My Life with the Chimpanzees

by Jane Goodall

Inspired by a stuffed toy, Jane Goodall became the first woman to study chimps in the wild and in the process made history.

As a child, Jane Goodall was given a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee, and she has said her fondness for this figure started her early love of animals. While others thought Jane would be terrified by the toy, she adored it and it inspired a life-long love of animals in her.

Jane dreamed of a life spent working with animals, and when she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. During her expeditions she braved many dangers and she got to know an amazing group of wild chimpanzees—intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships, bear a surprising resemblance to our own. Through her work at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania and her own Roots and Shoots program she has become a tireless advocate for animals and the planet.

As for that stuffed toy, Jubilee still sits on Goodall’s dresser in London.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Biography, Memoir, Nature, Audiobook

156 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

For the Australian academic and mystery writer, see Professor Jane R. Goodall.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace was a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world every single day.

Dr. Goodall was best known for groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, transformative research that continues to this day as the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world. Dr. Goodall was the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, a global conservation, advocacy, animal welfare, research, and youth empowerment organization, including her global Roots & Shoots program.

Dr. Goodall had worked extensively on climate action, human rights, conservation, and animal welfare issues for decades, and was a central voice in the work to advance environmental progress.

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that attracts readers like bees to honey

My Life with the Chimpanzees is a short autobiography by Jane Goodall. Ms. Goodall was born in London on April 3, 1934, survived the horrors of World War II, and in 1960 began studying chimpanzees in the wild in Tanzania.

The cover art for this book looks like it came from the 1980's and even though I tried two different audiobooks, I could not find an audiobook format that directly corresponded to the book. The audiobook had a laugh track but instead of laughs, it was filled with the sounds of animals. Although this was a little eyerolling at times, strangely it worked. As I was quietly listening to the audio, I kept acquiring "friends", people who would catch a glimmer of the audio and make their way over, transfixed.

This is the perfect book for animal lovers and a wonderful follow up to The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall (which I also heartily recommend).

2024 Reading Schedule
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Jun Possession
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[Deb✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved hearing Jane Goodall narrate this audiblebook, basically it's her autobiography of her life growing up, and then finally reaching her dream of going to Africa and being able to research the Chimpanzees as well as other wildlife along the way. As always, she talks of hope for the future amongst us all and for everyone doing a part for the environment. To me, Jane is a hero, always positive and always proactive in trying to help people look on the positive side of everything...letting us all know there is hope. Just like in her other book. ♡

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read because it let you into the wonderful world of Chimpanzees! It was interesting to learn so many things about chimps throughout the book and to hear about Jane's adventures. Before reading this book I knew that Chimpanzees were very similar to humans, but I didn't know very much. I also didn't know much about Jane. Now I know so much about both. I think that it is amazing how Jane had a love for animals her whole life and how she was dedicated to her work. It is also amazing how someone could be so interested in one topic and have work, well, be fun. Being in high school, I think it is very important to find a topic you are interested in and could be dedicated to. Now I know that Jane is a great role model and is someone to look up to. I also learned, and can barely fathom, that chimps can learn around 300 different signs in ASL.
On top of that, I loved how Jane didn't dwell on certain parts and gave just the right about of information throughout the book. This is very hard to do. I also loved how the book ended in a question. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in animals or nature in general.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is geared to children. In addition to the biographical information there are lessons about conservation, pets, ethical treatment of animals etc. The audiobook is full of sound effects. Children might like this, but I did not.

[Anand Ganapathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book by one of the foremost primate researchers and conservationists. Jane Goodall has been working with chimpanzees at Gombe forest reserve, Tanzania since 1960 and this book traces her entire journey. Had wanted to read her works ever since I read an excerpt of one in the book section of reader's digest many years ago. highly recommended for all animal lovers

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For as long as I can remember, I have admired Jane Goodall and her amazing work with chimpanzees, etc. I have read quite a
few of her books - This biography reads so quickly and I got lost (in a good way) about what she gave up and what she gained by living among and being accepted by the chimpanzees. She has no equal.

[Jennifer He · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP JG. I don’t care that this was written for 8-12 year olds. A marvelous woman and a marvelous story.

[Andrew McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One person can really change the world. Was always impressed with Jane Goodall before reading, but am even more inspired now. I knew about her work with chimpanzees, but was wildly (pun intended) impressed that her charity/institute morphed into having developmental, education, social, and entrepreneurial programs for locals and those around the world as a mechanism to reduce the “need” for deforestation, offer alternative sources of money other than hunting chimpanzees, and which provide educational opportunities all as means to promote the land, the animals, and nature. She didn’t just talk, she acted and fostered change. An icon and a rockstar

[Vasko Genev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Начинът, по който е написана, е като за деца. Хубава книжка, но изключително оскъдно и общо се говори за шимпанзетата. Твърде автобиографична, разбрах всичко за семейството на авторката и нейната организация.

Прекрасна детска книжка, с хубаво послание да пазим природата и уважаваме всяко живо същество.

[Henrik Haapala · Rating 5 out of 5]

”What about my dream of Africa? Had I forgotten it? Absolutely not. I spent hours wandering about in the natural history museum. I continued reading books about animals, especially African animals. And while I loved my job I knew that it was just filling in time. Always I was waiting for my lucky break. When that lucky beak finally came, I was ready.”

“We talked about my future. Louis never minded if his scientific staff had higher degrees or not: The important thing, as far as he was concerned, was that they had knowledge and were hardworking and dedicated.”

