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

The Naked Ape: A Zoologist’s Study of the Human Animal by Desmond Morris is an examination of the animal-like behavior of humans. Published in 1967, this classic book was an immediate success and established Morris as one of the leading experts in the field of human behavior. In it, he explores the behavioral dynamics between humans and other primates and suggests that although humans may have evolved from primitive ancestors, many of our behaviors still remain unlike any other species.

The book begins by discussing human body language and communication, and how these differ from other primates. Morris discusses various examples of how humans gesture differently, such as the raised eyebrow or head tilt in humans, which are absent in other primates. He also draws attention to how humans proportionally spend much more time looking at each other’s faces, which is thought to be a way for humans to interpret others’ moods and emotions.

Morris moves on to discuss the basic human needs for security, family, and a dynamic social life. He argues that many of our social traits have been acquired from our primate heritage, such as the need to belong in a family and the tendency to form hierarchical social groups. He also argues that humans have borrowed a variety of other primate behaviors, such as the way we categorize objects and people into categories and the way we use gestures to express our feelings.

Morris then examines the way humans mate and reproduce and suggests that some of our behaviors may be a result of our biology and evolutionary processes. He discusses the way humans mate, form relationships and analyze the other sex. He highlights how human mating rituals differ from other primates, such as the fact that humans are more likely to court rather than simply mate. He also focuses on the role of the family, which he believes has evolved with us, providing us with a stable and secure environment.

In the fourth and final section of the book, Morris turns his gaze to the various modern problems facing humans, such as violence and aggression, poverty and alienation, and fear and despair. He puts forward various theories as to why humans have such a difficult time in dealing with these issues, such as the tendency for humans to act on instinct rather than reason, and our need for large groups of people to feel secure.

Overall, The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris is a fascinating exploration of the many animal-like traits that underlie human behavior, as well as an exploration of some of humans’ more serious modern problems. For anyone interested in a zoologist’s examination of the human animal, this is an essential read.