The Arrogant Ape
And A New Way To See Humanity
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The Arrogant Ape
Narrated by:
Christine Webb
Buy Now for $26.99
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Narrated by:
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Christine Webb
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By:
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Christine Webb
About this listen
'I wish this book had been published five hundred years ago and been compulsory reading ever since' Jay Griffiths, author of How Animals Heal Us
'A crucial and transformative read' Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast
'Timely, intelligent and entertaining' Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree
'Will leave you in awe' Justin Gregg, author of If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal
Most people are certain that humans are the most intelligent, sophisticated, successful species on earth. But what if we're wrong? And what if our arrogant human exceptionalism is leading us to exploit the earth at the expense of other species - and destroy our own world in the process?
In The Arrogant Ape, leading primatologist Christine Webb challenges our belief in human superiority by revealing underappreciated wonders of nonhuman life - from the language of songbirds and prairie dogs, to the cultures of chimpanzees and reef fishes, to the acumen of plants and fungi. She shows how human exceptionalism has even crept into the sciences, distorting how we study and understand other species. With fresh research into the rich social, emotional and cognitive lives of animals, and compelling stories from all over the world, The Arrogant Ape demonstrates how our belief in our own importance is directly linked to some of the greatest threats against us and our environment - and offers a hopeful, inspiring way forwards.©2025 Christine E. Webb
Critic Reviews
Provocative, moving ... deeply felt, searching but rigorous
Excellent
A timely, intelligent and entertaining book that deserves our attention (Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree)
I wish this book had been published five hundred years ago and been compulsory reading ever since (Jay Griffiths, author of How Animals Heal Us)
A thrilling, disconcerting, ultimately hopeful exposé of our species' self-regarding prejudices. Webb puts us in our place (and a fine place that is, in fact), showing us how much more fascinating the world is if we see it as it is, rather than denigrating it and using it as a mere resource. A crucial and transformative read (Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild)
In her landmark book, Christine Webb makes clear that the notion that we're the most important show in town - smarter than, better than, more important than, uniquely exceptional, above, and separate from other animals - has got it all wrong. This distorted view of humans in which we use ourselves as some sort of standard to which individuals of other species should strive is not only arrogant, but singularly ill-informed. I highly recommend The Arrogant Ape. We need a new mindset, a paradigm shift in which we decenter ourselves and work alongside other species to change the dismal road on which we are currently and recklessly traveling (Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals)
The Arrogant Ape is a multidisciplinary takedown of anthropocentrism. Bursting with vivid firsthand accounts of encounters with wild animals and a survey of cutting-edge research into animal cognition, Webb offers a deeply considered, self-reflective, and undeniably philosophical approach to the scientific study of animal behavior. Christine Webb is spearheading a paradigm shift in science; deftly folding in Indigenous and phenomenological perspectives to forge a hybrid approach to empirical knowledge-seeking. Her book is a modern exploration of the ancient speciesism problem, leading the reader toward a hopeful appeal that we can dispel our culturally acquired forms of anthropocentrism in service of a humbler path to understanding both the animal mind and humanity's connection to the natural world. Webb will leave you in awe (Justin Gregg, author of If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal)
Christine Webb's powerful new book is both a carefully crafted unpacking of the errors behind human exceptionalism and a practical guide to how we can unlearn our species arrogance. She draws from her intimate knowledge of great apes and a deep and evidenced empathy for other living beings. Building on the legacy of her mentor, Frans de Waal, Webb's book is a passionate call on us to shape a better world as the 'humble' apes of the future
Even when it dawn on us that we are but a speck in an unimaginable vast universe, we subbornly maintain that we are a special speck.
I am special, isn't that obviouse. My father is the best. So is my nation, race, species, planet, star, galaxy, etc.
And you know, its true, but so are you, your father, nation, race, species, ...
And, of course, also your dog, potplant, and the spider on your wall.
However, non of us is extra-special. Beeing the best in some things is a precondition for ever species to survive.
The realisation that humans are just one amongst many animals seems to be hard to accept for many. If you ever have a chance to look at a phylogenetic representation of all known life you won't find humans, or primates, or mammals, or vertebrates. You'll be lucky to find animals, perhaps lumped together with their closest sister groups, the amoeba and fungi. Because there is so increadible much more, you never knew.
Well, Cristine Web can explain that much better, gripping, convincing, humbling yet empowering. She not only debunks human exeptionalism compellingly but also discusses its roots, fuels and tragic consequences in an all-encompassing (science, cultur, religion, history) masterpiece.
Human exeptionalism - debunkt!
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A new world view.
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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.