By Sandy Amazeen Jun 4, 2008, 1:26 GMT
From early childhood Jane Goodall was fascinated by the natural world, a keen observer determined to figure out such mysteries as how chickens lay eggs, she spent countless hours with Rusty, a neighbor dog who showed her that animals have personalities and feelings too. Greene recounts Goodall’s childhood with an absentee father, getting through school and struggling to find a suitable career that would allow her to make a living while keeping her dream of traveling to Africa alive.
A chance meeting with controversial anthropologist Louis Leakey eventually led to Goodall’s opportunity to study chimpanzee behavior in the wild, setting the course of her life. From an unknown, under-qualified young woman to the amazing figurehead for conservation and animal rights she is today, Greene allows readers to share Goodall’s wonder at new discoveries and the heartache of divorce and death.
This is a touching portrait of a strong, spiritual woman whose love for her subjects caused outrage among the scientific community as they condemned her practice of naming the chimps and giving them credit for emotion. Undeterred, Goodall continued her studies with backing from the National Geographic Society, got her degrees, established the Gombe research center and became an acknowledged expert in chimpanzee behavior. This is a warm, engaging biography that hopefully will inspire others to follow their dreams.
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