Best Selling Books by Frans de Waal

Visit the author''s Web site at www.ourinnerape.com It’s no secret that humans and apes share a host of traits, from the tribal communities we form to our irrepressible curiosity. We have a common ancestor, scientists tell us, so it’s natural that we act alike. But not all of these parallels are so appealing: the chimpanzee, for example, can be as vicious and manipulative as any human. Yet there’s more to our shared primate heritage than just our violent streak. In Our Inner Ape, Frans de Waal, one of the world’s great primatologists and a renowned expert on social behavior in apes, presents the provocative idea that our noblest qualities—generosity, kindness, altruism—are as much a part of our nature as are our baser instincts. After all, we share them with another primate: the lesser-known bonobo. As genetically similar to man as the chimpanzee, the bonobo has a temperament and a lifestyle vastly different from those of its genetic cousin. Where chimps are aggressive, territorial, and hierarchical, bonobos are gentle, loving, and erotic (sex for bonobos is as much about pleasure and social bonding as it is about reproduction). While the parallels between chimp brutality and human brutality are easy to see, de Waal suggests that the conciliatory bonobo is just as legitimate a model to study when we explore our primate heritage. He even connects humanity’s desire for fairness and its morality with primate behavior, offering a view of society that contrasts markedly with the caricature people have of Darwinian evolution. It’s plain that our finest qualities run deeper in our DNA than experts have previously thought. Frans de Waal has spent the last two decades studying our closest primate relations, and his observations of each species in Our Inner Ape encompass the spectrum of human behavior. This is an audacious book, an engrossing discourse that proposes thought-provoking and sometimes shocking connections among chimps, bonobos, and those most paradoxical of apes, human beings.

In this thought-provoking book, the acclaimed author of Our Inner Ape examines how empathy comes naturally to a great variety of animals, including humans. Are we our brothers'' keepers? Do we have an instinct for compassion? Or are we, as is often assumed, only on earth to serve our own survival and interests? By studying social behaviors in animals, such as bonding, the herd instinct, the forming of trusting alliances, expressions of consolation, and conflict resolution, Frans de Waal demonstrates that animals–and humans–are "preprogrammed to reach out." He has found that chimpanzees care for mates that are wounded by leopards, elephants offer "reassuring rumbles" to youngsters in distress, and dolphins support sick companions near the water''s surface to prevent them from drowning. From day one humans have innate sensitivities to faces, bodies, and voices; we''ve been designed to feel for one another. De Waal''s theory runs counter to the assumption that humans are inherently selfish, which can be seen in the fields of politics, law, and finance. But he cites the public''s outrage at the U.S. government''s lack of empathy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as a significant shift in perspective–one that helped Barack Obama become elected and ushered in what perhaps could become an Age of Empathy. Through a better understanding of empathy''s survival value in evolution, de Waal suggests, we can work together toward a more just society based on a more generous and accurate view of human nature. Written in layman''s prose with a wealth of anecdotes, wry humor, and incisive intelligence, The Age of Empathy is essential reading for our embattled times. "An important and timely message about the biological roots of human kindness."—Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape

A New York Times Bestseller and winner of the PEN / E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award "Game-changing." —Sy Montgomery, New York Times Book Review Mama’s Last Hug is a fascinating exploration of the rich emotional lives of animals, beginning with Mama, a chimpanzee matriarch who formed a deep bond with biologist Jan van Hooff. Her story and others like it—from dogs “adopting” the injuries of their companions, to rats helping fellow rats in distress, to elephants revisiting the bones of their loved ones—show that humans are not the only species with the capacity for love, hate, fear, shame, guilt, joy, disgust, and empathy. Frans de Waal opens our hearts and minds to the many ways in which humans and other animals are connected.

A New York Times bestseller: "A passionate and convincing case for the sophistication of nonhuman minds." —Alison Gopnik, The Atlantic Hailed as a classic, Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition—in crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and bonobos—to reveal how smart animals really are, and how we’ve underestimated their abilities for too long. Did you know that octopuses use coconut shells as tools, that elephants classify humans by gender and language, and that there is a young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame? Fascinating, entertaining, and deeply informed, de Waal’s landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal—and human—intelligence.

