Each chapter in Games Primates Play focuses on a
specific aspect of human behaviour (i.e., competition, favoritism, dominance and
so forth). Although the chapters contain some scientific information about their
respective behaviours, the meat of the chapters consists of vivid examples of
the ways that non-human primate behaviour is reflected in modern human
behaviour. By using specific examples, Maestripieri is able to illustrate the
exceptional complexity of many primate societies. The connections he draws
between humans and the “games primates play” are not far-fetched; rather, they
are informative, unexpected, and surprisingly hilarious. I particularly liked
the section “We are all Mafiosi” in chapter three, where Maestripieri draws on
his experience with the nefarious Italian academic community to speak about
favouritism, nepotism, and mob culture in human and primate societies.
What I especially liked about Games Primates Play was that each chapter could easily stand alone. Each was an interesting snapshot of human nature, much easier to digest than a continuous scientific narrative.. This meant that I could put down the book after a chapter and return to it without missing or forgetting details.
What I especially liked about Games Primates Play was that each chapter could easily stand alone. Each was an interesting snapshot of human nature, much easier to digest than a continuous scientific narrative.. This meant that I could put down the book after a chapter and return to it without missing or forgetting details.
Ironically, my favourite
part of this book was the epilogue. By concluding the book with an incredibly
poignant and relevant story, the epilogue concisely and eloquently situates the
book within its proper context. This book is not meant to reveal the meaning of
life, nor does it make any value judgments about the goodness or badness of the
primate or human relationships described throughout. The real purpose of this
book, and where I think it ultimately succeeds, is to simply illustrate our
relationship with primates and to show, for better or for worse, what human
nature really is.
See Maestripieri's RSA talk on some of the ideas in his book:
- Michelle Hunniford
See Maestripieri's RSA talk on some of the ideas in his book:
- Michelle Hunniford
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