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This wonderful recollection begins with a shy young boy who, while everyone else was dancing on the streets, celebrated the World War II Allied victory by observing a colony of rooks. After studying the behavioral habits of the 10-spined stickleback at Oxford, Desmond Morris became curator of mammals at London Zoo and quickly became a familiar figure in homes all over Britain as presenter of Zootime , delighting millions of tea-time viewers with a daring attempt to pick up a deadly scorpion by its tail or a tumble off the back of an elephant. As curator of mammals at the zoo, life was as bizarre behind the cameras as in front of them, not least when a whale turned up in the Thames River or when a pair of ferocious bears escaped and caused havoc in a restroom. In 1967, Morris turned his attention to humans. Since then he has continued his work on human and animal species, written many other successful books, and has presented a number of television series. His travels have taken him to some 60 countries, from the cities of North America to the islands off the Mediterranean, Europe, the Pacific, and Africa. This account tells the story of many of these adventures, in fascinating and often hilarious detail.
624 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2006
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Desmond Morris
237 books571 followersDesmond John Morris (born 24 January 1928) is an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology. He is known for his 1967 book The Naked Ape, and for his television programmes such as Zoo Time.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 18, 2017
L'autore è personaggio eclettico: scienziato dedito all'etologia, quotato pittore surrealista e conduttore televisivo. In questo libro dalla gran mole (735 pagine in ebook) racconta una miriade di aneddoti ed episodi della sua lunga vita. Le prime 200 pagine sono dedicate, come recita il sottotitolo, a "storie della mia vita con gli animali" e sono godibilissime. Poi si passa ai tanti viaggi, ai soggiorni a Malta e a Cipro ecc. ecc., le storie di animali spariscono o passano in secondo piano e subentrano altri argomenti per me assai meno interessanti, aventi come fil rouge lo studio del linguaggio del corpo umano. Molti episodi mi sono apparsi romanzati. L'autore, dotato di uno strabordante ego, eccede nel parlare di se stesso e del figlio Jason. Non mi è riuscito affatto simpatico. Lettura abbandonata a pagina 500 circa. Tre stelle alla prima parte.
December 14, 2023
Ler a autobiografia de Desmond Morris é entrar numa grande, bela e divertida aventura sobre o comportamento animal, humano incluído. Sou admiradora do seu trabalho desde que o conheço, mas depois desta leitura rendo-me completamente à sua inteligência e brilhantismo. É um magnífico livro para quem gosta destes temas e está cheio de situações que arrancam gargalhadas. Para além de cientista talentoso, o autor é também um escritor muito dotado. Adorei!
November 2, 2019
“I was shattered by what I saw. I felt I was entering a secret kingdom, where flagella undulated, cilia beat, cells divided, antennae twitched and tiny organs pulsated.” (p.16)
“All he could do, he said, was to teach us to learn- to make us proficient at asking ourselves questions. Then it was up to us to find the answers.” (p.19)
“No wonder the toad was considered the witch’s familiar, cared for, baptized, dressed in black velvet and adorned with tiny bells.” (p.25)
“Even the most momentous events in history dwindle into insignificance when one allows oneself to float off into the dateless world of animals.” (p.27)
“The appalling carnage of this adult world that I encountered on a daily basis meant that I could not bring myself to accept any of its cultural values. But I was a well-brought up boy. A ‘good boy’ with a loving family background, so I could not rebel in a destructive, sociopathic way. It had to be something more theoretical, more conceptual: a rebellion of the intellect.” (p.29)
“I was not painting for anyone; I was painting against stuffy traditionalism and against the establishment.” (p.32)
“We were given a short talk on venereal disease by an officer who, for some Freudian reason, had forgotten to do up his fly buttons” (p.34)
“Most of the artists I met would talk about anything but their art.” (p.45)
“I began to realize that a successful scholar is really only a sophisticated child, and that research is a kind of adult play. As soon as the sense of playfulness and curiosity goes out of research, it dies.” (p.50)
“'The healthy animal is up and doing', but we should remember that a healthy python is 'up and doing' when it lies perfectly still waiting for its prey.” (p.69)
“…he rated picture-making as highly as eating and drinking, despite the fact that his only gratification was the production of the picture itself.” (p.188)
“It was only one thing that drove me on: an insatiable curiosity.” (p.200)
“He was library-wise and street-foolish.” (p.328)
“It is important to realize that alongside every destructive act of rebellion, there may be dozens of constructive ones, and it is those that give society its innovations and its triumphs.” (p.333)
“…war is essentially an anti-boredom device” (p.345)
“In an era of growing respect for the fine arts, we were in danger of overlooking the fact that human art has existed for thousands of years before art galleries were invented.” (p.389)
“We excused the increasing aesthetic indolence of our daily lives by occasional attendance at the insulated splendour of our art ‘cathedrals’.
