Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Dell (1973), Edition: 3rd, Paperback, 205 pages
Description
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH A NEW PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR Here is the Naked Ape at his most primal - in love, at work, at war. Meet man as he really is: relative to the apes, stripped of his veneer as we see him courting, making love, sleeping, socialising, grooming, playing. Zoologist Desmond Morris's classic takes its place alongside Darwin's Origin of the Species, presenting man not as a fallen angel, but as a risen ape, remarkable in his resilience, energy and imagination, yet an animal nonetheless, in danger of forgetting his origins. With its penetrating insights on man's beginnings, sex life, habits and our astonishing bonds to the animal kingdom, The Naked Ape is a landmark, at once provocative, compelling and timeless. 'Original, provocative and brilliantly entertaining. It's the sort of book that changes people's lives' Sunday Times… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member gbill
As Morris says in the Introduction, “There are one hundred and ninety-three living species of monkeys and apes. One hundred and ninety-two of them are covered with hair. The exception is a naked ape self-named Homo sapiens.
And so begins an examination of mankind as if from a disinterested third
This is the strength of the work: it was a real challenge to mankind’s cherished views, and an attempt to scientifically study man to better explain why we are as we are. The chapter on sex was controversial in 1966 when the book was published, and is still very interesting today. As an example, he wonders why females of the human species have such large breasts in comparison to other apes, as this isn’t necessary for nursing babies (other apes do that, without the accoutrement). His explanation is that they serve as a sexual display, similar to the backside, but in front to motivate frontal entry during sex, which in turn promotes stronger pair-bonding.
Unfortunately the science behind it is sometimes weak. Morris was a zoologist, but this is borderline “pop science”, and unfortunately too many statements come across as fact when they are conjecture. Interesting conjecture, mind you, but conjecture. Morris said he wrote the book in four exhausting weeks, and while the passion and inspiration come through, sometimes he sounds hopelessly dated and wrong today. For example, he says that homosexuality may be influenced by an effeminate father and/or a dominant mother.
For all that, it’s a good read. The perspective he took was often fascinating. He’s not right on all things, but puts forth plausible explanations, rooted in biology and the natural word and more plausible than those stemming from our religious ‘origin stories’, and which provoke thought and debate.
And so begins an examination of mankind as if from a disinterested third
Show More
party, a representative of another species who can objectively make observations and draw conclusions about man, his social customs, learning, and sexual behavior. For man, to Morris, is an animal. An erudite animal, yes, but one who has only been “civilized” for a few thousand years, not enough time to drop his evolutionary genetic legacy so quickly – despite the thoughts of the members of its species to the contrary.This is the strength of the work: it was a real challenge to mankind’s cherished views, and an attempt to scientifically study man to better explain why we are as we are. The chapter on sex was controversial in 1966 when the book was published, and is still very interesting today. As an example, he wonders why females of the human species have such large breasts in comparison to other apes, as this isn’t necessary for nursing babies (other apes do that, without the accoutrement). His explanation is that they serve as a sexual display, similar to the backside, but in front to motivate frontal entry during sex, which in turn promotes stronger pair-bonding.
Unfortunately the science behind it is sometimes weak. Morris was a zoologist, but this is borderline “pop science”, and unfortunately too many statements come across as fact when they are conjecture. Interesting conjecture, mind you, but conjecture. Morris said he wrote the book in four exhausting weeks, and while the passion and inspiration come through, sometimes he sounds hopelessly dated and wrong today. For example, he says that homosexuality may be influenced by an effeminate father and/or a dominant mother.
For all that, it’s a good read. The perspective he took was often fascinating. He’s not right on all things, but puts forth plausible explanations, rooted in biology and the natural word and more plausible than those stemming from our religious ‘origin stories’, and which provoke thought and debate.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MistahKurtz
It was fascinating and revealing when I read this thirty years ago. It was psuedo-science then, and is probably even more so now. But what a fascinating read it is! And I must give it to Mr. Morris: he spent his time at the London Zoo well it seems, observing the chimps and the old baboon, not to
Show More
mention the greatest ape of all, coming to gawk at their less fortunate kin who were kept behind bars. Dated, perhaps, and I ended up jaded after so many re-runs of the same original idea in many, many re-incarnations, often little less than photobooks (The Naked Ape, The Human Zoo, The Naked Woman, The Naked Man, Planet Ape): Mr. Morris knows a good thing when he sees it. But he did try to answer many questions no one else had ever asked: yes, why do women have breasts that look like buttocks, and why do humans (and bonobos) mate face-to-face? It's all speculation, but it sure is specualtion of the fascinating kind. speculation. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meggo
I love Desmond Morris, I do. I just didn't love this book. While the premise is initially fascinating - the human animal considered to other animals as an animal - it wore quickly and felt forced at times. Written in 1967, it also felt badly dated in places, generally where considering the female
Show More
of the species and the strength of humans' pair bonds. Interesting, but more in the "what is that interesting stain" kind of way than a real "wow, that's fascinating" way. Show Less
LibraryThing member georgeslacombe
I must read book. Still valuable besides its age.
