The Third Chimpanzee: For Young People

Gr 9 Up—Adapted for younger audiences by the redoubtable Stefoff but not significantly different in scope, arguments, or, for that matter, reading level from Diamond's original (Harper, 1992, 2006), this wide-ranging study of what makes us human offers provocative views of evolution, adaptation, cultural diffusion, sexuality, genocide, race, mass extinctions of the past and present, the roots of drug abuse and language, and even the search for extraterrestrial intelligence ("we're alone in a crowded universe. Thank goodness!"). The strength of Diamond's views is what makes them provocative, whether he's explaining why we—uniquely among social animals—prefer to have sex in private, or portraying the urge to smoke or take dangerous drugs as another manifestation of seemingly anti-survival animal displays, such as the male Bird of Paradise's plumage. A reasonably large array of photos, charts, and period images supply illustrations for what amounts to a comprehensive compendium of current issues. Thoughtful readers interested in any fields related to evolutionary science, anthropology, psychology, human history, and culture will find plenty to ponder.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City