Primate Visions: Gender, Race, and Nature in the World of Modern Science

Book Description

Haraway's discussions of how scientists have perceived the sexual nature of female primates opens a new chapter in feminist theory, raising unsettling questions about models of the family and of heterosexuality in primate research.

Customer Reviews:

ideological propaganda.......2007-02-04

I am intensely interested in this subject and was interested in Haraway's take on it until I read this account of it in The Metaphysics of Apes by Raymond Corey on page 159-60 (paperback)--

"Primate Visions was widely read and discussed, faourably by most kindred spirits, but more critically by primatologgists themselves, who felt the book seriously underestimated the role of hard empirical facts concerning primates in the development of their theories, whatever their context of discovery and social backgrounds. Primatology, Vernon Reynolds wrote, "is not just story-telling, it interfaces with the physical world as well. One goes out and observes...new things...hitherto disregarded facts." Haraway's deconstructionist perspective "has no handle on the possiblity of an improved understanding of the non-human world...[it] does not touch on the real scientific eneterprise" (Reynolds 1991: 198). Haraway's book is fascinating and has much to offer, but its intellectualist language, use of metaphors, and mixing of genres did not contribute to a favourable reception in primatological circles. It was also pointed out that Haraway's anti-racist and feminist analysis tended to set male primatology up as its own Orient, interpreted in terms of her own (too) radically postmodernist, deconstructionist intellectual preoccupations and political intentions; that to Haraway herself, likewise, non-human primates mattered primarily in terms of their meanings for humans and not so much for what they were themselves (Landau 1991).

"Once again, in a fashion that bore the mark of the 1980s, there was dissension concerning the interpretation of the ape-human boundary. Haraway's own agenda was dislocating and destablilizing that boundary, exploring its permeability, and thus remapping the borderlands between nature and culture and "facilitating revisionings of fundamental, persistent western narratives about difference, especially racial and sexual difference (Haraway 1989: 3377, cf. 15). Most primatologists, on the other hand, prefer to keep their research concerns and their often intense moral concerns separated (cf Be et al. 2001)"

Excellent, thought-provoking work.......2006-07-11

Although Haraway is better known for her later Cyborg Manifesto, Primate Visions is arguably better and more insightful, and is certainly a clearer and more accessible work. Primate Visions takes the reader through the history of primatology, tracing the science's roots in racism, sexism, and colonialism. Haraway begins by outlining the early 20th century American museum exhibits that furthered the racist agenda of social Darwinism, and moves through descriptions of inhumane psychological research done on primates, the implications of young women recruited to do some of the first field work with apes (including Jane Goodall), and feminist sociobiological and anthropological theories. Haraway's intense prose is supplemented by provocative and heart-wrenching illustrations. All in all, a book that challenges our preconceptions of scientific research as incorruptible and free of bias.

How Monkeys See the World: Inside the Mind of Another Species

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What Can a Monkey Know?

How Monkeys See the World: Inside the Mind of Another Species
Dorothy L. Cheney , and Robert M. Seyfarth
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226102467

Book Description

Cheney and Seyfarth enter the minds of vervet monkeys and other primates to explore the nature of primate intelligence and the evolution of cognition.

"This reviewer had to be restrained from stopping people in the street to urge them to read it: They would learn something of the way science is done, something about how monkeys see their world, and something about themselves, the mental models they inhabit."—Roger Lewin, Washington Post Book World

"A fascinating intellectual odyssey and a superb summary of where science stands."—Geoffrey Cowley, Newsweek

"A once-in-the-history-of-science enterprise."—Duane M. Rumbaugh, Quarterly Review of Biology

Customer Reviews:

What Can a Monkey Know?.......2002-03-26

I read this book in connection with graduate coursework under Seyfarth at the University of Pennsylvania. Cheney and Seyfarth describe a fascinating line of research on primates, mainly but not solely their own work on vervet monkeys. The goal is to form an account of the mind of the nonhuman primate -- how much do they understand about themselves, about other minds, and about the world?

Book Description

From Nigeria's needle-clawed bush baby to the snub-nosed langur of Tibet, from loris to lemur, from the woolly monkey to the "naked ape," primates are among the world's most diverse--and distinctive--groups of mammals. Seventy million years of evolving primate anatomy (much of it significantly influenced by a tree-dwelling lifestyle) has resulted in such defining characteristics as stereoscopic vision, a relatively large brain, grasping hands and feet, and superior levels of dexterity and muscular coordination.

