Next of Kin: What Chimpanzees Tell Us About Who We Are

Written by Roger Fouts, Stephen Tukel Mills and Jane Goodall

Narrated by Roger Fouts

Roger Fouts fulfilled humankind's age-old dream of talking to animals by pioneering communication with chimpanzees through sign language. Now, in Next of Kin, Fouts tells the dramatic story of his odyssey from novice researcher to celebrity scientist and caretaker of a family of chimpanzees, to his impassioned awakening as a crusader for the rights of animals.

At the heart of this captivating audiobook is Fouts's magical thirty-year friendship with Washoe, the chimpanzee he met when she jumped into his arms. We follow Washoe as she grows from a mischievous baby chimp fresh out of the NASA space program into the matriarch of a clan of chimpanzees. Living and conversing with these sensitive creatures has given Fouts a profound appreciation of how much we share with our closest biological relatives, and what they can teach us about ourselves.

This stirring tale of friendship, courage, and compassion will change forever the way we view our biological -- and spiritual -- Next of Kin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 1, 1997
• ISBN: 9780743544481

Reviews for Next of Kin

[Sheila Mulherin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely lovely book, so touching it brought me to tears several times. Showcases chimps’ intelligence and capacity for communication and loving relationships with humans and other chimps alike. Also showcases the darkness of medical research in the USA. Very powerful book.

[ode828joy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book. It is an extraordinary account of how the author and his colleagues taught sign language to chimpanzees in the 60's and 70's and moves on to his interest in the ethical treatment of animals in the 80's and 90's. I have always been an animal lover, but this book taught me so much more from the animals' perspective, and made me question what it means to be human. Chimpanzees are people, and some people are not human! At times the story is heartbreaking, but the more we learn about the unfortunate truths of animals in captivity and biomedical research the more we can prevent cruelty to animals in the future. If you have any interest in evolution, anthropology, psychology, language, communication, etc. you will probably find this book to be very inspirational and amazing like I did.

[Andrea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a stunning, humbling, life-changing book. The glimpse into the inner world of chimpanzees shows how intelligent and emotionally complex they are, and provides surprising insight into the origins of human language. It's wonderful to note that in the 25 years since the audiobook was published, the NIH has stopped experimenting on chimps and has established a sanctuary for retired chimps to live out their lives in freedom.

[librarycin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5 starsRoger Fouts was a psychology student in the late 1960s when he got a job helping with a chimpanzee, Washoe, to study whether or not chimps could learn human language by way of ASL (American Sign Language). Despite that he really wanted/planned to work with kids, this began decades of research with, then activism for, chimpanzees. He and his family (wife and eventually three kids) moved where Washoe was either sent or where was best for her. Roger was unable to help many other chimpanzees he met along with way (though he was able to help a few), but (often with Jane Goodall’s help), he fought to make living conditions for chimpanzees used in research in the U.S. better. He was still fighting for changes in 1997 when the book was published, but on checking today, things have gotten better – not for all chimps, but for many (most?). There were a few sections in the book where he was talking about research and studies that got just a bit dry, but for the most part, I loved reading about the chimps and the studies and was (to no surprise) horrified at what he saw in the medical research labs. Whether in my psychology or anthropology classes 30ish years ago, I had heard of both Fouts and Washoe, as well as many of the other scientists and studies Fouts mentions in this book. I went through a bunch of emotions reading this book – happiness, sadness, anger... I love that he ended up being an activist, and wanted(s) to see change. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this book!

[porte01 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really great - totally engrossing look at our closest genetic relatives - the chimpanzee, and the amazing bond we share with language (and emotion). Really changes your outlook on what really separates (or doesn't) humans from the other great apes, and perhaps other mammals as well. Really loved this book!

[lorifox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. To look into the eyes of a chimpanzee is to see ourselves looking back at us. The differences between our species and our culture are bridged as we recognize our shared similarities via culture, language, took making, and emotions. We are them. They are us. We must embrace our family ties to them and stop using them as research objects. They feel no less than we feel. They love, laugh, communicate, and think as we do. They truly are our "next of kin" and it's time we started treating them as such. What an amazing book.

[akh3966_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an incredibly interesting and thought provoking book. I was aware of Koko the gorilla's sign language abilities but somehow never heard of Project Washoe that predated it. The book was repetitive at times, but not to the point of being annoying. I learned a ton and will be thinking about it for quite a while.

[puckrobin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book quite literally altered how I see humanity, how I see our responsibility as a race to each other and to all other creatures on the planet, and what hope I have for humanity and our world. Fouts' memoir of the time he spent studying, working with, observing and developing close personal friendships with a group of chimpanzees, beginning with the charming and indomitable Washoe, is thought provoking, laugh provoking, and at time achingly bitter. After reading this book, I felt as if I too knew Washoe. I wanted very, very much to meet this incredible person - and after reading this book, you will not doubt that Washoe or her family of displaced chimps are "personals" with distinct personalities - but before I could get there, Washoe passed away. When I logged onto the website to find out what Washoe and her cohorts were up to, and found out that she'd passed away, I was heartbroken - but I was also awed and inspired by the number of people who had read this book and also felt like they knew Washoe, who also felt as though 'knowing' Washoe through these pages enriched their lives. If you have ever loved a 'person' who was not human - a pet or a wild animal you were lucky enough to observe - you will revel in the hope and love that are the foundation of this story.Note: if you read the book and enjoy it, do check out Roger Fouts' page for the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute in Washington State and/or Friends of Washoe on the net.

[mccin68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book. I read the book before going on a 2 week volunteer trip to CHCI. Being able to watch the chimps, Washoe, Dar, Loulis and Tatu was amazing as staff helped interpret teh behaviors, signing and relationships of the chimps. The Fouts dedication as well as all the staff and interns at CHCI was demonstrated daily in the efforts they took to ensure the chimps needs were met and I could tell the chimps were family to them.