Can virtuous behavior be explained by nature, and not by human rational choice? "It''s the animal in us," we often hear when we''ve been bad. But why not when we''re good? Primates and Philosophers tackles this question by exploring the biological foundations of one of humanity''s most valued traits: morality. In this provocative book, renowned primatologist Frans de Waal argues that modern-day evolutionary biology takes far too dim a view of the natural world, emphasizing our "selfish" genes and reinforcing our habit of labeling ethical behavior as humane and the less civilized as animalistic. Seeking the origin of human morality not in evolution but in human culture, science insists that we are moral by choice, not by nature. Citing remarkable evidence based on his extensive research of primate behavior, de Waal attacks "Veneer Theory," which posits morality as a thin overlay on an otherwise nasty nature. He explains how we evolved from a long line of animals that care for the weak and build cooperation with reciprocal transactions. Drawing on Darwin, recent scientific advances, and his extensive research of primate behavior, de Waal demonstrates a strong continuity between human and animal behavior. He probes issues such as anthropomorphism and human responsibilities toward animals. His compelling account of how human morality evolved out of mammalian society will fascinate anyone who has ever wondered about the origins and reach of human goodness. Based on the Tanner Lectures de Waal delivered at Princeton University''s Center for Human Values in 2004, Primates and Philosophers includes responses by the philosophers Peter Singer, Christine M. Korsgaard, and Philip Kitcher and the science writer Robert Wright. They press de Waal to clarify the differences between humans and other animals, yielding a lively debate that will fascinate all those who wonder about the origins and reach of human goodness.

Longlisted for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award "Every new book by Frans de Waal is a cause for excitement, and this one is no different. A breath of fresh air in the cramped debate about the differences between men and women. Fascinating, nuanced, and very timely." —Rutger Bregman, author of Humankind: A Hopeful History In Different, world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal draws on decades of observation and studies of both human and animal behavior to argue that despite the linkage between gender and biological sex, biology does not automatically support the traditional gender roles in human societies. While humans and other primates do share some behavioral differences, biology offers no justification for existing gender inequalities. Using chimpanzees and bonobos to illustrate this point—two ape relatives that are genetically equally close to humans—de Waal challenges widely held beliefs about masculinity and femininity, and common assumptions about authority, leadership, cooperation, competition, filial bonds, and sexual behavior. Chimpanzees are male-dominated and violent, while bonobos are female-dominated and peaceful. In both species, political power needs to be distinguished from physical dominance. Power is not limited to the males, and both sexes show true leadership capacities. Different is a fresh and thought-provoking approach to the long-running debate about the balance between nature and nurture, and where sex and gender roles fit in. De Waal peppers his discussion with details from his own life—a Dutch childhood in a family of six boys, his marriage to a French woman with a different orientation toward gender, and decades of academic turf wars over outdated scientific theories that have proven hard to dislodge from public discourse. He discusses sexual orientation, gender identity, and the limitations of the gender binary, exceptions to which are also found in other primates. With humor, clarity, and compassion, Different seeks to broaden the conversation about human gender dynamics by promoting an inclusive model that embraces differences, rather than negating them.

The first edition of Frans de Waal''s Chimpanzee Politics was acclaimed not only by primatologists for its scientific achievement but also by politicians, business leaders, and social psychologists for its remarkable insights into the most basic human needs and behaviors. Still considered a classic, this updated edition is a detailed and thoroughly engrossing account of rivalries and coalitions—actions governed by intelligence rather than instinct. As we watch the chimpanzees of Arnhem behave in ways we recognize from Machiavelli (and from the nightly news), de Waal reminds us again that the roots of politics are older than humanity.

In this lively and illuminating discussion of his landmark research, esteemed primatologist Frans de Waal argues that human morality is not imposed from above but instead comes from within. Moral behavior does not begin and end with religion but is in fact a product of evolution. For many years, de Waal has observed chimpanzees soothe distressed neighbors and bonobos share their food. Now he delivers fascinating fresh evidence for the seeds of ethical behavior in primate societies that further cements the case for the biological origins of human fairness. Interweaving vivid tales from the animal kingdom with thoughtful philosophical analysis, de Waal seeks a bottom-up explanation of morality that emphasizes our connection with animals. In doing so, de Waal explores for the first time the implications of his work for our understanding of modern religion. Whatever the role of religious moral imperatives, he sees it as a “Johnny-come-lately” role that emerged only as an addition to our natural instincts for cooperation and empathy. But unlike the dogmatic neo-atheist of his book’s title, de Waal does not scorn religion per se. Instead, he draws on the long tradition of humanism exemplified by the painter Hieronymus Bosch and asks reflective readers to consider these issues from a positive perspective: What role, if any, does religion play for a well-functioning society today? And where can believers and nonbelievers alike find the inspiration to lead a good life? Rich with cultural references and anecdotes of primate behavior, The Bonobo and the Atheist engagingly builds a unique argument grounded in evolutionary biology and moral philosophy. Ever a pioneering thinker, de Waal delivers a heartening and inclusive new perspective on human nature and our struggle to find purpose in our lives.