Now Ronald M. Nowak offers a comprehensive guide to this fascinating and varied order of mammals. Walker's Primates of the World includes scientific and common names, the number and distribution of species, measurements and physical traits, habitat, daily and seasonal activity, population dynamics, home range, social life, reproduction, longevity, and status of threatened species. Recently extinct genera, such as the giant lemurs of Madagascar, are covered in full. Textual summaries present accurate, well-documented descriptions of the physical characteristics and living habits of primates in every part of the world.

In a new introduction, noted primate conservationists Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands, and William R. Konstant discuss the taxonomy and distribution of primates as well as their distinguishing characteristics, special adaptations and particularly striking features, such as sociality. They also report on conservation efforts past and future, and assess the factors, largely human-caused, that are threatening non-human primates with extinction.

Praise for Walker's Mammals of the World:

"Professional naturalists will find [these volumes] invaluable as a handy reference, and amateurs -- at least those citizens alive to their earthly environment -- should delight in finding so much fascinating information made so available and palatable." -- Audubon

"What an amazing lot mammals are, seen here in all of their diversity!... Walker has made available a mine of information, for the specialist as well as for the casually interested... If you want to find out about a mammal, then, here is the place to look." -- New York Times

"Every mammalogist must have [these books], and those who profess a broad interest in the fauna of the world will want them." -- Natural History

Customer Reviews:

An excellent resource.......2006-10-17

All of the books of this series are exceptional resources for biologists (amateur and professional), zoo workers or frequenters, students, teachers, or Discovery Channel watchers. The scope of information includes descriptions of basic biology, like diet, habitat, reproduction, and life cycle, and also has in-depth scientific information for those who would use it as a scholarly resource. I would recommend these books to anyone with an interest in the subject.

Excellent for research, not something to curl up with..........2001-03-14

This book is an excellent resource if you're looking to do any type of research, it would also be perfect to use as a ready reference tool for identiying certain species, but it is written in a dictionary type of style so it is not an incredible easy read.

You can enjoy the primates world with this book!.......2000-11-09

Before I got this book, I didn't know about pramates at all. Because I didn't have much interest to primates. And now I'm interested in primates, and want to know more. On this book, there're many photos and stories about primates. You can enjoy primates world with this book.

Primates of the World: Distribution, Abundance and Conservation

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Primates of the World: Distribution, Abundance and Conservation
Jaclyn Wolfheim
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Primates: The Amazing World of Lemurs, Monkeys, and Apes

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Gorgeous photos and good, solid info on primates
This is by far the best primate book I have seen yet!
A great introduction to the wonderful world of primates!

Primates: The Amazing World of Lemurs, Monkeys, and Apes
Barbara Sleeper
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811814343

Book Description

Internationally renowned nature photographer Art Wolfe has created a rare and moving portrait of Earth's vanishing primates. An incredible visual journey, Primates offers an exciting glimpse of gorillas, monkeys, apes, and other primates at home in the jungle. Wolfe traveled around the globe capturing as many species of primates on film as possible, journeying to the remote jungles of Central and South America, Uganda, and Rwanda, and to research centers and wildlife refuges worldwide. The resulting photographs celebrate the exotic beauty of these intelligent and, all too often, endangered species. From the playful antics of adolescents to the tender gestures between mother and child, Primates reveals an animal culture that has been, until now, almost completely inaccessible. Biologist Barbara Sleeper's accompanying text presents fascinating insights drawn from her many years spent observing primates. A marvelous blend of word and image, Primates offers a studied look at these remarkable creatures and their vanishing habitat.

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous photos and good, solid info on primates.......2000-05-31

Primarily a photography book, PRIMATES offers an intimate and often humorous (but not condescendingly so) look into wild primate life. Even the brief text, by Barbara Sleeper, is first-rate, revealing details about each species not often encountered by lay people. This is not meant to be a comprehensive text, however, but a celebration of some of our closest relatives. The photography is at times stunning, capturing intelligence, emotion, innovation, and above all personality. If you love primates, or are even vaguely attracted to their study, this is a must-have book.

