A primate's memoir
by Robert M. Sapolsky · first published 2001
82% recommend18% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A funny, entertaining memoir of a neuroscientist's years studying wild baboons in Africa, full of vivid field stories. It is an edifying, light, engaging read about research life.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The author offers a memoir of his two decades in the field studying Kenyan baboons as he describes the members of the baboon troop and their behavior and his interaction with the neighboring Masai tribe.
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…about and interact with the world, on a daily basis. Without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read. Maybe even the best. The only other book that came close this year was Robert Sapolsky's A Primate's Memoir.
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗Well if Chimps can't then Baboons sure as hell can. Have a read of A Primate's Memoir by Robert Sapolsky. The vast majority of human social and politic interactions are stereotypical of almost all primates, the only difference is that we have the gall to think that walking erect seems…
on “Most of what chimpanzees and humans do today is not directly comparable” ↗I haven't read Behave by Robert Sapolsky, but I did read 'A Primate's Memoir' a while back and it was fantastic. A memoir of his time in Africa studying baboons, well written and entertaining. One of those books that I was sad to finish. You can learn a lot about human behavior…
on “Summer Reading List” ↗Well if Chimps can't then Baboons sure as hell can. Have a read of A Primate's Memoir by Robert Sapolsky. The vast majority of human social and politic interactions are stereotypical of almost all primates, the only difference is that we have the gall to think that walking erect seems…
on “Most of what chimpanzees and humans do today is not directly comparable” ↗If you haven't read Sapolsky's A Primate's Memoir, do not walk, run to your nearest bookstore or Kindle and grab a copy. It is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read. Highly recommended for fans of Finnegan's Barbarian Days.
on “Robert Sapolsky on Depression (2009)” ↗While traveling through Africa I read A Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. Reading about the history while being there makes it all very real. I also just read A Primate's Memoir by Robert Sapolsky, which has some of the wildest travel stories about Africa you could ever imagine. A must read if only to prepare you for what you are about to experience. Those two could keep you…
on “Ask HN: What should I save for offline reading during 5 weeks without Internet?” ↗Sapolsky is also a very entertaining writer! An excerpt from one of his books ("A Primate's Memoir") is here: http://www.npr.org/books/titles/138066966/a-primates-memoir#... , but my favorite excerpt from the book is that where he talks about tranquillizing baboons with a blow dart gun.
on “Robert Sapolsky talks turbulence – teens, stress, and the information age” ↗I haven't read his new book, but I've read most of Sapolsky's older books and they're all excellent. "A Primate's Memoir" and "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" are my favorites.
on “It’s Complicated: Unraveling the mystery of why people act as they do” ↗Not very related, but Sapolsky's A primate's memoir is a very funny and edifying read. Strongly recommended.
on “Accurate Genomic Prediction of Human Height” ↗…Xiaoping and the Transformation of China Invisible Cities Collapse of Complex Societies -- Favorites from this year: Death's End One Man's Meat Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery Cosmicomics Why Quark Rhymes with Pork The Unfolding of Language A Sand County Almanac
on “Ask HN: Books you plan to read in 2020?” ↗…creator of the Palm Pilot presents his theory of intelligence and how the brain works. It's compelling. I hope to read his follow up book in 2024. Would love HN's recommendations of similar books. A Primate's Memoir- by Robert M. Sapolsky. Enjoyable read of the author's research on Savannah baboons and his adventures in Africa. His love for primates and humans alike come through clearly. Build: An Unorthodox Guide…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2023 and recommend for 2024” ↗Robert Sapolsky’s book “A Primate’s Memoir” is about the importance of status in baboon tribes. High status males and females are more successful at reproducing, healthier, and have lower levels of stress hormones. That said, some individuals…
on “Inner Ring – CS Lewis” ↗> Well if Chimps can't then Baboons sure as hell can. Have a read of A Primate's Memoir by Robert Sapolsky. The vast majority of human social and politic interactions are stereotypical of almost all primates Humans are the only species to show pervasive, non-kin reciprocal altruism. Baboon…
on “Most of what chimpanzees and humans do today is not directly comparable” ↗