Animal Books

Posts Tagged ‘London Zoo’

The Naked Ape is a classic book on the origins of humans, written by Desmond Morris.  In this 1969 classic, Morris looks at human beings as animal-like creatures, something that was a very strange thing at the time.  The Naked Ape gives insight on man’s beginnings, sex life, habits and our bond to the animal kingdom.

This is a very adult book, very graphic and actually quite fun; by the funnest and most entertaining book i have seen so far.  The chapter on sex is fascinating.  I have spent hours at zoos and seen all different kinds of animals mating but it always fascinates me to see how other animals procreate and it’s qutie obvious the great apes (Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Orangutans) are the animals that mate most like us.

After the acknowleedgements and introduction, there are 9 main chapters in the Naked Ape:

1. Origins
2. Sex
3. Rearing
4. Exploration
5. Fighting
6. Feeding
7. Comfort
8. Animals
9. Appendix: Literature
10. Bibliography

Desmond Morris graduated from college in 1951 with a first class degree in zoology and went on to work at the Lond Zoo, heading the mammal department.  Not only is Morris a zoologist and author, he is also a surrealist painter.  He has also worked with chimpanzees in the 1950’s, training them to also paint.

This book is a reminder to humans that we are, in fact, just an animal.  We are a special animal in the family of the great apes, evolving from the same great apes millions of years ago.  Humans have evolved into an amazing being with many faults, but this ground breaking book was one of the first to really look at humans as animals and compare our complex lives with those other animals that we share this earth with.While this book is dated, it is still a very interesting and entertaining read.

For further reading, please check out all of the animal books that i have reviewed.  Also please feel free to check out some of my animal pictures that i have taken!