Our Inner Ape

A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are

By: Frans de Waal

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

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 20 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 hijinx 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.

©2005 Frans de Waal (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"De Waal's most hopeful message is that peaceful behavior can be learned....[An] important and illuminating book." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Readers might be surprised at how much these apes and their stories resonate with their own lives, and may well be left with an urge to spend a few hours watching primates themselves at the local zoo." (Publishers Weekly)

Quite Interesting

This book contains a lot of interesting information that relates primative ape behaviors to our own. Basically, liberals evolved from Bonobos, and conservatives evolved from Chimpanzees. All kidding aside, I enjoyed the book.

For those who love primatology!!!

I was wary in listening to this book as friends of mine had not rated it well. I now realize that's because they thought it would be some sort of self help book, which it can be, but it's main focus is on primatology. I studied anthropology in college and one of my favorite courses was based on our relationship with our fellow primates so I loved this book!

Very Insightful

Excellent read. Humanity better start listening to what our knowledge of our history and what our closest relatives tell us. I don't think we will though. we're not terribly good at such things.

I'm a Simple Man

But now my primate brain is so much larger! Grad student on Government leadership....brilliant book. I've referenced it alot for my thesis.

Not exactly what I expected, but still pretty good

I enjoy geeking out on evolutionary stuff like physiology, psychology, and sociology, so I expected to enjoy this book. While learning about the bonobo and chimps was interesting, it wasn't what I was looking for. I don't think I discovered any new insights to how we human apes act, or why we act the way we do.

If you are looking for fascinating information on apes you'll enjoy this book. If you are looking for ancestral links or information, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Important Book

Among the many interesting ideas here is the notion that "strength is weakness" - We are genetically programmed to have a sense of right and wrong. Consequently power should be used to create fairness and harmony and when it is used tyrannically, the weak and the helpless rise up bite holes in the scrotum of the tyrant, squeeze out his testicles then do him in. Got to love ape justice - no rehab centers for them.

Interesting, relevant, memorable

One night, at dinner with friends, I found myself explaining detailed stories from this book, with everyone interested and asking questions. That the kind of book this is: You will gain innumerable insights into how we, as humans, live, and will be able to relate them to everyday life ... and you will remember them! de Waal illuminates so much of who we are by showing how different sides of our nature can be seen in chimps and bonobos.

inner ape

excellent book - well narrated
so much insight packed so densely into an entertaining audio file

Frans De Waal has a gift for writing .

Frans de Waal continues the tradition and spirit of Desmond Morris and is a delight to read or listen to.

Ape Observations Make This Book A Great Listen

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

By far the best part about this book is the author's observations and anecdotes about chimpanzees and bonobos. He provides such a rich and varied sampling of all the behavior, good and bad. Entertaining and enlightening.

Any additional comments?

The reader was a 5/5--very good. A minor production issue--what I assume were headings within chapters are inserted without any pause before or after. Sounds a bit strange as one sentence ends, a header is read, and the next sentence begins, all without pause to let the reader know a new section is beginning. This is minor and really didn't detract from the book.