

AllDebooks Thank you for the share x 2y

27 likes1 comment

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy July's #buddyread
Theme - Evolution

Here's the reading schedule for our next book, starting today. All welcome to join us.

Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

AllDebooks @Graywacke @Julsmarshall @vonnie862 tagging you as not on my previous post taglist. 2y

Graywacke Just picked up a kindle copy and started 2y

AllDebooks @Graywacke 😊 yay, happy to see you back x 2y

Graywacke @AllDebooks ☺️ 2y

28 likes1 stack add4 comments

LitsyEvents

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Our selected book for July's theme of evolution is The incredible unlikeliness of being. Our July #buddyread starts on the 1st July.Reading scedule posted Mondays, discussion thread on Saturdays.

repost for @alldebooks let her now if you want to be added to the tag list!

AllDebooks Thank you for the share x 2y

34 likes1 comment

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy

Our selected book for July's theme of evolution is The incredible unlikeliness of being. Our July #buddyread starts on the 1st July.Reading scedule posted Mondays, discussion thread on Saturdays.

@LitsyEvents

Please do let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist. All welcome to join us.

AllDebooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @Books_et_al @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue @tdrosebud 2y

AllDebooks @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken @Caterina @sebrittainclark @bnp @daena @TEArificbooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx @Cuilin @Morr_Books @Read4life @vonnie862 2y

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TheBookHippie Catching up slowly but surely 😂😵‍💫. 2y

AllDebooks @TheBookHippie 😅 no pressure. It's a marathon not a sprint x 2y

jlhammar Looking forward to it! 2y

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I‘ll be back for this one! I‘ve been absent from the actual readings the past few months but still lurking. 😅 2y

Hooked_on_books I was able to get a copy, so I‘ll be joining in! 2y

bnp @AllDebooks I'm taking a break in July, but please keep tagging me. 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar yay 😊 2y

AllDebooks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm yay, good to see you back 😊 2y

AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books yay 😊 2y

AllDebooks @bnp ok, will do. Enjoy your break 😊 2y

31 likes13 comments

LitsyEvents

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

#Naturalitsy #Buddyread

We have our chosen books for the summer. 🌞 I will post the voting graphics straight after this one.

July - Evolution (tagged) Starts 1st July

August - Fiction - Migrations (tagged in comments) Starts 1st August

All welcome to join us. Please do let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

* I'll post the reading schedules towards the end of the month. repost @Alldebooks

AllDebooks Thank you for the tag x 2y

27 likes1 stack add1 comment

AllDebooks

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

AllDebooks

Migrations: A Novel

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Blackink_WhitePaper @BookwormAHN @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Ann_Reads @Chelsea.Poole 2y

AllDebooks @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @Books_et_al @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue 2y

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jlhammar Awesome! Haven‘t read either of these yet. Thanks! 2y

AllDebooks @jlhammar my pleasure. X 2y

TheBookHippie I‘m in!!! Thx so much! It‘ll take me the week to catch up! 😅😂🤣 2y

Hooked_on_books I‘ve read Migrations, which is wonderful, so I won‘t be joining for that. If I can track down a copy of the July book, I‘ll join in. 2y

Chelsea.Poole Love Migrations!! 2y

TheKidUpstairs I'm so excited for these. Migrations has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, just waiting to be read! 2y

AnnR @AllDebooks Would it be possible to remove me from the tag lists for now? A family member is very ill and I've been trying to deal with caregiving along with navigating the broken medical system in the US. It is overwhelming. I hope at some point down the line I will have time to participate in #Naturalitsy though. 🍁 Thanks for continuing to lead the group. (edited) 2y

AllDebooks @Ann_Reads oh Ann, I'm so very sorry to read this, it must be so tough. I hope you're managing to take time out for yourself to relax and recover. Of course, I'll take you off the taglist. Hopefully for now and we'll see you back in the future, no pressure tho. You know where we are. Always happy to chat if you need a shoulder x 2y

AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books ok, thanks for letting me know, Holly. 😊 2y

AllDebooks @Chelsea.Poole @TheKidUpstairs 😊 2y

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MichelleRoss

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts

I've got 30mins kid free and I'm making the most of it!

Sydsavvy Your shoes and the flowers! 💐💐 9y

MichelleRoss @Sydsavvy I love these sneakers! They were an $8 Old Navy clearance find ;) The flowers are at the church where my stepdaughter is auditioning for our community choir. 9y

6 likes2 comments

MichelleRoss

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us | Alice Roberts