Roger Fouts fulfilled humankind’s age-old dream of talking to animals by pioneering communication with chimpanzees through sign language. Now, in Next of Kin, Fouts tells the dramatic story of his odyssey from novice researcher to celebrity scientist and caretaker of a family of chimpanzees, to his impassioned awakening as a crusader for the rights of animals.
At the heart of this captivating audiobook is Fouts’s magical thirty-year friendship with Washoe, the chimpanzee he met when she jumped into his arms. We follow Washoe as she grows from a mischievous baby chimp fresh out of the NASA space program into the matriarch of a clan of chimpanzees. Living and conversing with these sensitive creatures has given Fouts a profound appreciation of how much we share with our closest biological relatives, and what they can teach us about ourselves.
This stirring tale of friendship, courage, and compassion will change forever the way we view our biological—and spiritual—Next of Kin.
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"A story of the psychologist who taught chimpanzees to communicate with American Sign Language. As a 12-year-old I was riveted, and I still enjoy rereading this insightful, compassionate story. It has it all: love, conflict (among big-name academics and within the chimps's social groups), evolution, philosophy and personal struggle."
— Kristen (5 out of 5 stars)
“Engrossing…alternately hilarious and heartbreaking.”
— San Francisco Chronicle“A book that can leave no reader unmoved…a ringing J’accuse! against the scientific establishment.”
— Chicago Sun-Times“Beyond its storytelling value, this contains ideas as revolutionary as any since The Origin of the Species.”
— Seattle Times“An illuminating, stimulating, challenging, and humane story.”
— Washington Post" Gives a lot of information about Washoe; good analysis of human vs. Chimp thinking; worth reading "
— Frank, 2/16/2014" This book is a mind blower. This is the story of Washoe, the chimpanzee who was taught sign language, and her family. The reader is really able to get a glimpse into the mind of another species, and this species is our next of kin. "
— Leah, 2/10/2014" One of the best books I've ever read. "
— Mike, 2/8/2014" I like chimps, I like sign language, and I like the psychology and sociology of communication, especially as it relates and compares to other primates. So this was that. And it was also an emotional tale of what we do to animals in captivity. "
— Mignon, 2/8/2014" this has to have been one of the most interesting books i have ever read. i actually went out and learned sign language because i wanted to learn to talk and have a conversation with a chimpanzee or gorilla. really kool book "
— Angel, 2/8/2014" This is an interesting books in two ways. It gives you a nice understanding of how closely chimps are related to human-beings both emotionally and intellectually. It's an interesting look into using animals as research objects, even as we learn of their intellectual capabilities. "
— Amber, 2/3/2014" One of the best books I have ever read. "
— Miss, 1/22/2014" Mind changingly phenomenal. "
— David, 1/19/2014" Amazing that we are 99% the same as Chimps. They are truly our next of Kin. Roger Fouts talks about Washoe as if she were a human child telling of her games and ways she teases him. It is truly remarkable. An eye opening book. "
— Clara, 1/17/2014" I had to read this for my anthropology class in college "
— Christina, 1/6/2014" If you don't like monkeys or have any interest in ASL Communication this will probably fall flat for you. I learned a lot but I wouldn't recommend it. "
— Brittany, 1/4/2014" Washoe is awesome "
— Ariel, 12/9/2013" I highly recommend this book to anyone! It's an eye opener, and may very well change how you define "being human." All previous definitions have been blown away by the research results of Dr. Fouts, and others. "
— Mike, 12/6/2013" This book will change your life. "
— Cat, 10/6/2013" This book was monumental for me. It helped me realize how much I value non-verbal language. It is informative and heart-warming to hear what Washoe (a chimpanzee) has to say about the world around her. "
— Kristen, 5/30/2013" This book was really amazing. It was very multifaceted and touched on a lot of different aspects of chimp and human culture including scientific research, animal rights and the evolution of language. Awesome! "
— Mary, 4/3/2013" I love this book. One of my top 3 favourite books. I would recommend to anyone. So heartbreaking. I shed tears uncontrollably in the train while I re-read it. Despite the fact that I was surrounded by loads of ppl... "
— Michelle, 9/20/2012" An interesting read about people who raise chimpanzees. I think its supposed to make you uncomfortable about where you draw the line between humans and animals, but I just can't get that worked up about it. "
— Vivian, 7/18/2012" MY FAVORITE BOOK (and I read ALOT). I never laughed and cried so hard in a single book. But be warned it is upsetting for those who love animals. "
— Stacey, 6/8/2012" What an amazing and heart-touching book. For those of us who do not feel the planet and its diverse life is here just for us to plunder, you will be brought wondrous insight, and also sadly alerted, concerning our relationship to these creatures. "
— Gabrielle, 5/19/2012" Amazing story about amazing animal lovers! "
— Karman, 1/11/2012" Such an amazing book! It has everything a good book should; tragedy and triumph, made me giggle and cry. I don't often read books again, but this one I will! Very inspirational. "
— Booktenzio, 10/11/2011" Fascinating, inspiring and humbling. "
— Amanda, 5/14/2011" If you don't like monkeys or have any interest in ASL Communication this will probably fall flat for you. I learned a lot but I wouldn't recommend it. "
— Brittany, 4/7/2011" I think this was a wonderful and fascinating book. I recomend it to everyone! "
— Holly, 2/1/2011" This is perhaps one of the most important books I have read. "
— Liz, 1/3/2011" One of the best books I've ever read. "
— Mike, 12/2/2010" I loved this book about chimpanzees. It solidified my feeling about animal consciousness. "
— Sar, 11/24/2010" Excellent book. The end dragged on with him preaching to the choir about having better environments for the chimps. "
— Janis, 10/9/2010" You know, I hate monkeys as much as the next guy, but this book broke my heart. <br/>Really touching, really tragic. <br/>I "
— Sean, 9/6/2010" One of the most thought-provoking books I've read in a long time. "
— Elizabeth, 7/8/2010" What we learn from Washoe and her chimpanzee family is groundbreaking. In one paragraph you're laughing at one of the chimpanzee's antics, then in the next you're outraged at the cruelty of the biomedical lab system in the US. This fascinating book is highly readable -- a page turner. "
— Laura, 6/16/2010" If you love animals, this is a fascinating story of how clever they are, and what they can teach us. <br/>Wonderful and endearing "
— Nancy, 3/19/2010" One of the best books I have ever read. "
— Miss, 3/10/2010" An interesting read about people who raise chimpanzees. I think its supposed to make you uncomfortable about where you draw the line between humans and animals, but I just can't get that worked up about it. "
— Vivian, 1/14/2010Roger S. Fouts is an American primate researcher, codirector of the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) in Washington, and a professor of psychology at the Central Washington University. He is best known for his role in teaching Washoe the chimpanzee to communicate using select signs from American Sign Language. He is also an animal rights advocate, citing the New Zealand Animal Welfare Act as a model for legal rights for the Great Apes and campaigning with British primatologist Jane Goodall for improved conditions for chimpanzees. He has written on animal law and the ethics of animal testing. He is also an adviser to the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. He is married to Deborah Fouts, who is also codirector of CHCI.