I remember reading this book during a class, perhaps my physical anthropology class. From what I remember, it read more like a cultural ethnology than an animal study. I still recall the plotting and murder. Great book!

Social dynamics in 5 minute intervals! Just what I always wanted!

The dynamics here are so complex I sometimes found them requiring lots of thought, they seemed roughly about the same as any tv drama. Made me wonder how if human social dyanamics are even more complex, no wonder I'm missing weird parts of my life.
informative medium-paced
raneyak's profile picture

raneyak's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 119%

Read what I had to for class, don’t plan on reading the rest.
slow-paced

Я никогда не сомневалась, что люди и шимпанзе - очень близкие родственники. Теперь я в этом мнении утвердилась еще больше. В поступках обезьян легко узнать коллизии из нашей общественной и частной жизни - поиск личной выгоды, создание коалиций, предательство ставших ненужными союзников, жестокость, и, в то же время, нежные чувства по отношению к детенышам, игры, кокетство и любопытство.
К сожалению, пока что ни язык, ни культура, ни нормы морали не увели нас далеко по пути эволюции, пока что мы еще очень похожи на наших братиков и сестричек. Остается надеяться на действие в человеческом обществе законов и коллективного разума, иначе события могут разворачиваться не совсем так, как мы бы того хотели, а так, как они развивались в этой книге (спойлер - все закончилось невесело).

Heel helder boek die mooi inzage geeft over gedrag van mensapen en ook mensen zelf.

A truly fascinating elucidation of the mechanisms of power, affinity, aggression, reconciliation, and manipulation among a colony of chimpanzees at a zoo. What struck me was the flexibility and calculation of the interactions. Socialization and learning also played a large part. Also, there was remarkable flexibility in gender roles, as particularly illustrated by the story of Mama; to say that males "naturally" rule is oversimplified.

I bought it a while back but I was afraid to read it because this guy is my favorite scientist, and I feared that his opinions would be dated (read: sexist, racist, or both) and destroy my image of him. It's from 1982...
In the end I can say it's book worthy of admiration, even if I was sad to learn that Frans is not a feminist (and even slightly sexist at times).
I'll keep your autograph on my wall anyways, Frans.
A must read if you're interested in intelligence, ethology, politics, or all 3. tl;dr chimps have a complex social life where power depends on subtle plotting, coercion, manipulation, bargaining, alliances, ritualized demonstration of respect and highly regulated violence.