Next of Kin - (Living Planet Book) by Roger Fouts (Paperback)

About the Book

In the tradition of "When Elephants Weep" comes the captivating story of the man who has made scientific history by talking to chimpanzees--man's closest biological relative. of photos.

Book Synopsis

For 30 years Roger Fouts has pioneered communication with chimpanzees through sign language--beginning with a mischievous baby chimp named Washoe. This remarkable book describes Fout's odyssey from novice researcher to celebrity scientist to impassioned crusader for the rights of animals. Living and conversing with these sensitive creatures has given him a profound appreciation of what they can teach us about ourselves. It has also made Fouts an outspoken opponent of biomedical experimentation on chimpanzees. A voyage of scientific discovery and interspecies communication, this is a stirring tale of friendship, courage, and compassion that will change forever the way we view our biological--and spritual--next of kin.

Review Quotes

"Engrossing...alternately hilarious and heartbreaking." --"San Francisco Chronicle""Beyond its exuberant storytelling value, this book contains ideas as revolutionary as any since "The Origin of Species." --Seattle Times"

"A startling, compassionate, honest, heart-wrenching book." --Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, coauthor of "When Elephants Weep"