Of Bonobos and Men: A Journey to the Heart of the Congo

by Deni Ellis Béchard

Bonobos have captured the public imagination in recent years, due not least to their famously active sex lives. Less well known is the fact that these great apes don’t kill their own kind, and that they share nearly 99% of our DNA. Their approach to building peaceful coalitions and sharing resources has much to teach us, particularly at a time when our violent ways have pushed them to the brink of extinction. Animated by a desire to understand bonobos and learn how to save them, acclaimed author Deni Ellis Béchard traveled into the Congo.

Of Bonobos and Men is the account of this journey. Along the way, we see how partnerships between Congolese and Westerners, with few resources but a common purpose and respect for indigenous knowledge, have resulted in the protection of vast swaths of the rainforest. And we discover how small solutions—found through openness, humility, and the principle that “poverty does not equal ignorance”—are often most effective in tackling our biggest challenges. Combining elements of travelogue, journalism, and natural history, this incomparably rich book takes the reader not only deep into the Congo, but also into our past and future, revealing new ways to save the environment and ourselves.

Genres: Africa, Animals

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Chris Thorley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very conservation heavy animal book and I didn't really learn much about bonobos that I didn't already know, but it was a very well thought out and put together book, exploring the difficulties of conservation in a country with a very troubled past. The main focus of the book was the idea of involving local people in conservation and avoiding doing conservation work in an imperialistic way. There was also some interesting discussion about what bonobos can teach us about ourselves as humans.

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vraiment un livre à lire pour comprendre la difficulté de sauvegarder la faune sauvage en Afrique sans porter préjudice aux habitants souvent démunis. Ce livre nous montre que les grandes ONG internationales et leurs pseudos experts étrangers n ont pas toujours les meilleures solutions ni les meilleures intentions.

[A_M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce livre est très dense. Je crois sincèrement que ce livre aurait bénéficié d’avoir plusieurs dizaines de pages en moins.

Le sujet est pertinent et plusieurs personnes devraient le lire, mais sa lourdeur fait en sorte que peu de monde le liront au complet et je trouve cela décevant.