“In this richly observed and intelligent book, de Waal ponders our natural receptiveness to religion, how religion evolved and what if anything might take its place.”
—Scientific American
“Compelling. . . . Blows the idea of top-down morality out of the water.”
—Independent (UK)
“De Waal isn’t telling religious people that they’re wrong to love their fellow humans (and non-humans) because God tells them to. He’s just explaining why the rest of us feel the same way, whether God speaks to us or not.”
—Psychology Today
“A primatologist who has spent his career studying chimpanzees and bonobos, two of humanity’s closest living relatives, Mr de Waal draws on a lifetime of empirical research. His data provides plenty of evidence that religion is not necessary in order for animals to display something that looks strikingly like human morality.”
—Economist
“De Waal states his argument for the evolution of human empathy with the sophistication of a well-grounded, risk-taking scientist who can venture into philosophy.”
—Nature
“Dr. de Waal resists hard-line atheism and religion alike. . . . Refreshingly undogmatic.”
—New York Times
“An elegant stylist, de Waal writes about these animals with great affection and respect.”
—Boston Globe
“Frans de Waal’s new book carries the important message that human kindness is a biological feature of our species and not something that has to be imposed on us by religious teaching.”
—Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape