Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Third Chimpanzee summary
The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal
18 mins
Brief summary
The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond explores the evolution and behavior of humans and our close primate relatives. It examines the ecological and cultural factors that have shaped our species, and the implications for our future survival and flourishing on planet Earth.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Third Chimpanzee
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
Science shows that humans are more genetically similar to other primates than previously thought.
The similarities between humans and other primates aren’t hard to spot. But exactly how genetically similar are we to our wild cousins, and which ones are our closest relatives?
Scientists are now able to look at the human genome and calculate exactly how alike humans and apes are. The results are pretty striking. We share 96.4 percent of our genes with orangutans, 97.7 percent with gorillas and an incredible 98.6 percent with chimpanzees.
Effectively, that means that a mere 1.4 percent of our DNA distinguishes us from chimpanzees. Of that percentage, only a small amount contains the genetic tools that helped us develop those attributes we consider uniquely human, such as language, art and technology.
In fact, we're so genetically close to chimps that some scientists even consider us part of the same family.
In most encyclopedias, you'll find humans and chimpanzees classed in the same order, the Primates, and the same superfamily, the Hominoidea, but in separate families: the Hominidae for humans and Pongidae for chimpanzees.
However, one school of taxonomy – known as the cladistics – arranges species based on relative genetic distance. Using this method, humans and chimps are part of not only the same family, but even the same genus.
They conceive of not one but three separate species within the Homo genus: Homo troglodytes, the common chimpanzee; Homo paniscus, the bonobo; and us, Homo sapiens.
Being in the same genus means the species are very closely related, so much so that sometimes they might be distinguishable only to experts. Take the willow warblers and the chiffchaffs as an example. These European birds share 97.7 percent of the same DNA and look virtually identical. But they're less closely related to each other than humans are to chimps.
So we’re a lot like our chimp cousins – but it’s our few different characteristics, as well as art, technology and language, that really mark our species out.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Third Chimpanzee?
Key ideas in The Third Chimpanzee
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Third Chimpanzee about?
In The Third Chimpanzee (1991), Jared Diamond explores the evolution of Homo sapiens, which started out like any other animal and gradually became a unique creature capable of producing speech, making art and inventing technology. The book reveals some extraordinary insights about the nature of human beings.
The Third Chimpanzee Review
The Third Chimpanzee (1991) by Jared Diamond is a thought-provoking exploration of what separates humans from our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With compelling evidence and clear explanations, Diamond delves into the origins of human language, art, and what it means to be human.
- By examining our evolutionary history and the impact we've had on the planet, the book raises fascinating questions about our future as a species.
- The book's engaging storytelling and wide range of topics, from genetics to culture, keep readers captivated throughout, ensuring that it's anything but boring.
Best quote from The Third Chimpanzee
As long as the female has it and the male likes it, sexual selection could lead to any arbitrary trait, just as long as it does not impair survival too much
—Jared Diamond
Who should read The Third Chimpanzee?
- Students of history and anthropology
- People interested in human evolution
- Readers querying the essence of humankind
Categories with The Third Chimpanzee
Book summaries like The Third Chimpanzee
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Third Chimpanzee FAQs
What is the main message of The Third Chimpanzee?
The main message of The Third Chimpanzee explores the origins of human behavior and the key factors that have shaped our species.
How long does it take to read The Third Chimpanzee?
The reading time for The Third Chimpanzee varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Third Chimpanzee a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Third Chimpanzee is worth reading for its fascinating insights into human evolution and its impact on current issues. It offers a fresh perspective that is thought-provoking.
Who is the author of The Third Chimpanzee?
The author of The Third Chimpanzee is Jared Diamond.
What to read after The Third Chimpanzee?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Third Chimpanzee, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
- The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
- The Evolution of Everything by Matt Ridley
- Upheaval by Jared Diamond
- Existentialism Is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre
- Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson
- Kaput by Wolfgang Münchau
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn
- The Bhagavad Gita by Vyasa