Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves by Frans de Waal

Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves by Frans de Waal is a fascinating book that explores the idea that animals feel emotions like humans do. Drawing from decades of research and observation, the book looks at what the emotions of animals can tell us about ourselves.

The book is organized around the idea that animals are capable of experiencing emotions in ways that are similar to humans. de Waal starts off by introducing the reader to the concept of animal emotions, and then explores how they vary across species. He discusses the importance of studying emotions in animals and how it can help us gain insight into our own emotions. As de Waal explains, “studying emotions in animals can teach us a great deal about ourselves, about the nature of emotions, about our morality, and about relationships between species.”

The book is further organized around examples from de Waal’s own experience and research. One chapter focuses on the story of Mama, an elephant who experienced a powerful emotion when reunited with de Waal after 30 years of separation. De Waal describes the events leading up to the reunion and how Mama expressed joy in her own unique way. de Waal then moves on to discuss his extensive observations of chimpanzees, their communication and emotions, and the lessons that we can learn from them.

In several chapters, de Waal also devotes time to discussing the concept of empathy, and how it is important to understanding the social relationships between animals. He examines animals’ understanding of how their choices affect the emotions of other animals, as well as their own. He also talks at length about the inner life of animals and how they regulate their emotions.

de Waal closes the book with an exploration of the implications of animal emotions for our own lives. He brings up how animals often display empathy, how they can use physical contact to comfort and soothe, and how they recognize the death of loved ones and grieve in a way that is similar to humans. de Waal argues that by understanding the emotions of animals, we are better able to understand our own emotions.

Overall, Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves by Frans de Waal is an exciting and thought-provoking look at the emotions of animals. By combining decades of research and observation with his own experiences, de Waal provides the reader with an intriguing and eye-opening look at the emotions of animals. Ultimately, de Waal suggests that by learning from the emotions of animals, we can gain a better understanding of our own emotions and how they are connected to our relationships, morality, and behavior.