It would be difficult to explain this attitude to the members of earlier, tribal societies, where art and craft were one. For them, all art objects were functional and part of their daily lives. There was no polarization between aesthetics and utility, and their lives were richer for it.” (p.389)
“Exposure to bright light from the daily sun also had a strange effect on your state of mind. It calmed you and gave you a sense of optimism.” (p.399)
“One of the first things people do with big money is to throw up a wall around themselves.” (p.453)
“In religion, as in politics, it is all too often the case that the scum rises to the top. The real nourishment is to be found near the bottom of the jar.” (p.455)
“Somewhere in the world there will always be a screaming atrocity to accompany the gentle crunching sound of morning toast.” (p.493)
“…if we must kill animals for food, we should do so with regret and as painlessly as possible. In the bullring people actually take pleasure in killing animals, and that I cannot forgive.” (p.593)
“It occurs to me that, if you’re a clever tree, it is a good idea to have a trunk that is too twisted to turn into a plank of wood. If you are a stupid tree (as thick as two planks) you soon feel the axe.” (p.596)
“All he could do, he said, was to teach us to learn- to make us proficient at asking ourselves questions. Then it was up to us to find the answers.” (p.19)
“No wonder the toad was considered the witch’s familiar, cared for, baptized, dressed in black velvet and adorned with tiny bells.” (p.25)
“Even the most momentous events in history dwindle into insignificance when one allows oneself to float off into the dateless world of animals.” (p.27)
“The appalling carnage of this adult world that I encountered on a daily basis meant that I could not bring myself to accept any of its cultural values. But I was a well-brought up boy. A ‘good boy’ with a loving family background, so I could not rebel in a destructive, sociopathic way. It had to be something more theoretical, more conceptual: a rebellion of the intellect.” (p.29)
“I was not painting for anyone; I was painting against stuffy traditionalism and against the establishment.” (p.32)
“We were given a short talk on venereal disease by an officer who, for some Freudian reason, had forgotten to do up his fly buttons” (p.34)
“Most of the artists I met would talk about anything but their art.” (p.45)
“I began to realize that a successful scholar is really only a sophisticated child, and that research is a kind of adult play. As soon as the sense of playfulness and curiosity goes out of research, it dies.” (p.50)
“'The healthy animal is up and doing', but we should remember that a healthy python is 'up and doing' when it lies perfectly still waiting for its prey.” (p.69)
“…he rated picture-making as highly as eating and drinking, despite the fact that his only gratification was the production of the picture itself.” (p.188)
“It was only one thing that drove me on: an insatiable curiosity.” (p.200)
“He was library-wise and street-foolish.” (p.328)
“It is important to realize that alongside every destructive act of rebellion, there may be dozens of constructive ones, and it is those that give society its innovations and its triumphs.” (p.333)
“…war is essentially an anti-boredom device” (p.345)
“In an era of growing respect for the fine arts, we were in danger of overlooking the fact that human art has existed for thousands of years before art galleries were invented.” (p.389)
“We excused the increasing aesthetic indolence of our daily lives by occasional attendance at the insulated splendour of our art ‘cathedrals’.
