The Well-Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself, by Hannah Holmes
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The Well-Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself, by Hannah Holmes
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THE WELL-DRESSED APE, aka Homo sapiens, is a strange mammal. It thinks of itself as complex, intelligent, and in every way superior to other animals – but is it, really? With wit, humility, and penetrating insight, science journalist Hannah Holmes casts the inquisitive eye of a trained researcher and reporter on...herself. And not just on herself, but on our whole species – what Shakespeare called “the paragon of animals.” In this surprising, humorous, and edifying audio, Holmes explores how the human animal fits into the natural world, even as we humans change that world in both constructive and destructive ways. Comparing and contrasting the biology and behavior of humans with that of other creatures, Holmes demonstrates our position as an animal among other animals, a product of – and subject to – the same evolutionary processes. And not only are we animals – we are, in some important ways (such as our senses of smell and of vision), pitiably inferior ones. That such an animal came to exist at all is unlikely. That we have survived and prospered is extraordinary. At the same time, Holmes reveals the ways in which Homo sapiens stands apart from other animals. Despite the vast common ground we share with our fellow creatures, there are significant areas in which we are unique ― our capacity for self-reflective thought and our talent for changing ourselves in response to natural challenges. Deftly mixing personal stories and observations with the latest scientific theories and research results, Hannah Holmes has fashioned an engaging and informative field guide to that oddest and yet most fascinating of primates: ourselves.
The Well-Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself, by Hannah Holmes- Published on: 2015-03-01
- Formats: Audiobook, CD, Unabridged
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 12
- Dimensions: 6.50" h x 1.00" w x 7.13" l,
- Running time: 14 Hours
- Binding: Audio CD
From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Holmes (Suburban Safari) has been uncomfortable with the notion that I was an animal apart, a sort of extraterrestrial on my own planet. Hence, she examines her animal self, hoping to clarify my identity in the natural world. As in her previous works, she uses the mundane to make larger points about life and the human condition. Beginning each chapter in a scientific mode, she then glides into more personal reflections (I'm most aware of my brain when I encounter its limitations) and then compares humans with other animals: My wad of wiring is so hot and bothered that it puts all the world's other brains to shame. Or does it? Holmes thus continually underscores that humans are not nearly as different as many would have us believe. For example, a surprising number of species communicate fairly well, and prairie dogs actually have a sizable vocabulary. Holmes's optimistic conclusion is that we are the only species capable of thinking about the effect of our actions and acting against narrow self-interest, even if we don't always do so. Holmes makes the scientific personal in prose that is juicy and humorous, if occasionally a bit too cute. (Jan. 20) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist “Who are we, animally speaking?” asks Holmes in this engaging look at Homo sapiens that uses the same cool objectivity scientists employ in viewing other species. In fact, she begins each chapter with the kind of fact sheet used by biologists to classify species, then adds delightful details based on scientific research and observations of her own body and her husband’s. Comparing the human body with other animals, she notes the pros and cons: the scarcity of body fur, the length and straightness of limbs, teeth and claws unsuitable for hunting or defense, merely adequate eyesight, but an amazing brain and social abilities that greatly compensate for physical shortcomings. Deeply informed but whimsical, Holmes examines how—and maybe why—we have evolved the way we have and the myriad differences between the sexes of our species and others. She also examines the impact of culture on our species, from painting ourselves and altering our fur (or hair) to how our diet contributes to greater height from one generation to the next. Holmes brings fresh eyes to her look at our old species. --Vanessa Bush
Review “This is not only a charming and entertaining book, it’s an important read too.”— The Globe and Mail
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Line up the awards By MW Hannah Holmes is a writer with so much wit and zip that you forget you're reading about biology. TWDA is basically a field guide to the human animal. We are amazing, highly domesticated animals, of course, with huge brains and the unique ability to both regret the past and project the future--but so much ELSE of what we are results from a ferocious life wish, i.e., biological survival. This book is packed with astonishing revelations about why and how we mate, how we perceive the world around us(many male/female differences there), the meaning of our long life spans, the implications of physical quirks such as extra-long index fingers, and countless other facts the author has gleaned from observation, study, and voluminous reading. There's a jewel on every page, and the author herself is a jewel, too, like the brainiest, funniest, friendliest teacher you had back in high school.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A field guide to the human animal By Lynn Harnett Surrounded by our electrified homes and cities, our space programs and wars, music and art, it's pretty easy to forget we are animals, no more unique than any other on the planet.Science writer Holmes ("Suburban Safari," "The Secret Life of Dust") sets out to remedy this, structuring her entertaining and edifying book around a field-guide fact sheet for the human animal: physical description, perception, range, diet, reproduction, predators, etc.She opens each chapter with a close examination of the species sample -- herself. Measuring herself and her genetic legacy against the range for her species, she segues into gender and cultural differences and then embarks on comparisons with other creatures.She looks at the advantages our various physical peculiarities confer, and the price we pay. Running, for instance. We may not be the fastest animal, but few creatures can match our stamina. Researchers have come up with 26 anatomical features that make us "the running ape," including a neck untethered from the shoulders and muscles that prevent the head from bouncing, as well as our "zillions" of sweat glands and springy tendons. We pay for this exceptional ability with back pain and wonky knees.While the biological examination gives us much to admire, the social aspects of the human animal are particularly entertaining, from altruism (usually for selfish motives) to aggression to the benefits of cheating on a mate.Studies of birds, prairie dogs and fruit flies have shown the fruit of promiscuity to be more robust. And, "A fascinating study of birds' brain sizes and cheating rates concluded that those species with the cheaten'ist females are also the species with the brainiest females, presumably because those females who can outwit males raise the most fit broods."Reproduction, as always, provides tons of fun. From the sticky issue of monogamy to the factors in choosing a mate and the reasons for anytime receptivity, Holmes enthusiastically explores the chemistry, evolutionary advantages and theories surrounding an activity that few other creatures regard as fun (dolphins and bonobos excepted).And then there are the factoids. Political ideology, for instance, is largely hard-wired into our genetics. Most people will tell three lies in 10 minutes while killing time in a waiting room. And people have an easier time reading emotions on the left side of the face.Many of the many studies Holmes cites (she even includes dubious studies -- and usually cites the problems) will be familiar to those who savor popular science books as a regular part of the reading diet. Some will be new. But it hardly matters. Holmes' approach is so novel, thorough and entertaining, anyone who's at all interested in the human animal -- where it came from and where it's going (yikes!) -- will find the book fascinating.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. The Human Being Fact Sheet(s) By Science Goddess [[VIDEOID:32566701]]Hi, this is Joanne, a bioengineering instructor at the University of Illinois. I read science books and review them. See more at my youtube site [...]Hannah Holmes, the great science writer, tells us all about the human as a species. Fun, fact-filled and fascinating! Don't forget to count how many times I say "um". It was this video or the one with bad lighting, what a choice....
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