Frans de Waal

"We would much rather blame nature for what we don’t like in ourselves than credit it for what we do like."

Dutch/American biologist and ethologist Frans de Waal draws parallels between primate and human behavior, from peacemaking and morality to culture. Named one of the 100 Most Influential People Today by Time Magazine, de Waal has written hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles, and his popular books have been translated in over 20 languages. He is a professor in Emory University's psychology department and Director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, in Atlanta.

What subjects and themes does Frans de Waal explore in his books?

He writes about primate behavior and how it relates to human behavior, focusing on topics such as morality, empathy, peacemaking, culture, social politics and animal cognition.

What genre are his books and who are they aimed at?

His books are primarily popular science and ethology, written for both general readers and scholars. In addition to accessible trade books, he has published many peer-reviewed scientific articles.

Which of his books is a good place to start?

Good entry points are accessible titles that discuss human-primate parallels, for example Our Inner Ape, The Age of Empathy and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? For readers seeking more academic treatments, Primates and Philosophers or Peacemaking among Primates are appropriate.

Are Frans de Waal's books part of a series or is there a recommended reading order?

Most of his books are standalone and can be read in any order. They share recurring themes, so you can pick a title based on the topic that interests you.

What notable recognition and academic roles does he have?

He is a Dutch/American biologist and ethologist, a professor at Emory University and Director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. He has published hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, his books have been translated into over 20 languages, and he was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People.