The Naked Ape Trilogy: Naked Ape, Human Zoo, Intimate Behaviour

When The Naked Ape was first published in 197 it shocked many people and became the subject of heated debate, the main objection being that Desmond Morris had written about human beings as though they were just another animal species. In addition to breaking religious and sexual taboos, it was claimed Morris was putting forward the idea that mankind was trapped by brutish animal instincts from which there was no escape. In fact he refers to the inborn patterns of behaviour we have in common with animals and gives examples of forming loving pair-bonds, caring for our children, curiosity and inventiveness. The Human Zoo, examines man as captive animal under the stresses and pressures of urban living. Intimate Behaviour is concerned with sexual relationships within the modern environment, and it looks at how as species we can enjoy the technical comforts of present-day living, while at the same time obeying our primeval instincts. About the Author Desmond Morris was born in Wiltshire in 1928. After gaining a degree in Zoology from Birmingham University, he obtained his D.Phil. form the University of Oxford. He became curator of mammals at London Zoo in 1959, a post he held for eight years. He was already the author of some fifty scientific papers and seven books before completing The Naked Ape in 1967, which was to sell over 10 million copies throughout the world and be translated into almost every known language. Desmond Morris has mande many television programmes and films on human and animal behaviour, his friendly and accessible approach making him popular with both adults and children, and he is one of the best-known presenters of natural history programmes.