THE WELL-DRESSED APE A Natural History of Myself

A fascinating and engrossing nonfiction work, THE WELL-DRESSED APE reads like fiction as the author examines her biological animal being for the purpose of clarifying Homo sapiens' identity in our world's ecosystem. Holmes deftly segues from personal reflection and description, delivered by narrator Joyce Bean in a folksy, homespun style, to the scientific and to the broader relevancies to be found in other diverse cultures. Bean enthusiastically seizes Holmes's anthropological detail, lending her narration a humorous and wonderstruck tone as each new exploration unfolds. Her frank and feminine inflections, neutral yet warm, balance the work's considerable science and research. This book serves as an affirmation of Homo sapiens' uniqueness and capacity for adaptation, survival, and prosperity, achieved by harnessing self-reflective intelligence in response to natural adversity. "Know thyself . . ." and listen to THE WELL-DRESSED APE. A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]