Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves

The author is an excellent storyteller. It led me to spend half an hour viewing videos of Mama's (the chimp mother) last days and the empathic meeting with an old human friend. I felt that the portrayal of scientific research particularly affective neuroscience was biased and popularized. In particular he accepts Ekman's theory of the Universality of (some) Facial Expressions wholeheartedly; without mentioning Lisa Feldman Barrett's scientific criticism of this research see:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Emotions-Are-Made-Secret/dp/1469292084

If you have always wondered if animals have emotions then read this book.
If you have seen the youtube.com video of Mama's last hug with her "friend" and biologist, Jan van Hooff and been moved by the emotions shown by the chimpanzee, then read this book.
Humans are not the only species that are capable of emotions. This book will educate and entertain you in a most
fascinating way.
I recommend it highly.

Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves 1st Edition, by primatologist Frans de Waal, a New York Times bestseller, who here explores the world of human and animal emotions. The Dutch-born de Waal has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. The author of Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, among many other works, he is the C. H. Candler Professor in Atlanta, Georgia’s Emory University’s Psychology Department and director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center.
The primatologist has spent four decades at the forefront of animal research. Following up on the best-selling Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, which investigated animal intelligence, Mama’s Last Hug delivers an extraordinary accounting of the rich emotional lives of animals.

Mama’s Last Hug begins with the death of Mama, a 59-year old chimpanzee matriarch who ruled her followers with an iron hand and formed a deep bond with biologist Jan van Hooff. When Mama was dying, van Hooff took the unusual step of visiting her in her night cage for a last hug. Their goodbyes were filmed and went viral. Millions of people were deeply moved by the way Mama embraced the professor, welcoming him with a big smile while reassuring him by patting his neck, in a gesture often considered typically human but that is in fact common to all primates. This story and others like it form the core of de Waal’s argument, showing that humans are not the only species with the capacity for love, hate, fear, shame, guilt, joy, disgust, empathy, and a sense of fairness. De Waal discusses facial expressions, the emotions behind human politics, the illusion of free will, animal sentience, and, of course, Mama’s life and death. The message is one of continuity between us and other species, such as the radical proposal that emotions are like organs: we don’t have a single organ that other animals don’t have, and the same is true for our emotions. De Waal is also a good storyteller. As he tells the story of Kuif, a chimpanzee female, one of Mama’s oldest friends, who lost every baby she had because she was unable to make enough milk. De Waal gave her an orphaned female infant, Rooseje, and showed Kuif how to bottle feed her. Rooseje survived, and so did Kuif’s later infants, whom she bottle fed, as she had been taught.

The author’s discussion of the animal concept of fairness was also particularly interesting, and buttressed with examples of many animal species. On this topic, I can add a recent experience of my own. I have two cats, Divo, the elder, and Marco, a darling little boy. When I adopted Marco from the pound, I was told that for each meal they gave him a teaspoon full of wet food in addition to kibble. I have followed this protocol. But recently, as Marco is such a cutie, I began letting him lick the spoon in which I gave him his wet food. Divo objected violently, verbally, and by knocking against the hand giving Marco his special treat. After all, not only was Divo missing out on a special treat, his meal was being delayed by the time the spoon licking took. Couldn’t figure out what to do, til I finally tried giving Divo some of his kibble while Marco was licking the spoon. Divo accepted that as fair. Problem solved. So don’t tell me cats don’t have emotions.

Let me allow de Waal to give his own autobiography.” I am a Dutch/American biologist, born in the Netherlands in 1948, having lived in the USA since 1981. My passion is primate behavior, and the comparison between primate and human behavior. I pursue the first as a scientist and the second as a writer of popular books. For me, there is nothing more logical than to look at human society through the lens of animal behavior.

I have a Ph. D. in zoology and ethology (the study of animal behavior) from the University of Utrecht, and now teach Psychology at Emory University, in Atlanta. My first book, "Chimpanzee Politics," compared the schmoozing and scheming of chimpanzees involved in power struggles with that of human politicians. The book even reached the reading list of the congress in Washington. Ever since, I have drawn parallels between primate and human behavior, from aggression to morality and culture.”

Now, mind you, I am no Hollywood starlet who “loves animals.” And I acknowledge Tennyson’s line that “nature is red in tooth and claw. “ Yes, there are prey animals that live by hunting. Still, I believe animals were made by the same forces that made humans, and that they deserve decent, humane lives and considerate slaughter. In a world where billions of animals annually are forced to lead horrendous factory farm lives, and suffer terrifying slaughter. So I surely loved, loved, loved this book.

Early ethologists studied animal behavior to understand a shared motivation. Their experimental setup was elegant and objective, but the underlying motivation for animal behavior was ignored. For example, fear and anger, and the animal reactions to it were carefully examined and conclusions were drawn. The prevailing assumption in these studies were that animals had instincts that gave inborn actions triggered by a situation. Behavioral biologists have changed this approach because the instincts are inflexible, and they have started to look from the point of emotions which allow flexibility. They prime body and mind, but do not dictate any specific course of actions. Emotions are neither invisible nor impossible to study; they can be measured. Levels of biomolecules associated with emotional experiences, from the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin to the stress hormone cortisol, can easily be determined. The hormones are virtually identical across the board; from humans to birds to invertebrates.

The artificial intelligence (AI) recognize the importance of emotions. AI with emotions would interact with humans with empathy and human-like emotions, and hopefully do not destroy mankind when they become too powerful. It is expected to facilitate engagement and working together for common good.

In this book, the author, a well-known primatologist proposes that animals experience emotions in the same way as humans do. Emotions infuse everything that inspire cognition and drives all animals and humans. By examining emotions, this book puts these vivid of mental experiences in evolutionary context, revealing how their richness, power and utility stretch across species and back into the history of animal kingdom.

Really enjoyed this book ! Now when I interact with my seven dogs, my heart beats differently for them. You really can see an animals soul in their eyes. If you have the courage to look for it !! #RIpMama💔

It has been said that we do not deserve pets - whether it be a dog, cat, monkey, bird or whatever. Animals definitely have emotions and the author has captured that easily. They get angry, they get emotional, they have great empathy and they have squabbles. In fact, some squabbles are to the death. Those squabbles usually are over territory or women. Same as humans. We are animals too, when you get down to it. Some animals are mean, some are nurturing and when you get into groups, there is always a struggle for who will rule the roost. If you watch animals, you will see that they do the same things we do. Some will take a baby and protect it, even if it isn't theirs. Others will take the same baby and eat it. We see many of our own personality traits in animals and the author has illustrated that quite well.

Great book front to back

Fascinating how human behavior is so obviously linked. Once you start reading, you can't put the book down. Very well written in my opinion.

Thank you

Fine