The Third Chimpanzee
Author | : Jared M. Diamond |
Publisher | : Harper Collins |
Total Pages | : 434 |
Release | : 2006-01-03 |
ISBN-10 | : 9780060845506 |
ISBN-13 | : 0060845503 |
Rating | : 4/5 (06 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: 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.