It would be difficult to explain this attitude to the members of earlier, tribal societies, where art and craft were one. For them, all art objects were functional and part of their daily lives. There was no polarization between aesthetics and utility, and their lives were richer for it.” (p.389)
“Exposure to bright light from the daily sun also had a strange effect on your state of mind. It calmed you and gave you a sense of optimism.” (p.399)
“One of the first things people do with big money is to throw up a wall around themselves.” (p.453)
“In religion, as in politics, it is all too often the case that the scum rises to the top. The real nourishment is to be found near the bottom of the jar.” (p.455)
“Somewhere in the world there will always be a screaming atrocity to accompany the gentle crunching sound of morning toast.” (p.493)
“…if we must kill animals for food, we should do so with regret and as painlessly as possible. In the bullring people actually take pleasure in killing animals, and that I cannot forgive.” (p.593)
“It occurs to me that, if you’re a clever tree, it is a good idea to have a trunk that is too twisted to turn into a plank of wood. If you are a stupid tree (as thick as two planks) you soon feel the axe.” (p.596)
July 18, 2023
Vedere i propri quadri esposti in una mostra accanto a quelli di Joan Mirò, senza nemmeno essere un pittore professionista. Un linciaggio sfiorato negli USA per la pronuncia di un termine scientifico durante una diretta tv. Scoprire luoghi in Europa in cui il proprio libro è addirittura arso in piazza. Un accoppiamento tra panda che si trasforma in una spy story da guerra fredda. Incontrare per caso un boss camorrista e il papa in soli due giorni di riprese per un documentario in Italia. Lavorare con Konrad Lorenz e anni dopo ritrovarsi a prendere un drink con Hugh Hefner – intenditore di una specie particolare di conigli.
Sono solo alcune delle mille storie di una vita incredibile, quella che il quasi nonagenario Desmond Morris ha deciso di raccontarci in un libro che proprio non ci aspettavamo e che per curiosa coincidenza appare nelle nostre librerie nello stesso periodo in cui una canzone vince il Festival di Sanremo citando ‘La scimmia nuda‘ (1965). Il titolo di questa corposa autobiografia avrebbe dovuto suonare in italiano pressapoco come ‘Osservazione. Incontri con umani e altri animali‘. Mondadori lo traduce con un inspiegabile ‘Un cervo in metropolitana‘, ignorando l’ironia dell’originale e facendo passare l’opera come una serie di innocui aneddoti sugli animali. Aneddoti i quali, beninteso, ci sono dato che il personaggio in questione è uno dei più famosi etologi viventi e quindi ne ha parecchie, di storielle da raccontare su delfini curiosi e cani cui manca solo la parola.
Ma oltre alle zampe c’è di più. C’è soprattutto la storia di un bambino poi ragazzo poi uomo strabordanti di curiosità verso il mondo. Tanto assetati di vita da andarla a cercare ovunque ve ne fosse: Morris sposerà le scienze naturali ma per lungo tempo è rimasto fermo al bivio con la strada dell’arte. In secondo luogo c’è il piacere nell’ascolto di una persona intelligente e di grande senso dello humor, di quelle che sanno cogliere l’aspetto profondo delle esperienze vissute senza disprezzare quello superficiale. In terzo luogo c’è quel che consegue dai primi due: ‘Un cervo in metropolitana‘ è davvero un racconto appassionante, più di molti romanzi. Ci si diverte per le numerose situazioni buffe nelle quali Morris si va a cacciare, simile a un anti-eroe vittoriano, al contempo si impara molto sugli animali, sugli uomini e su tutto il resto.
No, non parliamo di letteratura sapienziale, figuriamoci. Rimaniamo sull’intrattenimento di qualità. Ma di una qualità difficile da trovare nel genere autobiografico, persino in relazione a vite più intense e significative di quella di Morris. Il quale si affaccia al nuovo anno scoprendosi fra gli ultimi saggi del nostro tempo, dopo aver vissuto decenni da ribelle. La legge del contrappasso funziona anche per le scimmie nude?