Una esclarecedora y fascinante exploración de la naturaleza humana, explicada por un primatólogo de fama internacional. ¿Es instintiva la compasión que nos mueve a preocuparnos por los demás? ¿O, como se afirma a menudo, hemos venido al mundo solo para luchar por nuestros propios intereses y nuestra supervivencia individual? En La edad de la empatía, Frans de Waal explica la larga historia evolutiva que este sentimiento tiene a sus espaldas y aclara, con numerosos ejemplos tomados del mundo animal, que la sintonía con los demás, la coordinación de actividades y el cuidado de los necesitados no son, en absoluto, una exclusiva de la especie humana.

L''avidità di finanzieri e banchieri ci ha sprofondato in una crisi globale di cui non vediamo la fine. Perché, ci dicono, gli esseri umani sarebbero fatti così: avidi ed egoisti. Ma è una visione ristretta e fuorviante della natura umana, che contraddice quello che sappiamo della nostra specie, e anche di altre. Come spiega Frans de Waal, la cooperazione e la responsabilità sociale hanno un ruolo fondamentale in diversi gruppi animali. Questi comportamenti «altruistici» non sono comparsi all''improvviso: si sono infatti radicati nel corso della lunga storia dell''evoluzione. Non sono una caratteristica esclusiva della nostra specie: gli scimpanzé chiedono una porzione di cibo allungando una mano con il palmo rivolto verso l''alto; alcune specie animali hanno sviluppato un certo senso dell''equità e della giustizia; ed è probabile che i mammiferi provino piacere ad aiutare gli altri, come noi ci sentiamo meglio quando ci comportiamo bene. Mettendo a confronto le più recenti acquisizioni dell''etologia e il pensiero dei maggiori pensatori politici, Frans de Waal offre una illuminante riflessione sulla nostra società e sulle motivazioni più profonde di ciascuno di noi. In un''epoca di profonde inquietudini e trasformazioni, L''età dell''empatia ci fa capire che vivere in armonia con gli altri, agire in modo coordinato e prendersi cura di chi ha bisogno non sono caratteristiche esclusive della nostra specie. Partendo dall''osservazione dell''uomo e di altri animali, ci offre suggerimenti di grande attualità politica.

¿Hemos heredado de nuestros ancestros algo más que el ansia de poder y una violenta territorialidad? «Tras leer un libro de Frans de Waal, es imposible ver a nuestra propia especie como antes.» Tamra Mendelson, The Washington Post ¿Qué lugar ocupa nuestra especie entre los seres vivos? Hace ya mucho tiempo que los científicos nos han explicado que tenemos un ancestro común con los grandes simios y que por tanto es normal que compartamos numerosos rasgos, no siempre halagüeños: el ansia de poder, la lucha por el sexo, una violenta territorialidad y una fuerte tendencia al engaño y la manipulación. Pero la fascinante –y esperanzadora– tesis de Frans de Waal sostiene que, pese a todo, también nuestras más nobles características –la generosidad, la amabilidad, el altruismo y la solidaridad– forman parte de la naturaleza humana, pues proceden de nuestro pasado animal. Además, hallazgos recientes en neurología han demostrado que, contrariamente a lo que se venía afirmando, la toma de decisiones morales activa centros emocionales muy antiguos en el cerebro. Así, mientras que es fácil establecer un paralelo entre la brutalidad de los chimpancés y la de los humanos, Frans de Waal sugiere que los bonobos –gentiles, amantes y dotados de un sentido innato para algo muy parecido al erotismo– son un modelo igualmente válido para analizar nuestra herencia de primates. En definitiva, una atractiva y sorprendente exploración de la moralidad humana, contemplada a través del espejo de nuestros parientes más próximos.