LibraryThing member MarioSantamaria
Althought it is some old, this book makes an study of men like the study of any animal to determine to which specie belong, after the study the men is clasified as the naked ape, and makes a deep study of our characteristics as a specie.
LibraryThing member pheelowesq
Mr. Morris (though possessed of a fine name) writes a book hopelessly stuck in the 1960s. Granted, that's when he wrote it, so I should be forgiving. But here's a man who radically approached humanity as an animal YET assumed homosexuality was a product of gender bending parents (81). Now, he also
Regardless of my 21st century superiority, this is a fabulous read. Desmond is a dream. His science is arguable (which is a compliment - it's dismissable science we should abhor) and well written. His conclusions grappleable, and his assumptions insightful. Though I am man, I am proud to be ape (if only naked every now and then.)
Show More
considered homosexuals as aberrant as monks (six of one....) so I can't fault his approach. Regardless of my 21st century superiority, this is a fabulous read. Desmond is a dream. His science is arguable (which is a compliment - it's dismissable science we should abhor) and well written. His conclusions grappleable, and his assumptions insightful. Though I am man, I am proud to be ape (if only naked every now and then.)
Show Less
LibraryThing member oldman
I read this book in one sitting. It is one man's view of the evolution of man from his biologic beginnings to today. He uses the concepts and principles of evolution to describe how the biology and social development of man occurred. Many new ideas are proposed with some use of disciplines
I found this book very readable and interesting. Some of the ideas confirm personal ideas I have held for years. I will reread this book in time. Some ideas are quite complex and deserve thought.
Show More
associated with zoology, the author's specialty. Written in 1966, this book probably caused controversy. I am sure It would today also.I found this book very readable and interesting. Some of the ideas confirm personal ideas I have held for years. I will reread this book in time. Some ideas are quite complex and deserve thought.
Show Less
LibraryThing member triksel
The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal
LibraryThing member TurtleCreekBooks
One of those ground-breaking works of layman's anthropology, zoology, pop-psychology written in the 60s. Despite some of the very dated concepts (sometimes embarrassingly dated and mildly offensive to women and gays) the book still holds its own and is immensely readable. It should probably be a
Show More
"must-read" in any social theory library. The concepts on dating, sexual attraction and "mating" are fascinating and likely (at least partially) valid, and certainly thought provoking. Many later works cite The Naked Ape as a source or jumping off point, so it's well worth a read. Show Less
LibraryThing member DerekT.Rowswell
The fascinating journey and description of man as an animal species.
LibraryThing member drmaf
Intrigued me when I first read its as a schoolboy (probably as much for the titillating cover art as much as anything to my impressionable mind, as I recall the first time I ever saw the image of a naked woman). the whole idea of humans as just monkeys who got lucky grabbed me, largely because at
Show More
that time I was rebelling against the enforced religious teaching I was getting at my strict Catholic school. From here I went to Charles Darwin, then Richard Dawkins, and hey presto, lost to the church forever. For that, if nothing else I owe Morris and this book a huge debt. Outdated now, but still a cracking read. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanWillemNoldus
One of the great bestsellers at the time, a primer in identification of the human being as an animal, with particular interest for sexual behaviour. A sensation around 1970, but shocking to many people. I adored it!
LibraryThing member BBcummings
A fascinating read by a great thinker. Virtually no aspect of human nature and physiognomy escapes his keen zoologist eyes; even responses such as smiling, laughing and crying. However, be warned: not only is this book nearly 50 years old and therefore outdated, but one must ingest his words with a
His explanation of the protuberance and shape of female breasts developing as a frontal sexual display resulting from our upright posture, rather than for increased efficiency of nursing, is presented as a credible argument. Mmm, maybe that explains the human male's fascination with them.
Most of his observations are comparative, highlighting similarities and differences between other mammals, notably the chimpanzee. In all cases, Morris makes us think about many aspects of ourselves that we normally take for granted.
