In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall

In the Shadow of Man is one of the most important works of the 20th century, yet it remains surprisingly untalked about outside of fields like wildlife biology, environmental science, or evolutionary studies.

In 1957, at age 26, Jane Goodall traveled by boat to study chimpanzees in the Tanzanian wild. At the time, women simply didn’t go on such journeys. As Jane herself said, “Even men weren’t doing that!”

Through countless hours in the field, Goodall discovered that chimpanzee societies are fluid, shaped by complex hierarchies and shifting alliances, and behavior often mirrors our own: greeting hugs, comforting touches, playful games, and hours of social interaction. She also documented meat-eating, challenging the prevailing belief that chimpanzees were strictly herbivores.

Most famously, Jane observed chimpanzees stripping leaves from twigs to fish for termites and crafting leaf “sponges” to drink water — marking the first documented examples of tool-making in wild animals. These discoveries forced scientists to reconsider what truly separated humans from other species. In a quiet irony, it was a woman who helped redefine what it meant to be “man.”

Her findings caused a worldwide sensation. As her mentor famously remarked, “Ah! We must now redefine man, redefine tools, or accept chimpanzees as human!”

Goodall’s style blends scientific observation with personal narrative. At times, it reads like a meticulous field journal, recording not only chimpanzees, but also baboons, snakes, and other wildlife in the Gombe ecosystem. At others, it becomes reflective, capturing moments of wonder as well as the challenges of living in remote Tanzania.

Jane Goodall passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. She continued with unwavering commitment to her mission until the very end, traveling up to 330 days a year. Though she held the title of United Nations Messenger of Peace, her dedication to conservation long predated any formal recognition. Goodall remains a remarkable figure whose legacy continues to inspire generations. 

Another good read is The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and Douglas Adams:

We have not inherited the Earth from our ancestors but borrowed it from our children. And yet we have not borrowed it from our children — we’ve stolen it. When you borrow something, the expectation is that you will repay. We have been stealing their future for countless years, and the magnitude of our theft has now reached absolutely unacceptable proportions.

If everyone starts to think about the consequences of what we do — what we buy, what young people ask their parents to buy — if we ask whether its production harmed the environment, hurt animals, or relied on child labor or unfair wages, and refuse to buy it, billions of these ethical choices will move us toward the kind of world we need.