« C''est l''animal en nous", entendons-nous souvent quand notre comportement a laissé à désirer. Mais pourquoi pas quand il a été exemplaire? Primates et Philosophes tente de répondre en réfléchissant aux fondements biologiques d''une des caractéristiques humaines les plus estimées: la moralité. Une réflexion qui va bien au-delà de l’opposition simpliste entre nature et culture et qui voit l’alliance novatrice de la philosophie et de la biologie au service de l’éthique.

A la recherche de l''humanisme chez les primates Pendant des années, l''éminent primatologue Frans de Waal a vu des chimpanzés réconforter des voisins en détresse, des bonobos partager leurs aliments ou des éléphants s''entraider. Aujourd''hui, étayant son étude de récits issus de l''observation du monde animal et d''analyses philosophiques éclairantes, de Waal démontre que la moralité humaine ne s''est pas imposée par le biais d''une instance supérieure et extérieure à l''homme, mais plutôt «de l''intérieur». Selon lui, enracinée en profondeur dans notre héritage animal, elle est bien le produit de l''évolution. Pour la première fois, en s''appuyant sur sa grande connaissance des primates, il enrichit notre compréhension de la religion moderne et élabore un raisonnement original fondé sur la biologie évolutionniste et la philosophie morale. Pensant toujours hors des sentiers battus, de Waal apporte ainsi de nouvelles perspectives sur la «nature humaine».

Desafiando a ruptura humano-animal e propondo a discussão de grandes questões éticas e filosóficas da atualidade, o grande primatólogo Frans de Waal nos leva a uma jornada irresistível pela riqueza emocional dos animais. Neste livro comovente e original, ele nos mostra que estamos muito mais conectados a nossos companheiros planetários do que jamais ousamos imaginar. Às vésperas de Mama completar 59 anos, e meses antes do octagésimo aniversário de Jan van Hooff, esses dois hominídeos tiveram um reencontro comovente. Mama, a matriarca de uma colônia de chimpanzés, estava deitada em seu ninho no zoológico de Arnhem, moribunda, quando o velho professor de biologia tomou a decisão incomum de visitá-la para uma despedida. Embora se conhecessem de longa data, nenhum ser humano em sã consciência entraria na jaula de um chimpanzé adulto. Mas ao ver o amigo, Mama despertou da letargia, reagiu com um grande sorriso e tranquilizou-o com tapinhas no pescoço. Ela parecia perceber a apreensão de Jan e dizer a ele que estava feliz com a sua presença. A vida de Mama e a cena desse último abraço são o ponto de partida para uma exploração fascinante das notáveis aptidões emocionais dos animais e do que elas podem revelar sobre nós. Neste livro surpreendente, Frans de Waal nos apresenta essa e outras histórias — do cão enlutado pela perda do amigo a elefantes que revisitam ossos de seus entes queridos — para ilustrar que não somos a única espécie com a capacidade de amar, odiar, sentir medo e até mesmo culpa. Símios expressam-se de modo mais parecido conosco, porém as emoções estão em toda a parte — de peixes e aves a moluscos como o polvo. "Cativante, cheio de compaixão e insights sobre a vida dos animais, incluindo os humanos." — Yuval Noah Harari

Lo que la observación de los animales puede enseñarnos acerca de nuestras propias emociones. Este libro comienza narrando el último encuentro entre Mama, una hembra de chimpancé moribunda, y su cuidador. La escena, en la que Mama intenta sonreír mientras se abraza a la persona que se ocupó de ella durante años fue filmada y ha emocionado a millones de personas a través de la red. Al hilo de este episodio, De Waal habla del significado de las expresiones faciales, las emociones ocultas tras la política humana o la ilusión de la libertad. Esta obra describe las múltiples maneras en que los humanos y el resto de animales estamos íntimamente conectados y nos muestra que los humanos no somos la única especie capaz de amar, odiar, temer o avergonzarse.

