false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173206093m/257106.jpg 257106 11 Power, sex, violence and kindness: these four broad-spectrum categories encompass much of human behavior, so it's only fitting that they're also the primary subject material for Frans de Waal's (<i>The Ape and The Sushi Master</i>) book <i>Our Inner Ape</i>. The few (but deeply detailed) chapters are a mesmerizing read that spans biology, child psychology, postmodern theorists and fundamental morality, using tales of stern chimps, and sexy bonobos to examine humans' place between them. In the process, he examines why we need to know our place in the world, how our body language communicates feelings, and where the roots of empathy lie in mammalian life. <p> De Waal's respect for both his readers and his research subjects come shining through in the simple clarity he uses when describing both the endless sex of bonobo apes and the heartrending violence occasionally present in chimp hierarchal structure. By illustrating his points with a mixture of straight-from-research experiences and jokes at the expense of modern politicians, he keeps his ideas compelling for anyone with a basic understanding of evolutionary science without drifting towards the academic drone that could be expected of by a researcher of his experience. <p> You won't find specific conclusions concerning human nature, but instead a gentle, almost rambling look at two primate species with vastly different social networks and how, perhaps, humanity can learn from each to our benefit. A few of de Waal's lovely duotone photos (<i>My Family Album: 30 Years of Primate Photography</i> grace the end of the book, featuring close-up shots of the folks he's been writing about--chimps like Yeroen, Nikkie and Mama, and bonobo Kuif and adopted daughter Roosje are downright thrilling to see after reading such interesting stories about their lives. <i>Jill Lightner</i> 961890 2005 Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are total:242|5:81|4:111|3:40|2:9|1:1| 242 988 380 57 3 1 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Feb 14 09:38:24 -0800 2008 Thu Oct 30 11:15:49 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Thu Jun 21 11:53:23 -0700 2007 Tue Mar 31 08:16:17 -0700 2009 The Third Chimpanzee. Diamond only mentioned bonobos in passing; while Frans de Waal discusses them as much as he discusses chimpanzees while only mentions gorillas, ourang-outang, baboons and various monkeys in passing. Frans de Waal's willingness to explore bonobo sexu...more...]]> 4 1 false false Wed Jan 14 07:45:39 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 14 07:47:34 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu May 29 13:07:07 -0700 2008 Thu May 29 13:54:51 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Oct 11 19:22:52 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 16 15:48:13 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 23 19:54:38 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 28 00:21:41 -0700 2009
Other times he is annoying as shit and goes o...more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jul 09 19:41:04 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 09 19:41:24 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jan 29 08:15:23 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 05 12:45:13 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 21 09:48:00 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 24 11:22:12 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Mon Jun 25 17:07:56 -0700 2007 Sun Jul 01 15:09:09 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Jan 13 07:34:12 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 13 07:34:12 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 12 06:34:48 -0800 2009 Mon Feb 16 16:08:24 -0800 2009 1 more...]]> 2 0 false false Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 22 01:26:36 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 22 01:33:16 -0700 2008
I enjoyed ...more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 18 12:19:38 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 18 12:34:40 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 12 11:02:40 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 12 11:02:40 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 08 14:22:32 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 08 14:23:58 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri Feb 15 16:41:24 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 15 16:47:45 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Sep 19 16:37:02 -0700 2008 Thu Jan 22 12:11:09 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Wed Sep 12 15:19:23 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 12 15:19:34 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Jun 21 11:33:28 -0700 2007 Sun Feb 03 18:28:18 -0800 2008 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=257106