Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape
by Frans B. M. de Waal, Frans Lanting
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Book Reviews of Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape
Book Review: A nuanced, not romanticized picture
Summary: 4 Stars
Bonobo society is fascinating as it is so different and more appealing than primitive human or other chimpanzee societies. Since de Waal is a careful scientist, a nuanced rather than romanticized picture emerges, one more challenging to the reader. In his effort to be careful, de Wall is sometimes more redundant than he needs to be, and the book's format contributes to this tendency, with interviews with other researchers inserted into the narrative (perhaps the interviews should be at the end of chapters). Pictures are great.
Among bonobos, females are dominant despite being physically inferior to males; they achieve this through coalitions. There is also much less aggression than among other species of chimpanzees, with sex, in all its forms, being used to defuse competitive tensions. It is likely that bonobo ecology is responsible for this: food, including protein, is plentiful and protection against other species is not required, although humans can be a problem. Empathy and social intelligence are high, and the captive ape individual with the greatest mastery of human language is a bonobo. Other chimpanzees are apparently better at tool use, although orangutans may be cleverest of all non-human apes in this aspect of intelligence.
Book Review: Bonobos have sex for fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was fortunate to see the two Frans' lecture in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park over a decade ago where they discussed their new book and showed slides of the bonobo apes. I found it all quite intriguing and purchased my autographed copy there.
The most fascinating part was that bonobos love sex. They have sexual encounters multiple times per day with many different partners (except mother/son) in all types of positions yet have the same amount of offspring as other apes. An amicable lot, compared to the aggressive chimpanzee, bonobos tend to have sex to rectify disputes as well as for the pure pleasure of it. The bonobos are a matriarchal group, taking their cues from the females versus typically the males. I thought it was interesting that we humans are now reevaluating whether it is indeed the aggressive, patriarchal chimpanzee that we evolved from or the sensual bonobo ape.
Frans Lanting captured a photograph of two bonobos having missionary style intercourse, she on her back with her arms over her head and with the biggest grin on her face! A gorgeous book, gorgeous animals.
Book Review: Excellent introduction to long lost relative
Summary: 5 Stars
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.Book Review: An Excellent Resource
Summary: 5 Stars
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.Book Review: One of the most fascinating books Ive ever read
Summary: 5 Stars
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.