The Third Chimpanzee cover art

The Third Chimpanzee

The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal

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The Third Chimpanzee

By: Jared Diamond
Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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About this listen

The Development of an Extraordinary Species....

We human beings share 98 percent of our genes with chimpanzees. Yet humans are the dominant species on the planet - having founded civilizations and religions, developed intricate and diverse forms of communication, learned science, built cities, and created breathtaking works of art - while chimps remain animals concerned primarily with the basic necessities of survival. What is it about that two percent difference in DNA that has created such a divergence between evolutionary cousins?

In this fascinating, provocative, passionate, funny, endlessly entertaining work, renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning author and scientist Jared Diamond explores how the extraordinary human animal, in a remarkably short time, developed the capacity to rule the world...and the means to irrevocably destroy it.

©2006 Jared Diamond (P)2012 Random House Audio Anthropology Biological Sciences Biology Evolution Evolution & Genetics Science Funny
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Why do we do what we do ?

Why did we do things in the past?

What happens in the near future if we keep it up?

This book provides more answers to those questions than most

Personally I think Jared should rename this book I to something way more provocative you'll understand this suggestion most likely upon completion !

Definitely worth your time!

A new perspective on so many things human

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The building up to a better understanding of facts rather than filtering based on evidence

the science and evidence

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If you could sum up The Third Chimpanzee in three words, what would they be?

Interesting accessible education

What did you like best about this story?

The care with which the book is structured.

Have you listened to any of Rob Shapiro’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

Any additional comments?

I have to listen pretty carefully to this one but once I took the trouble to do that, I found that the work is pleasant to think about, easy to interact with, and stimulating. I've begun thinking about the world around me in terms of evolution, testing what I know about the world against this book, and trying to decide what I agree with or not. We're still evolving, I wonder how much of our sexual behaviours have to do with social developments around disease control rather than being the end product of evolutionary behaviours from the past. Fun to listen to for just that reason - lots to consider.

Interesting and educational

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Overall a brilliant discussion but sadly out of date with regard to DNA. Otherwise a very thought provoking thesis.

Needs updating

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Interesting information, providing great studies and experiences from cultures such as indigenous Australians and New Guineans.

Interesting

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Is it true, probably. can we help protect our planet we have to understand why.

listen and learn the future of the demise of us.

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This is not obvious stuff but so important for the reasons we act as we do. Amazing insight and very interesting.

Everyone should listen

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Loved it! Brilliantly researched, beautifully written, and reasonably well performed. Admittedly, some of the information is now outdated, but the vast majority is as pertinent now as when it was written.

As excellent as all of Diamond's books

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From the comparative details of testes size in humans and their closest evolutionary relatives to unique abilities of humans to create and destroy things this book is a very broad and detailed look at the evolution of humans - some aspects are quite interesting but others really are not.

Other aspects, particularly related to the advances in genetics, make this book seem a little dated.

Overall it is pretty interesting but it doesn’t really compare to Guns, Germs and Steel.

Interesting in parts but not in others...

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