Book Review - The Naked Ape

When my friend Anand gave me Desmond Morris book - ‘The Naked Ape - A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal’, I simply couldn’t refuse. It would have been stupid to refuse Anand Khedkar, promising young Indian scientist whose appetite for books and filing patents thankfully remains insatiable.

This book catches your attention, raises eyebrows and remains timeless. Born in 1928, Desmond Morris has authored innumerable scientific papers and seven books. At a time when authors employ services of marketing agencies to stir controversies and spur sells, the Naked Ape created huge controversy because of its stimulating contents. It was first published in 1967 and since then, has been translated into several languages, sold more than 10 million copies and continues to remain a best seller.

The book is spread across 167 pages and divided into 8 chapters. The chapters are: Origin, Sex, Rearing, Exploration, Fighting, Feeding, Comfort and Animals. In the book, Desmond presents the study of man’s evolution and development of his modern day habits. By portraying human being as animal species and as an integral part of primate evolution, Morris traces our origin, commonalities and differences with various animals. The books highpoint lies in its simple, lucid narration and brilliant illustration of our primal imperatives seen through our modern day habits and ingenuity.

The first chapter ‘Origin’ presents man as a risen animal and despite our environment – moulding achievements; we still remain a very naked ape at heart. In the subsequent chapters the author showcases the modern naked ape’s behaviour.

The second chapter must be included in school curriculum. It’s on ‘Sex’ - insightful and not erotic. Ironically, this is the only subject where students are discouraged from doing any practicals or homework! Explaining the intricacies of process of attraction, pair bonding, the author innocuously elucidates the various physiological changes that take place before, during and after copulatory stages. The author finds voyeurism biologically abnormal but the media and the daily sitcoms defy it and are forever concerned with satisfying this demand.

Much of what we do as adult is based on imitative absorption during our childhood years. Crying, laughing, smiling and facial expressions play a larger role and this is subtly presented in the Chapter titled ‘Rearing’. The chapter on ‘Exploration’ brings out the battle between our neophilic and neophobic urges. (Isn’t that an oxymoron?) The former drives us on to new experiences while the latter holds us back. The author remarks that exploratory behaviour plays a role in the basic survival patterns of feeding, fighting, and mating.

The chapter on ‘Fighting’ illustrates aggressive urges using our background of animal origins. It throws light on the pattern of aggressive behaviour and intimidation tactics practiced by all. In the chapter ‘Feeding’, Morris highlights evolution in our food habits and unequivocally states, “human beings should return to our ancient primate feeding patterns.” Gourmet writers and caviar sellers would certainly cringe!

The topic on ‘Comfort’ features interesting insights on primate grooming not just as a cleaning pattern, but also in the social context and communication. The last chapter on ‘Animal’ identifies various categories of inter- specific relationships viz; prey, symbiont, competitor, parasite and predators. However unlike animals we continue to carry relationships much further. This chapter has a fascinating experiment that proves why younger children like big animals and why older children prefer smaller animals. We also get to know the reasons behind our acute and instinctive hatred for snakes and spiders and other reptiles.

Thanks Anand for recommending this masterpiece. The book truly succeeds in establishing linkages with ape. A must read for all regardless of educational qualifications….