Soms kijkt je hond je aan en denk je: wat gaat er in dat koppie om? Dit boek is voor iedereen die meer wil weten over dieren en hun intelligentie. Dankzij de vele voorbeelden en grote liefde voor het dierenrijk een groot plezier om naar te luisteren. In ‘Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn?’ maakt Frans de Waal een balans op: wat is het verschil tussen menselijke en dierlijke intelligentie, en vooral: hoe komen we daarachter? Kan een octopus gereedschap gebruiken? Weten chimpansees wat eerlijk is? Kan een vogel raden wat een andere vogel weet? Voelen ratten empathie met hun vrienden? Niet zo lang geleden zou het antwoord op al deze vragen ‘Nee’ geweest zijn, maar nu zijn we er niet meer zo zeker van. Het zijn vragen die Frans de Waal al zijn hele carrière bezighouden. De laatste jaren heeft het onderzoek naar dierlijke intelligentie een grote vlucht genomen. Onderzoekers proberen zich steeds meer te verplaatsen in het standpunt van dieren en als je goed kijkt, blijken dieren een stuk slimmer te zijn dan we dachten. ‘Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn?’ is een fascinerend boek dat je op een werkelijk andere manier laat kijken naar wat dier én mens kunnen.

Dankzij de vele voorbeelden en de heldere taal van de Waal is ‘Mama’s laatste omhelzing’ niet alleen een feest om te lezen, maar verandert het ook voorgoed je kijk op het gevoelsleven van dieren. ‘Mama’s laatste omhelzing’ opent met het dramatische afscheid in Burgers’ Zoo tussen Mama, een stervende 59-jarige chimpansee, en Jan van Hooff, de bekende hoogleraar biologie. Hun laatste ontmoeting werd gefilmd en vervolgens door miljoenen mensen bekeken. Frans de Waal laat zien dat mensen ook emotioneel meer verwant zijn aan dieren dan we denken. Hij interpreteert gezichtsuitdrukkingen en vertelt over de emotionele kanten van dierlijke én menselijke omgangsvormen. De Waal ziet geen fundamenteel verschil tussen dierlijke en menselijke emoties, en bespreekt de gevolgen van deze visie voor de manier waarop we met dieren omgaan.

Lo que el reino animal nos enseña sobre el sexo, el género y las relaciones humanas. El gran estudioso de los primates Frans de Waal aborda en Diferentes la actual y debatida prevalencia del género (la división cultural entre lo masculino y lo femenino) sobre el sexo (la división biológica entre machos y hembras). Explora también los condicionantes tanto genéticos como culturales que subyacen a la conducta humana y a las diferencias respecto a la agresividad, la cooperación o la competencia entre machos y hembras de chimpancés y bonobos, y su reflejo en las relaciones de hombres y mujeres. Rebatiendo las teorías que postulan que toda conducta viene dictada por la herencia genética, el autor subraya lo que monos y primates pueden enseñarnos acerca de la identidad y la actividad sexual. Es hora de abandonar mitos como el de la mayor impulsividad sexual masculina frente a la femenina o los referidos a la homosexualidad (presente en más de cuatrocientas especies animales) o el mundo trans (una condición que también existe en el reino animal). De Waal ilustra sus a menudo polémicos argumentos con deliciosas historias anécdotas sobre los animales que ha estudiado a lo largo de su dilatada carrera. «Un libro brillante y fascinante, una aproximación comprensiva y equilibrada a las más candentes controversias sobre sexo y género.» Yuval Noah Harari «Las reflexiones que Frans de Waal nos brinda en Diferentes nos proporcionan la serena evaluación biológica que el actual debate sobre la cuestión de las diferencias de género requiere.» Desmond Morris, autor de El mono desnudo «Se requiere mucho valor para que un hombre se aventure hoy en día en el campo minado de las diferencias de género. Pero Frans de Waal confía en sus dotes de narrador, en su sincero respeto por la cultura y su estrecho conocimiento de las sociedades de bonobos y chimpancés para vencer con elegancia en esta trinchera.» Sarah Blaffer Hrdy «Tras leer un libro de Frans de Waal, es imposible ver a nuestra propia especie como antes.» Tamara Mendelson, The Washington Post «Comprometido, iluminador y profundamente informativo.» Kirkus Review

Passionnant récit de la vie de singes avec lesquels nous partageons 96% de notre patrimoine génétique, ce nouveau livre du célèbre primatologue Frans de Waal est un vibrant manifeste pour l’égalité des genres. Avec humour, clarté et compassion, il élargit la conversation sur la dynamique des genres humains en promouvant un modèle inclusif qui embrasse les différences, plutôt que de les nier. Les découvertes de Frans de Waal s’inscrivent avec force dans les débats contemporains sur le genre, l’égalité, l’opposition entre les phénomènes naturels ou culturels de nos rapports humains. S’il ne conteste pas l’existence de différences entre les sexes, l’auteur affirme qu’il n’y a rien de «naturel» à ce que les hommes exercent une domination et que la biologie ne permet pas de les expliquer.

