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Summary: Bonobo Wisdom
Review: An exceptional book with beautiful and revealing photos that show how strikingly similar these pygmee chimps are to us humans. The main strength of this book lies in the photos by Lanting. They portray the Bonobo as an ape of gentle demaenor and high intellect. The text is a little rudimentary and does not give a very expansive overview of the species, but in all this book is definitely worth purchasing.
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Summary: One of the most fascinating books I¿ve ever read
Review: Bonobos--who are, with chimps, our closest relatives--use sex instead of agression and dominance to resolve conflicts. That alone would make this book worth reading, but bonobos have many other intriguing qualities. It's rare to find a book as well-written, cogently argued and full of facts as this one. It's equally rare to find a book as beautifully photographed and designed. To have the two together in one volume is something of a miracle. HIGHLY recommended.
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Summary: It is interesting to speculate on human history
Review: Humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos evolved from a common ancestor. Humans have characteristics of both animals, plus some unique characteristics. By studying two of our nearest relatives, we gain insight into our past.The social structure of chimpanzees and bonobos are very different. Chimps have a male dominated culture, while bonobos have a female dominated culture where infanticide is unknown. Human leaders tend to be male, but we have some bonobo features. Humans have sex for reasons other than procreation and we have empathy.
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Summary: It is interesting to speculate on human history
Review: Humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos evolved from a common ancestor. Humans have characteristics of both animals, plus some unique characteristics. By studying two of our nearest relatives, we gain insight into our past. The social structure of chimpanzees and bonobos are very different. Chimps have a male dominated culture, while bonobos have a female dominated culture where infanticide is unknown. Human leaders tend to be male, but we have some bonobo features. Humans have sex for reasons other than procreation and we have empathy.
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Summary: Beautiful and thought-provoking!
Review: I had been fascinated by what little I had heard about the bonobo apes, and so when I discovered this treasure of a book I was temendously excited. It is written so well, and so beautifully photograghed, that the nature of the bonobo comes across in stark reality. An absorbing read, indeed! For any who doubt the intelligence of our closest relatives, this book shall certainly make them reconsider.
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Summary: Another fine effort by de Waal
Review: Most people are familiar with chimps but few have heard of the bonobo, but we resemble them behaviorally more than any of the other great apes. Also I recall reading once that we have the greatest genetic similarity to bonobos. I forget the exact figure, but humans share something like 99.5 percent of their genetic material with bonobos. De Waal teamed up with internationally acclaimed nature photographer Hans Lanting to produce not only a very scholarly but very readable and interesting book, and a visually very striking one as well. There are many similarities between bonobo behavior and humans, and ways in which they differ from other apes. Females have higher social standing in bonobo society compared to chimps, and high-ranking males never stay that way for long unless they have the support of at least a high-ranking female or two. Females also cooperate more than in other apes. They have been observed working together to drive off an aggressive male, which doesn't happen in chimps. Females are also very social, and seek to establish alliances with other males. This can come in handy in various ways. For example, during the mating season, if a a male the female doesn't like wants to mate, she can effectively rebuff his attempts by getting her other male friends to come to her aid. They even resemble us in their sexual behavior, since they are the only ape observed to use the missionary position during sex, which they do about half the time. This is just a small sample of the many interesting and thought-provoking things I picked up from reading this book. Overall, a fascinating and very visually appealing presentation on this little-known and understood relative among the great apes.
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Summary: Excellent introduction to long lost relative
Review: Say "ape" and people think of chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. Most have never heard of the bonobo, the forgotten ape. No wonder. The bonobo was one of the last large mammals to be scientifically classified. Long confused with chimpanzees, it was declared a distinct species only in the 1930s. There are very few bonobos in the wild, and far fewer in zoos. But bonobos are, as is made very clear in this book, very different from chimpanzees, especially in their family and social structures and, to be most frank about it, their sexual habits. I will leave more detail to the author, world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal. This is a very interesting and well written book, with much to say about apes, and much food for thought about our own species. It includes many excellent photographs by Frans Lanting.
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Summary: Excellent introduction to long lost relative
Review: Say "ape" and people think of chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. Most have never heard of the bonobo, the forgotten ape. No wonder. The bonobo was one of the last large mammals to be scientifically classified. Long confused with chimpanzees, it was declared a distinct species only in the 1930s. There are very few bonobos in the wild, and far fewer in zoos. But bonobos are, as is made very clear in this book, very different from chimpanzees, especially in their family and social structures and, to be most frank about it, their sexual habits. I will leave more detail to the author, world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal. This is a very interesting and well written book, with much to say about apes, and much food for thought about our own species. It includes many excellent photographs by Frans Lanting.
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Summary: Beautiful and Revealing-
Review: The hardback version of Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape is memorable for its beautiful photography and courageous subject matter. Suitable for display, discretion may be called for in the "coffee table" method of sharing this book. Not every guest will appreciate their child thumbing through your volume to find pictures of sexually occupied simians- nor may you be pleased at having this masterful study of primate behavior snickered over by teenagers. For mature individuals interested in natural behavior within species, this is a must-have book.
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Summary: Bonobo, you are not forgotten
Review: This book is wonderful in that it is one of the few scholarly works entirely devoted to pygmy chimpanzees, except for Randy Susman's edited volume (1984) and Kano's (1992) book. Interesting to the layperson, graduate student, and published scientist, Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape is not only filled with good information and beautiful glossy photos, it suggests new and interesting ideas to developing academics. A book like this is well worth the 20 dollars and is a good addition to the library of anyone interested in great apes.
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