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A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons by Robert M. Sapolsky
superracoon's review against another edition
I don't understand why the subtitle is "A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons" when it's not about baboons. I thought it would be a book about baboons, but well over half of it is about the people he met in Africa, all of whom he either describes as children, rascals, or incompetent corrupt thugs. Whenever he is alone with an African he seems to think they will murder him? He talks fondly about "my village" (of humans) and "my troop" (of baboons) in a way I found quite unsettling. He described fretting for a friend/employee who I assume is an adult (?) "like a worried parent".
I just wanted a book about baboons. Years later, he named his children after baboons, you think he'd like baboons enough to write a book about them. The world did not need another outsider's perspective on Kenyan people and their neighbours, dear lord.
I just wanted a book about baboons. Years later, he named his children after baboons, you think he'd like baboons enough to write a book about them. The world did not need another outsider's perspective on Kenyan people and their neighbours, dear lord.
blacklake's review against another edition
4.0
This was simply a fascinating book on both primatology and local culture, as well as being a wonderful collection of life experiences. I very much enjoyed the writing, especially about the baboons.
I find it hard to forget, though, how he called a child affected by disease a "monster", several times, and casually mentioned that there was an idiot in every town. I can't stand this way of talking about people, and it soured the book for me. I admit the book was so good I read it anyway, but it made me heartsick to hear anyone, and especially a neurologist of any kind, talk this way. The tone of the book is casual, but this went far beyond casual for me.
I find it hard to forget, though, how he called a child affected by disease a "monster", several times, and casually mentioned that there was an idiot in every town. I can't stand this way of talking about people, and it soured the book for me. I admit the book was so good I read it anyway, but it made me heartsick to hear anyone, and especially a neurologist of any kind, talk this way. The tone of the book is casual, but this went far beyond casual for me.
meamaunz's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it! It made me laugh, cry, care about baboons (a lot), learn more about Africa and its ways, and it introduced me to the fantastic researcher that Robert Sapolsky is. Would recommend to almost everyone.
em_prkr's review against another edition
5.0
So humorous. Candid. Wonderful read even if you do not have a special interest in nonhuman primate behavior.
iniyan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
susanbevans's review against another edition
4.0
"I had never planned to become a savanna baboon when I grew up; instead, I had always assumed I would become a mountain gorilla."
- from A Primate's Memoir by Robert M. Sapolsky
A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, is the story of Robert M. Sapolsky's fieldwork as a young graduate student in Kenya. The goal of Sapolsky's graduate work was to determine the relationship of baboon stress levels to their overall health over a period of years. Sapolsky recounts his time spent anesthetizing the baboons in his troop and documenting the results of their "check-ups", watching the troop in the stifling heat and recording behavior, and enduring the many difficulties that come with life in the bush.
The memoir is not only about the baboons however. During his down time, Sapolsky leaves the relative safety of the game reserves and hitchhikes into dangerous territories for sight-seeing experiences. He manages to describe his travels as "vacations-from-hell," with enthusiasm, impeccable timing, incredible humor, subtly drawing similarities between the baboons and humans for his readers.
Sapolsky certainly is an entertaining storyteller, and much of his memoir is laugh-out-loud funny!. My favorite among his many adventures, was the story of the giant cockroaches and army ants invading his tent. Can you say, "BLECH!!!"?
Although there was nothing there that I really didn't know before picking the book up, it is definitely full of good information on primates and primatology. It's obvious from this well-written book that Robert M. Sapolsky loves him some baboons! The baboons in "his" troop all become quite like his family by the end of the study.
The combination of the story of the baboons - each with it's own very distinct personality - and Sapolsky's own story, is a worthwhile and entertaining read. A Primate's Memoir is amusing and full of gritty adventure, while also being a serious scientific study of the savanna baboons of Kenya. The story is captivating and a pure joy to read.
- from A Primate's Memoir by Robert M. Sapolsky
A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, is the story of Robert M. Sapolsky's fieldwork as a young graduate student in Kenya. The goal of Sapolsky's graduate work was to determine the relationship of baboon stress levels to their overall health over a period of years. Sapolsky recounts his time spent anesthetizing the baboons in his troop and documenting the results of their "check-ups", watching the troop in the stifling heat and recording behavior, and enduring the many difficulties that come with life in the bush.
The memoir is not only about the baboons however. During his down time, Sapolsky leaves the relative safety of the game reserves and hitchhikes into dangerous territories for sight-seeing experiences. He manages to describe his travels as "vacations-from-hell," with enthusiasm, impeccable timing, incredible humor, subtly drawing similarities between the baboons and humans for his readers.
Sapolsky certainly is an entertaining storyteller, and much of his memoir is laugh-out-loud funny!. My favorite among his many adventures, was the story of the giant cockroaches and army ants invading his tent. Can you say, "BLECH!!!"?
Although there was nothing there that I really didn't know before picking the book up, it is definitely full of good information on primates and primatology. It's obvious from this well-written book that Robert M. Sapolsky loves him some baboons! The baboons in "his" troop all become quite like his family by the end of the study.
The combination of the story of the baboons - each with it's own very distinct personality - and Sapolsky's own story, is a worthwhile and entertaining read. A Primate's Memoir is amusing and full of gritty adventure, while also being a serious scientific study of the savanna baboons of Kenya. The story is captivating and a pure joy to read.
kmontyb's review against another edition
5.0
Told with humor and heart, Dr. S tells the story of his career working with primates, baboons in particular. Sapolsky reflects on his own history studying the animals in Africa from a young man in his twenties to a seasoned scientist, describing in raw honesty his mistakes, frustrations, joys, and challenges working with primates of the ape and human kind. The book is a beautiful blend of science, humanity, and humor. One of my new favorites.