This is by far the best primate book I have seen yet!.......1999-01-17

Filled with excellent photographs by Art Wolfe, this book shows more than 100 species of monkeys, apes, and lemurs. Seperated by geographical location and family, each specie represented has a short and comprehensible synopsis accompanying one or more beautiful photos. A great introductory book to the world of primates, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the field. Thomas R. Null, A Walk on the Wild Side: International Nature and Wildlife

A great introduction to the wonderful world of primates!.......1998-01-16

This book is suitable for all ages. I just loved Art Wolfe's photographs. With so much emphasis on "trendy" primate species like gorillas and chimpanzees, this book introduces readers to the dozens of primate species of which you may never have heard. Like the gibbons, the lesser and often forgotten apes - whose domestic lives are lived by the standards humans so often fail to meet (sexual equality, no color bars, paternal role in infant rearing, monogamy)! Plus tiny marmosets you can old in the palm of your hand. All these animals are there. I loved this book. It is not a comprehensive guide or identification manual like Noel Rowe's book which I also like. It is a pleasant and readable book! Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman, International Primate Protection League

Evolution For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))

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Evolution For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))
Greg Krukonis
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Today, most colleges and universities offer evolutionary study as part of their biology curriculums. Evolution For Dummies will track a class in which evolution is taught and give an objective scientific view of the subject. This balanced guide explores the history and future of evolution, explaining the concepts and science behind it, offering case studies that support it, and comparing evolution with rival theories of creation, such as intelligent design. It also will identify the signs of evolution in the world around us and explain how this theory affects our everyday lives and the future to come.

Greg Krukonis, PhD (Portland, OR) received his doctorate from the University of Arizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He is a former assistant adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark College, where he taught evolution.

Living New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini), Volume 1: With an Introduction to Primates (Platyrrhini : With An Introduction to Primates)

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For some work, time doesn't go by. It will be a milestone!

Living New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini), Volume 1: With an Introduction to Primates (Platyrrhini : With An Introduction to Primates)
Philip Hershkovitz
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0226327884

Book Description

In this long-awaited work, Philip Hershkovitz provides the most thorough and comprehensive treatise ever published on New World monkeys. The volume gives a detailed account of the origin, evolution, dispersal, and behavior of platyrrhines and a systematic arrangement of all known forms, living and extinct. During an eleven-year period, Hershkovitz examined more than 3,100 museum-preserved specimens and relevant primate fossils and observed hundreds of animals in captivity and thousands in the wild state. He presents his results in an elegant and encyclopedic text, lavishly illustrated with 520 figures and 7 color plates.

Hershkovitz opens the study with a brief history and a definition, characterization, and comparison of primates as a taxonomic unit. Basing his work on nearly all known genera of living primates, the author deals with New World monkeys from comparative anatomical and evolutionary points of view. He examines display characters, pelage, the evolution of color patterns, primate locomotion, cranial and dental morphology, and the central nervous system.

The final and most extensive part of the volume is devoted to the taxonomy and biology of the family Callitrichidae, comprising marmosets and tamarins, and the family Callimiconidae, represented by the callimico alone. Hershkovitz concludes with an exhaustive bibliography of more than 2,500 published works and a gazetteer of essential geographic data.

Customer Reviews:

For some work, time doesn't go by. It will be a milestone!.......1999-05-18

It is not quite easy for a biologist to face Primatology, and it's rather hard (impossible in some Country!) to decide to become a "true" primatologist: too much informations, and too little possibilities to find them! This work is one of the main friend a primatologist may ask to have if he wish to take that way, and if he really want to begin study primate biology. It may be the main help for the student and, at the same time, the best reference for the researcher. Systematics change, biological concepts evolve and informations become aged while they born, but every culture needs some support to build on it: for Primate Biology, this work is one of the best you can find!

Primate Ecology and Social Structure, Vol. 2: New World Monkeys, Second Edition

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Primate Ecology and Social Structure, Vol. 2: New World Monkeys, Second Edition
Robert W. Sussman
Manufacturer: Pearson Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0536743649

Book Description

This is the first resource in forty years which reviews the latest writings and research dealing with prosimians and new world primates. There are few books available that deal with primate ecology and the behavior of free-ranging primates, organized by taxonomic groups.

Book Description

In 1972, a young graduate student named Shirley Strum traveled to Kenya to study a troop of olive baboons (Papio anubis) nicknamed the Pumphouse Gang. Like our own ancestors, baboons had adapted to life on the African savannah, and Strum hoped that by observing baboon behavior, she could learn something about how early humans might have lived. Soon the baboons had won her heart as well as her mind, and Strum has been working with them ever since.

