We have long attributed man's violent, aggressive, competitive nature to his animal ancestry. But what if we are just as given to cooperation, empathy, and morality by virtue of our genes? What if our behavior actually makes us apes? What kind of apes are we?
From a scientist and writer E. O. Wilson has called "the world authority on primate social behavior" comes a fascinating look at the most provocative aspects of human nature-power, sex, violence, kindness, and morality-through our two closest cousins in the ape family. For nearly twenty years, Frans de Waal has worked with both the famously aggressive chimpanzee and the lesser-known egalitarian, erotic, matriarchal bonobo, two species whose DNA is nearly identical to that of humans.
De Waal shows the range of human behavior through his study of chimpanzees and bonobos, drawing from their personalities, relationships, power struggles, and high jinks important insights about our human behavior. The result is an engrossing and surprising narrative that reveals what their behavior can teach us about our own nature.
"An informative and engaging work." —Library Journal
"De Waal offers vivid, often delightful stories of politics, sex, violence and kindness in the ape communities he has studied to illustrate such questions as why we are irreverent toward the powerful and whether men or women are better at conflict resolution."—Publishers Weekly
"Never has he [de Waal] written better on his great theme than in this absorbing overview of power, sex, violence, and kindness among apes—and humans."—Booklist
"Sklar adds just a touch of a smile to his sonorous voice, conveying friendliness, warmth, and humor."—AudioFile Magazine
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"This is a very fine book. While most authors just explain to you fact after fact after fact, which is a fine approach to teaching, of course, this author instead tends to rely on detailing to you his hands-on observations of bonobos and chimpanzees. This approach allows you, the reader, to conduct your own analysis via his descriptions, which is really thought-provoking."
— Suzanne (4 out of 5 stars)
“De Waal offers vivid, often delightful stories of politics, sex, violence, and kindness in the ape communities he has studied to illustrate such questions as why we are irreverent toward the powerful.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)An informative and engaging work that stresses the similarities and differences among humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees.
— Library Journal Starred Review“An informative and engaging work that stresses the similarities and differences among humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees.”
— Library Journal (starred review)“Illuminating and provocative”
— Booklist (starred review)" The subject is hot - evolutionary psychology is a hot subject now. The author is a well-known expert. His book on chimps politics is great and very practical. This book is more of a philosophical dispute and the main theme is that our behavior is very close to the apes' behavior. "
— DenisS, 8/16/2021" After reading Desmond Morris, this was a refreshing look at human and primate behavior. A bit more balance, a bit more humility and compassion. "
— Carol, 2/5/2014" De Waal is actually a mentor of my previous instructor in the Spring of 2008. Fascinating read. "
— Momo, 1/29/2014" Very interesting. It took me a little longer to read this than usual mostly due to the fact I occasionally needed a short break, especially during the chapter on violence. However, it was never because to boredom. "
— Rose, 1/4/2014" After reading this, feel the urge to hoot softly, or scratch, while interacting with others. You think you're different from a damned, dirty ape? You're not. "
— marcali, 12/29/2013" I selected this book based on De Waal's reputation in primatology, interested in his thoughts on the root traits that define our human societies. Instead, he stumbled into politics often enough I finally set the book aside, unwilling to mix an objective study of science with a subjective analysis of world political problems. He could have cited a variety of international examples, but chose to concentrate on the USA and a few others, leaving me uncomfortable about his motives. I suggest he stick to science in his next book. "
— Jacqui, 11/26/2013" excellent. recommend this book to anyone interested in evolution and our primate ancestry. de Waal gives excellent examples from observation and from designed research in zoo primates that support his points. "
— Maggie, 11/25/2013" Great book; social anthropology and primatology; fascinating look at human behavior and evolution; very simply written and very anecdotal, which makes the academic-style topic engaging and practical. "
— Toby, 11/18/2013" Enormously illuminating about the source of our humanity, shared with our primate brothers and sisters. "
— Mark, 10/16/2013" A very good read. It's always interesting to learn about primates as it's very natural to superimpose them on our lives and vice versa. I was especially intrigued by the discussion of Bonobos. It was the first time I'd really heard of them and De Waal provided a superb introduction. "
