Hannah Holmes turns on naturalist eye on herself in TheWell-Dressed Ape. Chapter by chapter she looks at the human
animal in the same way a discerning observer would examine a butterfly or an
antelope. In these various chapters she
examines a human’s physical description, brain, perception, range,
territoriality, diet, reproduction, behavior, communication, predators, and
ecosystem impacts. The book is interesting
and easily accessible to the non-expert. I quibble a bit with the way she’ll go
from her example, usually of herself under personal scrutiny, to a universal
principal of behavior for all humans. However the book does remain charming and
guides readers to a generally objective look at themselves and their species.
