This is the most comprehensive treatment of the subject of human ecology published to date. Volume 1 is entitled ‘Sensitivity to Ecological Factors and Biological Adaptive Changes’, and Volume 2 ‘Evolution and Biocultural Adaptation’. Profusely illustrated with black-and-white and colour diagrams and photographs, tables and text boxes, the book contains a wealth of information valuable not only for students but also for mature researchers.

Relying heavily on over 50 years of the author’s own extensive research in the field and on the current literature, the two volumes present a synthesis of all subjects concerning human biology and its relations to social sciences.

Volume 1 is opened by chapters discussing the definition of human ecology in the broadly treated context of human history, ecology of other organisms and relation of the field to other disciplines. These chapters also define basic notions of ecosystem, biotope, landscape, ecological niche, trophic levels etc. The second part of the volume presents in detail methods used in human ecology using examples to illustrate results of statistical calculations. The third part discusses adaptive changes, strategies for survival and use of the concept of energy flow through the human system. Next, human living conditions are described and various levels of adaptation, including the psychomotor one, defined and illustrated with examples. The volume is closed by the description of human geographic variability and its causes, including physiological aspects of ecology.

Volume 2 discusses evolutionary origins of humans and their variation, also in the context of biocultural evolution, where systems of settlement, epidemiology, family environment, civilisations as adaptive strategies and the dangers of globalization are thoroughly described together with the balance of their positive and negative aspects. The book ends with a set of fundamental questions regarding the nature of human existence leading to the call for reflection on how our current actions will influence the future of our species.

This is an excellent book: wealth of data, depth of thought, profusion and beauty of illustrations make it a fascinating and informative read; alas it has been published in Polish! Thus only some 48 million Earth inhabitants can benefit from it directly. I do sincerely hope it will be translated.