Synopses & Reviews
A young woman follows her fiancé to war-torn Congo to study extremely endangered bonobo apes-who teach her a new truth about love and belonging. In 2005, Vanessa Woods accepted a marriage proposal from a man she barely knew and agreed to join him on a research trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country reeling from a brutal decade-long war that had claimed the lives of millions. Settling in at a bonobo sanctuary in Congo's capital, Vanessa and her fiancé entered the world of a rare ape with whom we share 98.7 percent of our DNA. She soon discovered that many of the inhabitants of the sanctuary-ape and human alike-are refugees from unspeakable violence, yet bonobos live in a peaceful society in which females are in charge, war is nonexistent, and sex is as common and friendly as a handshake.
A fascinating memoir of hope and adventure, Bonobo Handshake traces Vanessa's self-discovery as she finds herself falling deeply in love with her husband, the apes, and her new surroundings while probing life's greatest question: What ultimately makes us human? Courageous and extraordinary, this true story of revelation and transformation in a fragile corner of Africa is about looking past the differences between animals and ourselves, and finding in them the same extraordinary courage and will to survive. For Vanessa, it is about finding her own path as a writer and scientist, falling in love, and finding a home.
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Review
andquot;Brian Hare's research on dogs, wolves, and great apes has been a game changer. No one is better placed to authoritatively translate the meaning of this research for a better understanding of the minds of dogs and our own species.andquot;
andmdash;Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire and Demonic Males
Review
and#8220;Many authors have tried to anecdotally capture the emotional bond between humans and dogs. Here at last is a book that digs deep into cognitive science to unravel the mysteries of the canine brain. Thoroughly researched and written in the likable voice of a brainy scientist sitting at your kitchen table,
The Genius of Dogs is a fascinating look at what goes on between the ears of the animals we share our lives with. I found it entertaining, fast-moving, and filled with gee-whiz insights that gave me a new appreciation for the complex social intelligence of manand#8217;s best friend.and#8221;
and#8212;John Grogan, author of Marley and Me and The Longest Trip Home
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is a fantastic book. It makes it very clear that there are different kinds of intelligence. All dog lovers should read this book.and#8221;
and#8212;Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human and Animals in Translation
and#8220;The definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution.and#8221;
and#8212;Daniel J. Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs
and#8220;A masterful account of the way science is revealing just how smart dogs can be. Fascinating and highly readable.and#8221;
and#8212;John Bradshaw, University of Bristol, author of Dog Sense
and#8220;With the help of some wolves, Russian foxes, New Guinea singing dogs and a Labrador Retriever named Oreo, Brian Hare tells us about his fascinating search for an understanding of how dogs think and communicate.and#8221;
and#8212;Stanley Coren, author of Do Dogs Dream and Born to Bark
and#8220;Based on Brian Hareand#8217;s game-changing research, The Genius of Dogs brilliantly explains the canine mind and in doing so illuminates the natural history of all intelligence. This book will captivate anyone interested in dog, ape or human mentality.and#8221;
and#8212;Richard Wrangham, Harvard University, author of Catching Fire
and#8220;This is the best book in existence, by far, for learning about the recent revolution in our understanding of the minds of dogs. And its fun, too.and#8221;
and#8212;Mike Tomasello, Co-Director, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is not just about dogs, and not just about genius. Itand#8217;s an exciting detective story by two comparative biologists with amazing discoveries to report.and#8221;
and#8212;Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven
and#8220;A fascinating, riveting, utterly engaging romp through the mind of man's best friend. I promise: You will never look at your dog the same way again.and#8221;
and#8212;Maria Goodavage, author of Soldier Dogs
"Hare's thoroughly researched, enjoyable work will find an appreciative audience. This is essential reading for dog lovers and those who enjoy psychology and social sciences relating to animal behavior, communication, and training." -and#160;Library Journal
Review
and#8220;Many authors have tried to anecdotally capture the emotional bond between humans and dogs. Here at last is a book that digs deep into cognitive science to unravel the mysteries of the canine brain. Thoroughly researched and written in the likable voice of a brainy scientist sitting at your kitchen table,
The Genius of Dogs is a fascinating look at what goes on between the ears of the animals we share our lives with. I found it entertaining, fast-moving, and filled with gee-whiz insights that gave me a new appreciation for the complex social intelligence of manand#8217;s best friend.and#8221;
and#8212;John Grogan, author of Marley and Me and The Longest Trip Home
