Rating 4* out of 5. I've had a fascination with the great apes since National Geographic made a feature of orangutans sometime around 1980. I couldn't read, but I saw the picture of a child about my age sharing a bath with an orangutan baby and crying. I could relate. "Reflections of Eden: My Years with the Orangutans in Borneo" by Birute Galdikas was the first book I read. It was her story in National Geographic too. I read about Dian Fossey's "Gorillas in the mist" (or possibly "Woman in the Mists, I'm not sure - could've been both) and Jane Goodall's "Reason for hope: a spiritual journey" at around the same time, second half of the 90's. I always wanted to read more and the only reason I didn't would have been due to inaccessibility. Still it is strange that it took me so long to get around to "In the Shadow of Man", which I have wanted to read for 18 years!

When Jane Goodall first began to study chimpanzees - thanks to Dr. Leakey's foresight - no one had observed chimpanzees in the wild before. Here was a single, young, white woman sent to the darkest depths of Africa to study ferocious mammals. Her persistence and tolerance opened the doors of insight. We now know that chimpanzees use tools, hunt, and that their childhoods are long. There are many similarities between us and our closest cousins, although I am glad evolution took us in a different direction. The chimpanzee society is extremely hierarchical and male-dominant. The females must be submissive and when she's sexually available - displayed by a huge pink rump ten days a month when she's sexually mature, unless she's pregnant or lactating - she must submit to sex or rape with numerous amorous males. No thanks.

Jane Goodall only dwells on the chimps. She doesn't mention the hardship of living isolated in the jungle much. Only once in a while there are hints at how difficult it must have been, particularly in the beginning. The animals, the jaguars, the snakes, the flies... And the solitude. Although there must have been many stressors, that sort of life also seems as idyllic and far from the rat race as it's possible to come. Reading this book I was envious and did consider whether my choice to study business economics because I knew it would be easy to get a job really was the best move. Then again, I like modern comforts. Such as a vermin free bed, a warm house, food which I do not have to kill myself and a steady income. Not being chased by wild animals is also definitely a plus. So no. No regrets. Just huge admiration for the amazing Jane Goodall. Read this book!

I walked into this book looking for some deep, philosophical musings on what makes us human. Instead what I got was a heartwarming adventure.

I don’t think a Jane Goodall could exist today. Jane Goodall went into the Gombe Valley without any qualifications other than passion, and became the eminent figure in her field.

This is a phenomenal book. Jane Goodall, through her unique and compassionate view of chimpanzees, brings us into a new world that is both foreign and familiar. Just as she revolutionized science by connecting with her subjects, she presents a new type of book that blends the mystery and intrigue of novels with the discovery and education of past scientific books. A great read for those interested in animal behavior, human behavior, or scientific discovery.

Absolute classic, and still an excellent read.

My favourite zoology book so far! As I was reading this I could hear Jane Goodall's voice in my head throughout, it really felt like she was personally telling me her story

What a book!