Following Fifi – My Adventures Among Wild Chimpanzees: Lessons from our Closest Relatives

“A truly extraordinary book. As I read it I was transported back to those wonderful days when I lived in Gombe. It is fascinating to read how John’s observations of chimpanzee children with their mothers and other family members helped him understand the problems of a human child.” -- Jane Goodall “Beautiful descriptions of the natural surroundings in Tanzania and the importance of spending time in nature weave their ways throughout the narrative. An absorbing tale of the profundity of the human-chimp bond and how it can inform interactions among humans.” -- Kirkus Reviews “A sympathetic personal journey that explores the many profound similarities between humans and the creatures with whom we share 96 percent of our DNA, this book will make a great addition to public and college libraries alike.” -- Library Journal “Crocker, who studied chimpanzees with Jane Goodall, presents an intriguing analysis of human behavior in his new book. In focusing on an incredible chimp mother named Fifi, he reveals that we have a lot to gain by learning from chimp parenting.” -- Paste (Best Books of December) “Eloquent and appreciative. Crocker thoughtfully muses on parenting, nostalgia, and lifelong friendship. Crocker’s book is emotionally stirring without being overly sentimental, and is as much about human experience as it is about comparative ethology.” -- Publishers Weekly “A gentle and thoughtful look at our bond with nature, especially with our closest relatives.” -- Booklist “Spending time with wild chimpanzees—and watching their mothering skills—has marked John Crocker for life and shaped his work as a family doctor. A delightful book full of love and respect for both animals and humans.” -- Frans de Waal, New York Times bestselling author of 'Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?' “John Crocker’s memoir traces a unique and fascinating arc from his early fieldwork with Jane Goodall, through a career in family medicine, and then back to revisit the people and chimpanzees at Gombe Stream. Written with genuine feeling and filled with intriguing insights, Following Fifi is a great read.” -- Thor Hanson, author of 'Feathers' and 'The Triumph of Seeds'