The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal

Humans share roughly ninety-eight percent of their genetic code with common and pygmy chimpanzees. Scientist Jared Diamond examines the remaining two percent of DNA to identify the evolutionary traits that distinguish humans from their primate relatives. He connects biological shifts, such as the development of the larynx and upright posture, to the emergence of complex language, agriculture, and artistic expression. Diamond also addresses the darker biological baggage humans carry, specifically the persistence of genocide and the rapid destruction of the global biosphere.

This book serves readers interested in biological anthropology and the intersection of genetics and history. It provides a scientific lens for understanding why certain human behaviors, like chemical dependency or polygamy, have roots in natural selection. Readers gain a perspective on humanity as just another large mammal species, albeit one with the unique capacity to engineer its own extinction. The text offers a sobering inventory of how cultural progress often leads to environmental collapse, forcing a reconsideration of human dominance over the natural world.

Deep and outward-looking; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Systems Thinker. Which reader are you?