In the Shadow of Man (Paperback)

~ (Author), Hugo van Lawick (Photographer), Stephen Jay Gould (Introduction) "SINCE DAWN I had climbed up and down the steep mountain slopes and pushed my way through the dense valley forests..." (more)
Key Phrases: David Graybeard, Gombe Stream, Copyright National Geographic Society (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An instant animal classic." -- Time

"An instant animal classic." -- Review

"Apart from its enormous scientific value, IN THE SHADOW OF MAN is absolutely fascinating to read as a story of discovery . . . The whole book is enthralling." -- Boston Globe

"I can't imagine a more vivid or unexpectedly moving introduction to chimpanzees in the wild than Jane Goodall's." -- George Stade -- The New York Times

"Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees represents one of the Western world's great scientific achievements." -- Stephen Jay Gould

Review

"Apart from its enormous scientific value, IN THE SHADOW OF MAN is absolutely fascinating to read as a story of discovery . . . The whole book is enthralling." Boston Globe

"I can't imagine a more vivid or unexpectedly moving introduction to chimpanzees in the wild than Jane Goodall's." -- George Stade The New York Times

"Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees represents one of the Western world's great scientific achievements." -- Stephen Jay Gould

"An instant animal classic." Time Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Revised edition (April 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618056769
• ISBN-13: 978-0618056767
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,397 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #6 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Primatology
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  #49 in	Books > Science > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Methodology & Statistics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary account - even decades later, January 29, 2001

By	Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

IN THE SHADOW OF MAN, first published in 1971, remains one of the most extraordinary observations of chimpanzee behavior in the wild. Goodall begins with the story of how she arrived in Africa and her first days there, but wisely switches the attention from herself to the endangered chimpanzees she studies. She not only recognizes individuals but learns their distinctive personalities, describing in compelling detail the smallest of moments that illuminate who these great animals are. Unlike most scientists of the time, Goodall documents emotions and complex political behavior, the social hierarchy and parenting abilities, the aggression and the bonds formed between chimps that can only be described as friendships. In eloquent prose, Goodall tells the stories of these chimps - most notably that of Flo and her family - and will forever change the way you view chimpanzees.

The book contains several black and white photographs of the chimps, a real treat after getting to "know" these chimps in writing.

If you have any interest at all in primates or in animals generally, this is a must-have book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super-de-duper!, November 15, 2004

By	Marshmello Monster - See all my reviews

Like another reviewer, I'm an anthropology student and I had to read this book for a class I'm taking. Never has a book, meant for education, made me both laugh and cry out loud. It was simply wonderful. You will learn a lot about chimpanzees, and I promiss you will never watch them in the zoo, in the same way, again. Even if you are not looking to learn about chimpanzee developement and behavior, the book is excellent on a purely entertainment level. Even though this book is was a required reading, I was so impressed that I'm going out to buy her other books... just out of interest.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Observation is the key to all the doors of knowledge, July 30, 2001

By	Juan Carlos Uribe (Bogota, Colombia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The pleasure that Ms. Goodall had placed and received in sharing her life with chimpanzees is conveyed effortlessly in this book and touches you quite easily. I started reading this book not being to sure about what I was doing, since to know about the habits of these primates is not exactly among my list of favorite topics. So I just started browsing and before I knew it, sixty or eighty pages had gone by as well as my possibilities of getting up early in the morning.

The author will guide your through the complex social structures in which chimpanzees live to the very detailed and amazing details of their everyday life. For example that they would eat gladly a human baby if given the chance. But more important she makes you care for their lives not as a consequence of a higher scientific purpose, but simply because the more that we relate to nature the more we are embraced in its blessings.