The Third Chimpanzee Book Summary

In 'The Third Chimpanzee', Jared Diamond explores the evolutionary journey that sets humans apart from our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. Through a captivating mix of biology, anthropology, and history, he uncovers the profound similarities and stark differences between species. Diamond raises provocative questions about our behaviors, societal structures, and the fate of our planet. Readers are invited to ponder whether humanity's greatest achievements are results of evolution or sheer chance. This thought-provoking narrative challenges us to reconsider what it truly means to be human.

By Jared Diamond

Published: 2014

""The past is not just a series of events that happened; it is a complex narrative woven by the choices we make and the paths we take. Understanding our history as a species is essential to forging a future that reflects our shared humanity.""

Book Review of The Third Chimpanzee

The Third Chimpanzee was first published in 1991 and has been in print ever since. This new, illustrated edition is aimed at a young readership. In it, Jared Diamond explores what makes us human and poses fascinating questions including: If we share more than 98% of our DNA with chimpanzees, how is it that we can write, read, talk, build telescopes and bombs, while we put our speechless and bomb-less close relatives in cages and zoos? What can woodpeckers teach us about spacecraft? Is genocide a human invention? Why does extinction matter? Why are we destroying the natural resources on which we depend for survival? What hope is there for future generations? The Third Chimpanzee for Young Readers is not only a mind-boggling survey of how we came to be who we are, but a plea to the next generation to "make better decisions than their parents and get us out of the mess we're in."

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"The past is not just a series of events that happened; it is a complex narrative woven by the choices we make and the paths we take. Understanding our history as a species is essential to forging a future that reflects our shared humanity."

The Third Chimpanzee

By Jared Diamond