A Primate’s Memoir: Book Review
Here is my melodramatic review of the ending to Sapolsky’s acclaimed A Primate’s Memoir (spoiler alert). This was a text to my friend who had me read the book, so emphatic and excited about me reading it.
You should have prepared me! It was like that scene in Toy Story 3 where you just KNOW they weren’t going to die, you just KNOW…then they do but only one survives, and damagedly plays with Andy in the end for a depressed layer of emotions, leaving somewhat hopeful? WTF
To the book, I found it rather enjoyable and insightful. It was witty, interesting, enthralling, and a nice way to pass time, except for some accounts of his own travels in which at the time I was more interested in the baboons and confused with his own accounts, which I simply needed to remind myself that this was a memoir and not so scientifical.
My friend sympathized and said he fell in love with those darned baboons! Which contributes to some of the emotions, but for me Sapolsky just made worse the wonderful world, Africa, (the same for him at the start, he even notes) I had preparedly numbed myself to, as I wish myself to go there, amidst the turmoil, disease, and famine. The helpless rage and anger built in the final parts reminds me of reading Rowling’s Order of the Phoenix in which you are just so embroiled that you’ll, you’ll…do nothing. You can’t. Immediately you are Sapolsky.
Indubitably, this leaves me with commending his work, his dedication, and his writing ability to put us in place and know his feelings, his pains. This, a key factor for any book, but more notably if a change is to be brought about. Once more, my hat is off, Dr. Sapolsky.
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