Desmond Morris’ ‘The Naked Ape’

The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris was a sensation when it appeared in the 1960s. It arrived at a moment defined by free love, the Vietnam War protests, the hippie movement, rising race consciousness, and a broader rethinking of gender. Into this atmosphere, Morris dropped the provocative idea that humans are no different from apes in their behaviour and desires. I remember being thoroughly entertained when I first read it, even though many of his arguments now strike me as rather oversimplified. His work was more a product of the period when he wrote than a scientific work that could stand the test of time.

Morris passed away this week and the NYT obituary had a nice conclusion:

Dr. Morris’s ideas were novel and memorable, if not always proven. One, in “The Naked Man” (2008), was his explanation for why women are shorter on average than men: They can lie with their noses near their partners’ armpits, he said. The pheromones they thus inhale relax them during lovemaking and, he maintained, trigger ovulation.

This Guardian piece, marking the 50^th anniversary of the book has some sharp observations on the landmark work. Do check out the Naked Ape if you’re looking for an entertaining read.