Woher kommt die Moral? Wie hilft sie uns dabei, richtig zu handeln? De Waal beantwortet Fragen rund um Moral und Humanismus mit Blick auf Primaten und andere Tiere, die uns erstaunlich nahestehen: Im gottlosen Universum beobachtet er, wie Menschenaffen gerecht, kooperativ und empathisch handeln. Der weltbekannte Primatenforscher Frans de Waal nimmt uns mit auf eine erfrischende, philosophische Reise, bei der die lange Tradition des Humanismus ebenso zu Wort kommt wie das Sozialverhalten im Tierreich. Er untersucht, welche Konsequenzen seine Forschungen für unser Verständnis von moderner Religion haben. Ganz gleich, welchen Einfluss die Religion auf den Moralkodex des Menschen genommen hat, sie ist nicht die Urheberin unserer Moralität. Der Autor fordert die Leser auf, sich konstruktiv mit Fragen wie diesen auseinanderzusetzen: Welche Rolle spielt die Religion heutzutage in einer gut funktionierenden Gesellschaft? Wo können Gläubige und Nichtgläubige Inspiration für eine gute Lebensführung finden?

Het vermogen om emoties van anderen te kunnen meevoelen is een zeer oude verworvenheid, die zich volgens Frans de Waal in ons lichaam én in onze geest heeft genesteld. Dankzij dit vermogen, dat we empathie noemen, hebben we als soort kunnen overleven. Sociaal onbaatzuchtig gedrag is volgens hem minstens zo belangrijk als het ''recht van de sterkste''. Maar als empathie zo belangrijk is voor de menselijke soort, moet de politiek daar dan niet meer op inspelen?

Le célèbre primatologue et biologiste américano-néerlandais, auteur de L’âge de l’empathie (Éditions LLL, 2010), nous revient avec un essai passionnant sur les origines de la morale humaine. Tissant son texte de récits saisissant issus de l’observation du règne animal et d’analyses philosophiques judicieuses, de Waal cherche à expliquer la morale par un processus venu d’en bas, en insistant sur ce qui nous lie aux animaux.

Primatologists Frans de Waal has published a number of books on chimpanzee behaviour, including Peacemaking Among Primates. In The Ape and The Sushi Master the author continues his explorations of human and primate culture in order to arrive at a better understanding of the roots of human behaviour. De Waal''s study examines whether animals learn from one another and have what he defines as culture, or whether their actions are purely based on genetics and instinct.

Et si la psychologie humaine s''inscrivait dans le prolongement de celle des animaux, qu''il s''agisse de la violence, de l''empathie, ou même de la morale ? C''est la thèse que défend Frans de Waal, primatologue de réputation internationale, dans Le Singe en nous : il s''oppose aux théories de l''exception humaine, qu''elles fassent de l''homme une espèce destinée à dépasser une animalité mauvaise ou qu''elles le présentent comme une aberration de la nature, dont les progrès techniques et intellectuels sont peu en rapport avec sa capacité à gérer son agressivité. A travers l''étude des deux grands singes qui nous sont le plus proches, le chimpanzé et le bonobo, Frans de Waal décrypte notre comportement. Si les chimpanzés incarnent notre face agressive, les bonobos correspondent au versant doux et empathique de l''espèce humaine : primates pacifiques, ils vivent dans des sociétés matriarcales où la fréquence des rapports sexuels permet d''aplanir les conflits. En s''appuyant sur nombre d''anecdotes fascinantes, mais aussi sur des recherches approfondies, l''auteur brosse un portrait du " singe bipolaire " qu''est l''homme. Il utilise aussi le formidable laboratoire que constituent les sociétés de chimpanzés et de bonobos pour aborder les problèmes de la vie en commun chez les êtres humains. Incroyable réservoir d''informations sur la vie des grands singes, ce livre tend à l''humanité un miroir qui lui permettra peut-être de mieux gérer ses propres instincts.