Chip Walter's Blog: Childhood Is Why We Are the Last Ape Standing

Smart, Determined, and Freezing Her Tail Off — The Protagonist in My Next Mystery ...

Can the human race survive? No, but extinction has many meanings, and evolution has a few tricks up its long sleeve.

“The need is not really for more brains, the need is now for a gentler,
a more tolerant people than those who won for us against the ice,
the tiger and the bear. The hand that hefted the ax, out of some
old blind allegiance to the past, fondles the machine gun as lovingly. It is a habit man will have to break to survive, but the roots go very deep.”

—Loren Eiseley, The Immense Jour...

Around the time that Thumbs, Toes and Tears (my third book) came out, I wrote an article for Scientific American Mind magazine exploring the evolution of kissing. It’s one of six uniquely human traits.

The article, like the one I wrote for Scientific American about crying , was very popular and republished multiple times. And both were picked up in other mainstream and peer reviewed publications around the world.

Here’s an updated version…

...

This article is reprinted from the Vagabond Adventure. The original article can be found at vagabond-adventure.com/reach-articles/the-10-greatest-adventure-and-travel-books-ever

The 10 Greatest Travel-Adventure Books Ever

Traveling is wonderful, but there are some places you simply can’t explore because time has left them behind. Luckily we have writers, adventurers and books. Over the years I’ve read a few. These are my 10 favorites. Each one changed the way I ...

We take it for granted, but the human hand is a marvel. How did it become that way? Without it, we wouldn’t be human …

Look at your hand. Hold it up. Flex it. Bend it. M...

The mysteries of mystery writing.

Utqiaġvik at dawn. The Norther...

The mysteries of mystery writing.

The streets of Utqiagvik at da...

For those of you who may find this blog, I wanted to let you know that I just added a good 15 additional entries that go back as far as 12 years. I don't think this make them irrelevant. The entries on subjects like Neanderthals, my travels for National Geographic, my eclectic articles, largely based on my books and latest novel, explore artificial intelligence, human evolution, longevity, the origin of water, the power and importance of laughter.

I'll be adding more articles like these in the coming months because I want to not bombard you with Facebook-style blurbs, but deliver you solid, enjoyable and substantial reads. Articles that will make you think and engage. Goodreaders are, after all, diligent about their reading.

I hope you enjoy the entries, and if you read any of my books, I hope you'll consider writing a review.

Naturally, I also welcome your comments below, any time. I'll be sure to respond.

Many thanks,

Chip

AI could mean the first aliens we meet won’t be from another planet. They’ll be the ones we create. ...

The audio version of Doppelganger - An Orphan, a Prodigy, a Murder is finally available and it's narrated by one of the great book narration artists in the business, Scott Brick.

When I first heard Scott’s narration of Jurassic Park several years ago and later Dune, I knew that if ever I wanted someone to handle a novel of mine, he would be my first choice. But getting hold of someone of his calibre is a different matter. I got lucky. My agent had worked with Scott on another project and I was able to talk with him and he was delightful. Despite his crazy schedule he took the book on.

Doppelganger is a challenge for any narrator — you have characters like ENTs who act human, but aren’t quite; you have a young, adolescent and mature Morgan Adams you have to bring alive. There are several strong female characters like Io, Reba and LOIS too, and each one requires attention, focus all while Scott must imbue the narrative with all the tension, twists, humor, fear and relief the book’s story tells.

LOVING AUDIO

I know many of you prefer audio to the written word. Why not? You can listen while working out, or walking or driving, and it provides a great reading experience in the hands of the right narrator. So now you can have the last word on Doppelganger, or at least the last sound of the last word. The book is available and you can snag it at a discount here: Downpour.com: Pre-Order Now/20% Off. If you prefer a CD, AudioEditions.com has it for 20% off.

I want to thank all of you for supporting Doppelganger, which continues to get 4+ stars out of 5 and is selling briskly. But we still have a LONG way to go before the book really breaks out. You can help by not only buying the audio version (or the e-book or print edition), but by sharing the links and spreading the word with friends and family you feel might enjoy it. AND it always helps to write a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Audible.