About this item

An exhilarating quest into a remote African forest to examine chimpanzees and understand the roots of human behavior.As a young student, John Crocker embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, spending eight months in the Gombe forest working with Jane Goodall. He followed families of wild chimpanzees from sunrise to sunset and learned the fundamental behavioral traits of these chimps as they raised their offspring. One chimpanzee captivated him. Her name was Fifi, and she displayed extraordinary patience and reassurance toward her infant, Freud. Upon returning home and becoming a doctor, Crocker found himself incorporating the lessons he learned from Fi into his work as a father and physician. When he witnessed his young patients rocketing around his exam room, he would picture Fi 's patience and tacit approval of Freud's uninhibited and joyful exploration.