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.
