The Arrogant Ape

Drawing on the author's work with primates - as well as on psychological experiments, language and anecdote - The Arrogant Ape explores the widespread idea that humans are superior to animals, arguing that we need to divest ourselves of this belief in order to stop the destruction of the planet. Showing that humanity's inherent belief that superior intelligence and importance is misplaced, and that both are learned and acquired by the time we are adults, Christine Webb also explores how our belief that we are 'above' nature has contributed to climate change as well as to pandemics like Covid 19. For readers of Entangled Life, Other Minds and The Hidden Life of Trees, The Arrogant Ape looks at the link between human exceptionalism and the ecological crisis for the first time.