— Ty, 8/19/2013" Fun to read, but when you boil it down it's just a series of interesting anecdotes about apes. I still don't know why we are who we are. "
— Fred, 7/30/2013" There were some things I didn't agree with, but it was well-written. And it's nice to read something that's optimistic for once. "
— Randall, 7/24/2013" My cousin is a graduate student under Prof. de Waal, so this book was particularly interesting for me. Definitely worth a re-read to reinforce the nuances of insight that get blurred after a single pass. Like any non-fiction, the book is dense. However, it is quite readable. "
— Norm, 7/18/2013" What a fascinating (and humbling!) look at the connections between man and ape. Really makes you sit and ponder how much of your daily grind is driven by our shared legacy. "
— John, 7/17/2013" Clearly written and includes topics like power, sex, and violence. Who wouldn't want to read it. Facinating look at where we come from. "
— Jeremiah, 2/23/2013" Bonobos are such wonderful creatures to be related to "
— Kenneth, 10/15/2012" Both insightful and entertaining, and you'll understand diplomats and their bizarre behaviour much better after having read this book! "
— Brent, 9/16/2012" Brilliant book by a primatologist who gives us an insight into who we humans truly are by showing us how similar we are to bonobos and chimps, our two closest genetic relatives. "
— Emma, 5/2/2012" I can barely stop reading this book long enough to shower and go to work - it is SO fascinating. My mind is being blown on every other page. For the first time, I regret living alone - I want to have an audience for all the amazing things I'm learning from this. Must. Read. More. Primatology! "
— Robin, 2/14/2012" To sum it up, I've never thought monkeys were this intelligent or humans this genetically predisposed. Leave it to a primatologist to describe naked ape behaviour. "
— Filip, 2/10/2012" a good intermediate book on evolution. for me, it was more like a review of a lot of other books i've already read (and often referred to those other books). despite that, i still got a lot out of it and enjoyed reading it quite a bit. "
— Beth, 2/9/2012" I learned that truth of the evolution of man couldn't be better corroborated by any other based on the insight of the bonobo psyche. "
— Oren, 7/7/2011" Interesting, but got a little too detailed at times. His emotional attachment to some of the chimps got in the way of what he was trying to say sometimes, I think. Still, some good stories and insights. "
— Julie, 6/23/2011" There were some things I didn't agree with, but it was well-written. And it's nice to read something that's optimistic for once. "
— Randall, 4/7/2011" Fun to read, but when you boil it down it's just a series of interesting anecdotes about apes. I still don't know why we are who we are. "
— Fred, 1/19/2011" This book really made me think more about my own animal-like behavior. It was wonderful to read, de Waal has had some amazing experiences in his career. "
— Crystal, 12/11/2010" After reading Desmond Morris, this was a refreshing look at human and primate behavior. A bit more balance, a bit more humility and compassion. "
— Carol, 10/3/2010" Lucid, deep, and humorous description of what makes us human, or rather chimp and bonobo. <br/> "
— Aldo, 8/18/2010" interesting, audio version was okay, some of what i learned i will apply to hbse class. must read more on benobos "
— Jose, 5/3/2010" I loved the book and have bought other books by de Waal, which I still have to read. "
— Tammy, 1/5/2010" excellent. recommend this book to anyone interested in evolution and our primate ancestry. de Waal gives excellent examples from observation and from designed research in zoo primates that support his points. "
— Maggie, 10/12/2009" Fascinating book that suggests the origins of our behavior can be observed in modern primatology. The thesis that no one creature is all good or all bad is particularly compelling. "
— Darcy, 7/16/2009" De Waal's firsthand accounts of chimpanzee and bonobo social life make for a compelling read. His writing style is very personal, and I'm hoping that my students will find the book both engaging and provocative. "
— Rebecca, 6/18/2009Frans de Waal (1948?2024) was a world-renowned primatologist who earned many awards and honoros and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2007. He wrote several bestselling books, including Peacemaking among Primates, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Award, and Different: Gender through the Eyes of Primates, which was longlisted for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Award for Science Writing. He was C. H. Candler Professor Emeritus of Primate Behavior at Emory University and the former director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. He was a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Alan Sklar, a graduate of Dartmouth, has excelled in his career as a freelance voice actor. Named a Best Voice of 2009 by AudioFile magazine, his work has earned him several Earphones Awards, a Booklist Editors’ Choice Award (twice), a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and Audiobook of the Year by ForeWord magazine. He has also narrated thousands of corporate videos for clients such as NASA, Sikorsky Aircraft, IBM, Dannon, Pfizer, AT&T, and SONY.