“Wraaah!”
“Suddenly a chimp charged straight toward me. His hair bristled with rage. At the last minute he swerved and ran off. I stayed still. Two more chimps charged nearby. Then, suddenly, I realized I was alone again. All the chimps has gone. Only then did I realize how frightened I had been. When I stood up my legs were trembling! Male chimps, although they are only four feet tall when upright, are at least three times stronger than a grown man. And I weighed only about ninety pounds. I had become very thin with so much climbing in the mountains and only one meal a day.”

“You get to choose: do you want to use your life to try to make the world a better place for humans and animals or the environment? Or not?”

“How do we help make the world a better place for all the hurting, desperate people and animals? The only way is for each of us to do what we can in our own little neck of the woods.”

[Димитрина Събчева · Rating 4 out of 5]

Винаги съм се възхищавала на Джейн Гудол. Благодарение на нея днес знаем толкова много за животните, а и начина на тяхното изучаване - с внимание, с уважение - в голяма степен дължим и на нея. Джейн Гудол е и чудесен пример за малките момичета и момчета. Препоръчвам "Моят живот с шимпанзетата" като четиво за от седем години нагоре. Може и по-рано, но зависи от детето. Много семпло, много искрено животоописание е тази книга. Чудесна с липсата на поза, цинизъм и самосъжаление. Просто едно любознателно момиче разказва за пътя към мечтата си. Джейн Гудол няма висше образование, когато започва своите проучвания, семейството не е можело да си го позволи, но е имала ум, който е искала да развива и цел, към която да върви.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Една от новите ми любими книги!

Винаги съм била огромен почитател на Джейн като учен и човек. Нейната история е толкова запленяваща и вдъхновяваща. Докато четях се усмихвах много и преживявах с нея откритията и уроците.

Горещо препоръчвам, ако харесвате биографии и мотивиращи книги.

Книжни поздрави,
Криси

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - My first audio book! Listened in the car now that I have a commute. I love Jane Goodall! Fun to hear her narrate it. I loved hearing her stories, reminded me why I wanted to be her when I grew up.

I felt like the audio book had a lot of random sounds, is that normal? Prob won’t become an audio book gal, but maybe for other memoirs!

[Alexandra Chubachi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and pleasant. I’d like to read it to my kids.

[Mira Bhasin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this audiobook is honestly so good it’s a full production with animal noises and everything! it really helped make me feel immersed in her experiences and wildlife 🦍

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Jane! How lucky we are to have had shared this planet with you🩷

[Painting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this especially because I could hear Jane's gentle voice after having watched her on television. People like Jane who share their knowledge and experience of the wild world are a treasure. Her accounts about the daily routines of the animals gave me an appreciation of how the chimps survive and interact socially which is the subtle stuff that we don't see in zoos or on sensationalized nature television programming.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο απευθύνεται σε μικρούς και μεγάλους. Η Jane Goodall μας αφηγείται πώς ξεκίνησε η έρευνά της για τους χιμπατζήδες, πώς τα παιδικά της αναγνώσματα και βιώματα την επηρέασαν και στα τελευταία κεφάλαια προσπαθεί να μας προβληματίσει για τη σχέση μας με τα ζώα και το περιβάλλον.

Είναι γραμμένο σε πολύ απλή γλώσσα και καταφέρνει να προκαλέσει συναισθήματα χωρίς μελοδραματισμούς και υπερβολές. Την θαυμάζω και την ακολουθώ πολλά χρόνια τώρα και διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο έμαθα πολλά για τη ζωή της αλλά και για τα ζώα.

[Beth F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more familiar than I expected, I’m almost positive that a teacher read this to my class when I was a child. Nice little book about Jane Goodall’s life and how she became who she is.

Ecological content still seems relevant in spite of the book’s age.

[Sarah Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book over 15 years ago as an environmental studies undergraduate. I picked it back up after her recent passing and it broke my heart back open. As a kid, it’s easier to feel a natural empathy for animals, but as you grow older, especially working in the sciences, you can forget to lead with your heart. You feel pressure to prove things with data and hard facts.

Through her gentle observations and deep care, she reminds you it’s okay to feel deeply. It’s ok to lead with your heart sometimes. It’s like remembering something we all inherently know.

[Holly Klose · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really fun to read about Jane Goodall's background and experience with the chimps and she's incredibly inspiring. That said, the writing style of this book seems to be targeting middle school age children.

[Sienna Keroulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are so so so powerful whether we know it or not! sigh I love her and the monkeys

[Mitch Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook. Very interesting! It is narrated by Jane herself which makes it even better. RIP Jane 💙

[Hans F. M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

«The most important thing I can say to you — yes, you who are now reading this — is that you, as an individual, have a role to play and can make a difference. You get to choose: do you want to use your life to try to make the world a better place for humans and animals and the enviroment? Or not?»

[Neha Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, I had watched several documentaries on Jane Goodall and her unwavering dedication to protect the wildlife species in Africa. Most notable was her work with the chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania and her efforts to study the social dynamics of these primates. This book presents her childhood fascination with animals, her move to Africa to study wildlife without any formal academic training, how she built a remarkable rapport with the alpha chimpanzees in Gombe and her message to the readers and the world on the importance of nature and wildlife conservation. Amazing read!

[sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is so so so incredible. I want to be her so bad. I’m excited to read her other books. Ones that are not written for children ages 8-12.

[Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where are all the social work job opportunities that will allow me to work with apes?😭

[Hannah Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written for a younger audience, and I knew that going into it. I think it is a good perspective for young children, but she was a bit all over the place. Can’t beat the message though!

[Anne Mier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did the audiobook for this and did not realize until I started this was a book made for a younger audience. Jane is 1000% that girl!!! I very much could have done without the constant animal noises and sound effects in the background though lmao. But I could listen to her talk forever.