One criticism I have is his over-emphasis on genetic origins - for example, he claims the pair-bond formation between sexes (i.e monogamy) is genetic rather than cultural - afraid I disagree there. Also his treatment of warfare is incomplete and not entirely satisfactory for me.
I know others will attack the author as chauvinistic (not only in regards the sexes, but cultures as well), but still, hey, the book can just be considered food for thought.
All in all, a stimulating read, one so rich that I have marked it for a second time around in the future. It helped me to come up with my own thoughts on the subject
Show More
large heaping of salt. As a scientific treatise it fails. The best way to read it is to consider this the personal musings of a biologist/anthropologist, not the findings of an expert researcher. It's greatest value is in instigating thought on the subject. It is the step-back-and look-at-ourselves approach which is of real value here, not his (sometimes hilarious)conclusions.His explanation of the protuberance and shape of female breasts developing as a frontal sexual display resulting from our upright posture, rather than for increased efficiency of nursing, is presented as a credible argument. Mmm, maybe that explains the human male's fascination with them.
Most of his observations are comparative, highlighting similarities and differences between other mammals, notably the chimpanzee. In all cases, Morris makes us think about many aspects of ourselves that we normally take for granted.
One criticism I have is his over-emphasis on genetic origins - for example, he claims the pair-bond formation between sexes (i.e monogamy) is genetic rather than cultural - afraid I disagree there. Also his treatment of warfare is incomplete and not entirely satisfactory for me.
I know others will attack the author as chauvinistic (not only in regards the sexes, but cultures as well), but still, hey, the book can just be considered food for thought.
All in all, a stimulating read, one so rich that I have marked it for a second time around in the future. It helped me to come up with my own thoughts on the subject
Show Less
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
A somewhat dated book now, but in his day Morris - almost single handedly - broke down some [at the time] very controversial barriers. We didn't particularly like being shown what animals we were.
LibraryThing member parp
Lots of interesting facts and thesis. An irresistible view of human motivations.
LibraryThing member ErisPrincipia
I loved this book for it strips away all the fluff and gooey goodness we pile on ourselves. By correlating our behavior to that of apes in the natural world, the author builds a case for understanding instincts. It helped me to understand the inherent primal yearnings of Homo sapiens sapiens!
One of
Desmond Morris is an ethologist & a zoologist, not a psych doc, an evolutionary biologist or any other discipline that attempts to explain human behavior and how it intersects with sexuality. That shapes his viewpoint.
One of
Show More
my fav books on human behavior. A big surprise to me when I first read it. It was written before was a born and currently, of course a few things are dated but...I still see the relevance in it. I have loaned out 3 copies over the years that I won't see again. (They are actually on bookshelves, not stuffed in a box or tossed away in rubbish heap.)Desmond Morris is an ethologist & a zoologist, not a psych doc, an evolutionary biologist or any other discipline that attempts to explain human behavior and how it intersects with sexuality. That shapes his viewpoint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member CenterPointMN
An illustrated study of the "naked ape" or the homo sapiens or the human being as an aniaml with animal behaviors, instincts and pysical features.
LibraryThing member Huaquera
A very entertaining read, concerning probable reasons why we are the way we are. However, it is written from the male perspective.
LibraryThing member nicdevera
Some fondness, this book impressed me when I was a kid. A precursor, limited to anecdotes and guesswork, obviously superseded by more recent ev psych.
LibraryThing member t1bnotown
Okay, this was an interesting book, until I read "The Descent of Women" and the author basically eviscerated a lot of points made here. So I was watching these Stamford University behavioral biology lectures, and the professor said of evolutionary biology that it's basically about "who tells the
Show More
best story." I mean, you look at the biology of humans and you get a lot of information, but to a certain degree it's just clues. There are a lot of guesses. Why do we have a lot of hair on our heads and not much elsewhere on our bodies? What kind of evolutionary advantage might that have had? The other thing that we shouldn't forget about genetics is that mutations are random, a lot of them don't have an advantage or disadvantage, and some of them were chosen not because they were advantageous, but because of an event like genetic bottleneck (for example, a volcano randomly kills most of the animals without that trait and suddenly that's the main trait not because it's better but because of a random volcano). So yes, "The Naked Ape" tells a good story, but I don't think it tells the best one or gives the best supporting evidence. Show Less
LibraryThing member mykl-s
This book was maybe the beginning of my slow realization that we humans, no matter how special we believe we are, are still very much a part of nature.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1967
Physical description
205 p.; 6.9 inches
ISBN
0440162661 / 9780440162667