Lara H. reviewed on 3/16/2006 + 46 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Sapolsky, a professor of biology and neurology at Sanford University, traveled each summer for almost two decades to East Africa to study the relationship between stress in disease in a troop of baboons. He tells many tales of his experiences in Africa, alone in the Serengeti "with no radio, no television, no electricity, no running water, and no telephone. His nearest neighbors are the Masai, a warlike tribespeople whose marriages are polygamous, with wedding parties featuring tureens of cow's blood." There is story after amazing story, near death encounters, rampant corruption on all levels of government and even just crossing borders. His writing is clever and compelling, captivating, with some stories hilarious, others quite sad. His fondness for "his" baboons is well communicated, his description of their interactions and behavior so cleverly detailed, I felt I sitting next to him observing! Overall an excellent read.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details