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is a fantastic book. It makes it very clear that there are different kinds of intelligence. All dog lovers should read this book.and#8221;
and#8212;Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human and Animals in Translation
and#8220;The definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution.and#8221;
and#8212;Daniel J. Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs
and#8220;A masterful account of the way science is revealing just how smart dogs can be. Fascinating and highly readable.and#8221;
and#8212;John Bradshaw, University of Bristol, author of Dog Sense
and#8220;With the help of some wolves, Russian foxes, New Guinea singing dogs and a Labrador Retriever named Oreo, Brian Hare tells us about his fascinating search for an understanding of how dogs think and communicate.and#8221;
and#8212;Stanley Coren, author of Do Dogs Dream and Born to Bark
and#8220;Based on Brian Hareand#8217;s game-changing research, The Genius of Dogs brilliantly explains the canine mind and in doing so illuminates the natural history of all intelligence. This book will captivate anyone interested in dog, ape or human mentality.and#8221;
and#8212;Richard Wrangham, Harvard University, author of Catching Fire
and#8220;This is the best book in existence, by far, for learning about the recent revolution in our understanding of the minds of dogs. And its fun, too.and#8221;
and#8212;Mike Tomasello, Co-Director, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is not just about dogs, and not just about genius. Itand#8217;s an exciting detective story by two comparative biologists with amazing discoveries to report.and#8221;
and#8212;Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven
and#8220;A fascinating, riveting, utterly engaging romp through the mind of man's best friend. I promise: You will never look at your dog the same way again.and#8221;
and#8212;Maria Goodavage, author of Soldier Dogs
Review
and#8220;Many authors have tried to anecdotally capture the emotional bond between humans and dogs. Here at last is a book that digs deep into cognitive science to unravel the mysteries of the canine brain. Thoroughly researched and written in the likable voice of a brainy scientist sitting at your kitchen table,
The Genius of Dogs is a fascinating look at what goes on between the ears of the animals we share our lives with. I found it entertaining, fast-moving, and filled with gee-whiz insights that gave me a new appreciation for the complex social intelligence of manand#8217;s best friend.and#8221;
and#8212;John Grogan, author of Marley and Me and The Longest Trip Home
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is a fantastic book. It makes it very clear that there are different kinds of intelligence. All dog lovers should read this book.and#8221;
and#8212;Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human and Animals in Translation
and#8220;The definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution.and#8221;
and#8212;Daniel J. Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs
and#8220;A masterful account of the way science is revealing just how smart dogs can be. Fascinating and highly readable.and#8221;
and#8212;John Bradshaw, University of Bristol, author of Dog Sense
and#8220;With the help of some wolves, Russian foxes, New Guinea singing dogs and a Labrador Retriever named Oreo, Brian Hare tells us about his fascinating search for an understanding of how dogs think and communicate.and#8221;
and#8212;Stanley Coren, author of Do Dogs Dream and Born to Bark
and#8220;Based on Brian Hareand#8217;s game-changing research, The Genius of Dogs brilliantly explains the canine mind and in doing so illuminates the natural history of all intelligence. This book will captivate anyone interested in dog, ape or human mentality.and#8221;
and#8212;Richard Wrangham, Harvard University, author of Catching Fire
and#8220;This is the best book in existence, by far, for learning about the recent revolution in our understanding of the minds of dogs. And its fun, too.and#8221;
and#8212;Mike Tomasello, Co-Director, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is not just about dogs, and not just about genius. Itand#8217;s an exciting detective story by two comparative biologists with amazing discoveries to report.and#8221;
and#8212;Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven
and#8220;A fascinating, riveting, utterly engaging romp through the mind of man's best friend. I promise: You will never look at your dog the same way again.and#8221;
and#8212;Maria Goodavage, author of Soldier Dogs
"Hare's thoroughly researched, enjoyable work will find an appreciative audience. This is essential reading for dog lovers and those who enjoy psychology and social sciences relating to animal behavior, communication, and training." -and#160;Library Journal
Synopsis
A young woman follows her fiancé to war-torn Congo to study extremely endangered bonobo apes-who teach her a new truth about love. In 2005 Vanessa Woods accepted a marriage proposal from a man she barely knew and agreed to join him on a research trip to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. Settling in at a bonobo sanctuary in Congo's capital, Vanessa and her fiancé entered the world of a rare ape with whom we share 98.7 percent of our DNA and who live in a peaceful society in which females are in charge, war is nonexistent, and sex is as common and friendly as a handshake.
