The Third Chimpanzee

The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal

Jared Diamond

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The Third Chimpanzee" by Jared Diamond explores the fascinating similarities and differences between humans and our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees. Diamond, a renowned biologist and Pulitzer Prize winner, delves into the question of why humans have achieved such remarkable success, while our chimp relatives remain confined to the trees.

Through engaging prose, Diamond uncovers our species' unique qualities, including our ability to create art, engage in language, and manipulate the environment to meet our needs. He also examines our less admirable traits, such as our penchant for violence and destruction.

Drawing on extensive research from various disciplines, including anthropology, genetics, and history, Diamond charts the evolution of human traits and behaviors. He highlights the role of sexual selection, ecological factors, and genetics in shaping our species' trajectory.

Diamond further explores how human societies have spread across the globe, impacting not only the planet's ecosystems but also the diverse cultures and civilizations that have emerged. He delves into the consequences of our exponential population growth, our impact on other species, and the environmental concerns that threaten our future survival.

"The Third Chimpanzee" challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of what it truly means to be human. Diamond's thought-provoking analysis offers a fresh perspective on our place in the animal kingdom, urging us to reflect on our choices and behaviors, and ultimately inspiring hope for a more sustainable future.

Explore More Books

See All
Euclid's Elements
The Captive Mind
Fables
Flowers for Algernon
For The Love Of Physics
The Humane Economy
Memoirs
The Great Influenza
Think Like
History of the World
The Story of Civilization: Rousseau and Revolution
The Social Animal
The Worlds I See
Mission
The Dream of Reason
Children of Dune
Lateral Thinking
The World is Flat
A Bright Future
Jack
Predictably Irrational
The Art of Spirited Away
What You Do Is Who You Are
Maverick
Letters to a Young Scientist
You
Bitcoin is Venice
Being Aware of Being Aware
The Bitcoin Standard
In Praise of Slowness
Decrypting Money
Economics in One Lesson
Money Changes Everything
Decoded
The Dream Machine
Why Minsky Matters
Everything All At Once
Gay Like Me
Benjamin Franklin
Why Information Grows
The Sympathizer
Home Work
Dance to the Tune of Life
Go To
The Water Dancer
The Myth of the Strong Leader
Where Good Ideas Come From
Social Cognition
One Monster After Another
Benjamin Franklin
The Spy and The Traitor
Gang Leader for a Day
Grit
Take Back The Game
Who Am I
Shortcut
Letters of Note
Albert Einstein
The Psychology of Money
The Quest for El Cid
This Explains Everything
Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln
Nine Pints
Anything You Want
Bitcoin
Lucky Me
The Great Mental Models
Unstoppable Prosperity
A New History of Greek Mathematics
Reinventing American Health Care
Collected Fictions
The Book of Five Rings
Life Ascending
Who Is Michael Ovitz
On Intelligence
An Agricultural Testament
Letters To A Young Athlete
The End of History and the Last Man
Secrets of Power Negotiating
Little Brother
Changing Minds
Well
How to Get Lucky
Days of Rage
What Works on Wall Street
A Timeless Way of Building
Fall of Constantinople
Sit Like a Buddha
The New Jim Crow
A Universe From Nothing
New Power
Holistic Management
Born to Run
Devil's Harbor
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The War of Art
Replay
Radical Uncertainty
How To Buy Stocks
On Grief and Grieving