Vividly written and filled with fascinating insights, Almost Human chronicles the first fifteen years of Strum's fieldwork with the Pumphouse Gang. From the first paragraph, the reader is drawn along with Strum into the world of the baboons, learning about the tragedies and triumphs of their daily lives—and the lives of the scientists studying them. This edition includes a new introduction and epilogue that place Strum's research in the context of the current global conservation crisis and tell us what has happened to the Pumphouse Gang since the book was first published.

Customer Reviews:

YOU NEED THIS BOOK!.......2006-12-20

This is an engaging, honest and intriguing story documenting a scientist doing fieldwork/research on a baboon troop. Although vastly informative and fact-filled, it is written for a general reader and refreshingly free of jargon. Ms. Strum also allows feelings - her own and the baboons' - to enter into the picture, as George Schaller did in "Year of the Gorilla," although Ms. Strum writes with much more humor than Dr. Schaller. Her observations and theories about baboon behavior - especially the male/female relationships - are extraordinary and compelling. I've re-read this book twice, just for the pleasure it gives me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who finds this type of research fascinating. And a terrific companion piece is "A Primate's Memoir," by Robert Sapolsky, also a researcher among the baboons...

A SCIENTIST BECOMES A SAVIOUR.......2002-02-25

This book could not have come into my life at a more opportune time. As a Volunteer Wildlife Police Officer I am involved inter alia in investigation of illegal possession of all wild species. However I had developed a particular interest in and love for primates - notably here vervet monkeys and baboons which are the most commonly "kept" here. I had made it my goal to remove as many of these from private possession as humanly possible. In all cases we find these intensely sociable animals being kept on their own, and with their movements restricted to no more than a few feet. After confiscation I start the rehabilitation process myself and then pass them on to a large sanctuary in Lusaka where they are integrated into troops and start their new lives. However my ultimate goal was to return them to a totally free life in the wild. Shirley Strum's seminal and successful translocation of the "Pumphouse Gang" in Kenya therefore convinced me that we had a chance of doing the same with our individuals/troops. The difference being that the "Pumphouse Gang" had always lived free and ours not. Shirley Strum's greatest accolade should be that she went beyond being the objective observer to caring participant. If Strum had only been involved with the baboons as subjects of an intellectual exercise, she would have been no different to many other scientists many of whom are responsible for hideous acts of cruelty to our non-human relatives. Thankfully, when the "Pumphouse Gang" was at risk of destruction, she allowed her humanity to guide her and so committed herself to finding a solution to their plight which was successful. I must admit that as a layman, some of the anthropological observations went over my head! I do feel that this is an extremely important study for anyone involved with primates, and those involved in the anti-vivesection movement (certainly in Africa where baboons are used as laboratory animals) since as the title states - they are "almost human".

An important book of science and meta-science.......2001-08-03

Strum's account of her fieldwork is intensely interesting, as she looked past the "received wisdom" about baboon hierarchies and saw what was really going on. Of course baboons are not identical to humans - but the fundamental impulses of baboon behavior and their strategies for dealing with the their society and the world around them are similar to many things humans do; Strum claims no more than that.

Just as fascinating as her discoveries about baboons, however, is her account of the effort to get her field results heard within the closed shop of baboon studies. She ran into a problem that damages almost all the sciences: The experts who get to decide whether the results of your research get published in scientific journals are usually the very same people whose triumphant discoveries of twenty years ago your research is about to supercede or even contradict. Naturally they think your work is nonsense and do all they can to keep it from getting published - because if you are right, and prevail, then their great work is erased. This struggle has been faced by so many scientists that it's a wonder we ever advance human learning at all. The only things that get published quickly and easily are the results that confirm our preexisting views. Indeed, one sees quite a bit of baboon behavior among scientists - as among all other humans....

This was an important book for me, with insights that I have used in my own writing for years. I'm glad it's coming back into print in a new paperback edition. It's about time!

Almost Human: A Journey into the World of Baboons.......1999-12-18

This was a fascinating look at baboons society. It was also extraordinarily personal in perspective. The book was absorbing and easy to read science written in a very subjective voice. The author gets very emotionally involved in her subjects and lets that come through clearly. She presents a somewhat controversial approach to field work.

Wonderful-I felt like I was in the field with her.......1999-11-20

As someone who has studied primates in the field, I greatly related to this book. Studying primates is so rewarding and I enjoyed sharing her discoveries and her journey. It is an easy read, and you will not want to put it down. Kudos to Dr. Strum

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