A fascinating memoir of hope and adventure, Bonobo Handshake traces Vanessa's self-discovery as she finds herself falling deeply in love with her husband, the apes, and her new surroundings in this true story of revelation and transformation in a fragile corner of Africa.
Synopsis
A young woman follows her fianc to war-torn Congo to study extremely endangered bonobo apes, who teach her a new truth about love and belonging. 8-page b&w photo insert.
Synopsis
Brian Hare, dog researcher, evolutionary anthropologist, and founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center, and Vanessa Woods offer revolutionary new insights into dog intelligence and the interior lives of our smartest pets. In the past decade, we have learned more about how dogs think than in the last century. Breakthroughs in cognitive science, pioneered by Brian Hare have proven dogs have a kind of genius for getting along with people that is unique in the animal kingdom.and#160;
Brian Hare's stunning discovery is that when dogs domesticated themselves as early as 40,000 years ago they became far more like human infants than their wolf ancestors. Domestication gave dogs a whole new kind of social intelligence. This finding will change the way we think about dogs and dog trainingandmdash;indeed, the revolution has already begun.
Hare's seminal research has led him to work with every kind of dog from the tiniest shelter puppy to the exotic New Guinea singing dog, from his own childhood dog, Oreo, to the most fashionable schnoodle. The Genius of Dogs is nothing less than the definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution.
Synopsis
A young woman follows her fiancé to war-torn Congo to study extremely endangered bonobo apes-who teach her a new truth about love. In 2005 Vanessa Woods accepted a marriage proposal from a man she barely knew and agreed to join him on a research trip to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. Settling in at a bonobo sanctuary in Congo's capital, Vanessa and her fiancé entered the world of a rare ape with whom we share 98.7 percent of our DNA and who live in a peaceful society in which females are in charge, war is nonexistent, and sex is as common and friendly as a handshake.
A fascinating memoir of hope and adventure, Bonobo Handshake traces Vanessa's self-discovery as she finds herself falling deeply in love with her husband, the apes, and her new surroundings in this true story of revelation and transformation in a fragile corner of Africa.
About the Author
"Funny, adventurous, and heartbreaking, Woods takes us with her to darkest Africa to meet our nearest relative, the nearly extinct bonobo. This must-read book illuminates extraordinary courage in both people and animals."
-Sara Gruen, bestselling author of Water for Elephants
"Gain insights into both the darkness and altruistic sides of our own emotions by getting to know chimpanzees and bonobos in an African sanctuary. This book is both shocking and hilarious." ,BR> -Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation and Animals Make Us Human
"Don't think that this is just a book about apes. It's a love story, an adventure story, and a political education about a country that has seen more tragedy and inhumanity than you can imagine. Above all, it's an introduction to creatures who have every claim to being more human, in the best sense of the word, than we are."
-Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost ,BR>
"This is a startling book. Page after page astonished me. A beautifully written journey into the tangled jungle of the human mind, it also brings us movingly into intimate, loving contact with our extraordinary cousins. This is a compelling story, told with striking honesty, humor, and intelligence."
-Alan Alda, author of New York Times bestsellers Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself and Never Have Your Dog Stuffed