This Simian World

by Clarence Day Jr.

The author of Life With Father takes a thoughtful look at the ape-like aspects of humanity and offers witty speculations on a world dominated by other species. This 1920 work features humorous, provocative insights into the nature of the evolutionary pyramid.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology, Animals, Philosophy, Humor, Science

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

American humorist and essayist Clarence Shepard Day, Junior

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarenc...

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page, nay, every word of this slender volume is a glittering gem of insight into the human condition. It asks, OK, people, let's be serious -- are we fallen angels or are we highly embroidered apes? The author takes the latter position and explains why in lighthearted, yet blistering, detail. I am so grateful I came across this! If you like Will Cuppy, you should read this one.

[A.L. Sirois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it's THAT Clarence Day -- from his play (and the well-remembered -- by me, at least -- TV show from the 1950s), "Life with Father." In this little book Day considers how being evolved frm simians has made us what we are. He also indulges in a little bit of speculation about how we as humans might be different had we been evolved from elephants, say, or lions. A short, fun read. Day is unjustly forgotten now... I read this as a child and had remembered it for years. Finally got an electronic copy through Project Gutenberg.

[Logan Albright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Banal, meandering musings on animals, human nature and evolution. The author drifts from one topic to another without insight or direction. Why he felt the need to share what appears to be nothing more than a stream of consciousness with the world remains a mystery. Possibly the most pointless book I've ever read.

[Moisès · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a reference to this jewel in Lin Yutang's "the importance of living"
It is a short essay (about 40 pages) written a century ago, that one can find in the Gutenberg Project.
Yutang was absolutely right: reading that essay of Day's, we can forgive all «…» the busybodies who try to interfere with other people's lives «…» because we begin to understand them.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that deep. Thin light read.

[Briana V · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst book I have ever read. If I could give 0 stars, I would.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Humorist Clarence Day, Jr. found great success with his delightful memoirs of life in a well-to-do Victorian family, God and My Father (1932), Life with Father 1935), and Life with Mother (1937). These warm, gently satiric reminiscences were preceded by a thoughtful 1920 work, This Simian World, in which the author pondered the apelike nature of humanity and speculated as to the consequences of a different species rising to the top of the evolutionary ladder (elephants, for instance, might be more tolerant but less likely to travel by bus).

"Day's charming drawings -- vibrant sketches in the manner of James Thurber -- further enliven his perceptive and amusing observations. Both entertaining and thought-provoking, This Simian World offers an intriguing glimpse of a great humorist's more serious, reflective side."
~~back cover

Somebody got paid to write that review. And not very much either, although (imho) there wasn't very much for a review to work with.

[Anthony Bracciante · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book Clarence Day Jr. traces mankind's ancestors to the apes and sets about to prove that no other kind of creatures could give rise to mankind. he explores various animal kingdoms such as cats, elephants, ants, bees, cattle, dogs,etc. and shows none of them to have the characteristics found in mankind.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are we angels, or just apes.

Public domain freebie. Life with father was a good Broadway show. Would this make a good play? It is an interesting commentary on the nature of man.

[Vojta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a very coherent writing, with few surprising insights.

[Taylor Dorrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

“An amoeba on the beach, blind and helpless, a mere bit of pulp—that amoeba has grandsons today who read Kant and play symphonies.”

[elstaffe]

Pull quotes/notes
"Conflict and struggle make civilizations virile, but they do not by themselves make civilizations. Mutual aid and support are needed for that." (32/86)

"If wild, then no matter how harmless we treat them as outlaws, and those of us who are specially well brought up shoot them for fun. Some might be our friends. We don’t wish it. We keep them all terrorized. When one of us conquering monkey-men enters the woods, most animals that scent him slink away, or race off in a panic. It is not that we have planned this deliberately: but they know what we’re like. Race by race they have been slaughtered. Soon all will be gone. We give neither freedom nor life-room to those we defeat." (32/79)

"They will argue it is well that life should be Spartan and hard, because of the discipline and its strengthening effects on the character. But the good effects of this sort of discipline will be mixed with sad wreckage. And only creatures incapable of disciplining themselves could thus argue. It is an odd expedient to get yourself into trouble just for discipline’s sake.

The fact is, however, the argument won’t be sincere. When their nations grow so over-populous and their families so large it means misery, that will not be a sign of their having felt ready for discipline. It will be a sign of their not having practised it in their sexual lives." (48/79)

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting speculation on Humanities future had it been descended from other species rather than apes. Interesting thoughts on the human condition and its destiny. Enjoyed this 1936 book.