The Naked Ape: A Zoologist’s Study of the Human Animal

264 Pages·1999·15.94 MB·English

by  Desmond Morris

You will read The Naked Ape with a curi¬
ous sense of involvement, for this most
sophisticated book reveals the human race
through the unemotional eyes of a zoolo¬
gist, exposing it in a completely new light.
Since he first became intellectually
aware, man has examined his higher mo¬
tives but has tended to ignore those he con¬
sidered base. Reason and imagination,
however, have not erased the basic pat¬
terns of behavior established early in evo¬
lution. Beneath the skin, the traits we ex¬
hibit—sexually, at play, and at war—are
striking evidence of our close relationship
with the animal world.
The revelations of this book are startling
and sobering, controversial and thought-
provoking. Our cherished institution of mar¬
riage is seen as evolving from the classic
pair-formation of hunting animals whose
males must insure the fidelity of their fe¬
males while they are away searching for
food. The overcrowding of our cities is
shown as a threat to our welfare as a
species.
Desmond Morris’ research leads him
into intriguing byways and speculations.
Smiling appears to be a tool by which the
human infant reassures his mother, and is
in turn reassured by her, that her aggres¬
siveness toward him is harmless.
The bold speculation of The Naked Ape
will stir controversy among scientists and
will stimulate and delight the general read¬
er. In this intensely technological age,
Desmond Morris appeals to all readers to
(continued on back flap)
Book Club
Edition

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation
https://archive.org/details/nakedape0000morr

DESMOND MORRIS
THE NAKED APE
A Zoologist’s Study of the
Human Animal
McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY
NEW YORK
Copyright © 1967 by Desmond Morris. All Rights Re¬
served. Printed in the United States of America. No part of
this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys¬
tem, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, elec¬
tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION, 9
ORIGINS, 13
SEX, 50
REARING, 103
EXPLORATION, 129
FIGHTING, I47
FEEDING, 189
COMFORT, 201
ANIMALS, 219
APPENDIX: LITERATURE,
BIBLIOGRAPHY, 250