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 Well written popularized introduction March 23, 2007
Stanford notes his thesis thus (page xi): "Apes and humans are cut from the same evolutionary cloth; all that fundamentally distinguishes us is posture, we being upright walkers and the apes quadrupeds . . . 'Significant Others' is about the continuum between humanity and the great apes. What was once a bold line dividing us has turned out to be fairly blurry. . . ."
In his Introduction, he sets out by addressing hat he sees as key myths about early humans (they were clumsy bipeds, their hunting defined key aspects of their evolution, etc.). From there, he explores a wide ranging set of issues. Part One examines "Love, Death, and Food." Part Two looks at "Culture, Language, and the Trouble with Evolutionary Psychology." He provocatively entitles Part Three "Islands in the Human Sea."
Chapter after chapter explores the continuum of ape and human. One important issue here is, as he notes (page 206): "The great apes and we form a pint-sized cluster of five species that are the tips of one of the great lineages in Earth's history."
All in all, a very readable and provocative volume.
 Grim, Morbid, and Depressing December 13, 2005
1 out of 16 found this review helpful
This writer is no Jared Diamond. I read about half the book and was ready to throw it across the room. Maybe I'm not ready to consider infanticide and his other grim subjects. Jared Diamond's books cover many subjects, but don't have you feel like you're in a garbage dumpster. This was a morbid book in the 1st half. Can't comment on the second.
I just don't feel like wallowing in the gristly subjects of Stanford.
 Significant Others: The Ape-Human Continuum and the Quest for Human Nature September 21, 2005
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
While the author has many axes to grind-not all related to the subject, the book is worth reading.
Sounds Familiar July 28, 2004
2 out of 36 found this review helpful
I have not read this book, but judging from other reviews as well as the editor notes, it sounds like the author is simply repeating the ideas of researcher Desmond Morris, who has been around for decades. If you liked this book, you would love The Human Animal and others by Desmond Morris.
Significant Others review May 12, 2003
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Craig Stanford has written a book that continues to inform the public of just how similar we are to the primates by attempting to show the reader that the differences between us are actually very minute. Through data and analysis Stanford points out how the behaviors of primates can be applied to our own human nature, which supports his thesis that "to understand human nature, you must understand the apes." (p.xviii). Stanford self describes Significant Others as a "field guide to the current state of our understanding of both human and ape culture..." (p. xviii). Through the descriptions of social interactions, tool usage, language, and culture Stanford provides a strong case in support of his thesis.
Starting right from the beginning in his introduction, Stanford uses data and research theory to support his thesis and to refute the alternatives. He is not afraid to discuss behaviors that are of questionable regard. He delves into the subject of infanticide with similar gusto as he does in the chapter on language. Stanford's bottom line is the same throughout that we can use the studies of the great apes to explain our human nature and why problem behaviors like human infanticide persist today.
Overall Significant Others is a good read. Stanford does an exceptional job of providing research that supports the notion that many of our human behaviors and traits can be explained by similar behaviors studied in the great apes. Although this was not pointed out until the end of the book by supporting his thesis Stanford also was providing strong evidence for the importance of conserving and protecting the great apes. Stanford was not afraid to indulge into his own opinions when he felt the need and this added a personal touch to the reading that provided interest to sometimes dry research findings. He also covered highly debatable information well by giving equal consideration to both sides of the picture, even though it was often evident what side of the debate he was on. I would recommend Significant Others to those that enjoyed reading Roger Fout's Next of Kin and want to further their knowledge of great ape behavior and how it might be related to human nature.
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