“Non occorrono particolari competenze tecniche per cominciare a dipanare i misteri della vita su questo affascinante pianeta, (…), non si ha idea di quante cose si possono scoprire semplicemente a occhio nudo, guardando il mondo con spirito di osservazione”
Sono solo alcune delle mille storie di una vita incredibile, quella che il quasi nonagenario Desmond Morris ha deciso di raccontarci in un libro che proprio non ci aspettavamo e che per curiosa coincidenza appare nelle nostre librerie nello stesso periodo in cui una canzone vince il Festival di Sanremo citando ‘La scimmia nuda‘ (1965). Il titolo di questa corposa autobiografia avrebbe dovuto suonare in italiano pressapoco come ‘Osservazione. Incontri con umani e altri animali‘. Mondadori lo traduce con un inspiegabile ‘Un cervo in metropolitana‘, ignorando l’ironia dell’originale e facendo passare l’opera come una serie di innocui aneddoti sugli animali. Aneddoti i quali, beninteso, ci sono dato che il personaggio in questione è uno dei più famosi etologi viventi e quindi ne ha parecchie, di storielle da raccontare su delfini curiosi e cani cui manca solo la parola.
Ma oltre alle zampe c’è di più. C’è soprattutto la storia di un bambino poi ragazzo poi uomo strabordanti di curiosità verso il mondo. Tanto assetati di vita da andarla a cercare ovunque ve ne fosse: Morris sposerà le scienze naturali ma per lungo tempo è rimasto fermo al bivio con la strada dell’arte. In secondo luogo c’è il piacere nell’ascolto di una persona intelligente e di grande senso dello humor, di quelle che sanno cogliere l’aspetto profondo delle esperienze vissute senza disprezzare quello superficiale. In terzo luogo c’è quel che consegue dai primi due: ‘Un cervo in metropolitana‘ è davvero un racconto appassionante, più di molti romanzi. Ci si diverte per le numerose situazioni buffe nelle quali Morris si va a cacciare, simile a un anti-eroe vittoriano, al contempo si impara molto sugli animali, sugli uomini e su tutto il resto.
No, non parliamo di letteratura sapienziale, figuriamoci. Rimaniamo sull’intrattenimento di qualità. Ma di una qualità difficile da trovare nel genere autobiografico, persino in relazione a vite più intense e significative di quella di Morris. Il quale si affaccia al nuovo anno scoprendosi fra gli ultimi saggi del nostro tempo, dopo aver vissuto decenni da ribelle. La legge del contrappasso funziona anche per le scimmie nude?
“Non occorrono particolari competenze tecniche per cominciare a dipanare i misteri della vita su questo affascinante pianeta, (…), non si ha idea di quante cose si possono scoprire semplicemente a occhio nudo, guardando il mondo con spirito di osservazione”
August 7, 2019
l'autobiografia di una persona decisamente notevole, poliedrica, e con una vita che definire particolare è leggermente riduttivo. E dato che l'autore è arrivato ad una notevole età, permette di capire, tramite cenni e riferimenti, come sono cambiati gli usi e costumi delle persone nell'arco del '900.
June 19, 2009
I bought this book by accident: I took one look at the cover and presumed it was one of his natural history/body language books. I was rather disappointed when I realised (after I had lugged this large book home) that it was his autobiography.[return]I was wrong to feel disappointed: this is the best autobiography I have ever read. From his early days as a boy, fascinated with animals, leading to his love of art, back to animals, and art....how he has found time to fit in all he has in his life, I do not know![return]Desmond, I am an ardent admirer of yours after reading this book!
October 31, 2012
One of the best Autobiographies I've ever had the privilege to experience. No need for salacious scandals, this man has made his life incredible merely by being open to new experiences.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews