Desmond Morris, whose book The Naked Ape inspired and scandalised, dies aged 98
Desmond Morris, Who Held a Mirror Up to Humanity, Dies at 98. We Saw Ourselves. We Were Uncomfortable. He Was Right.
What Happened
Desmond Morris, the British zoologist and author, has died at the age of 98. His 1967 book The Naked Ape applied zoological observation to human behaviour, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide. It was controversial on publication, challenged by both religious institutions and academic peers, yet became one of the best-selling science books of the 20th century.
Historical Context
Morris lived and worked through one of science writing's great eras. The Naked Ape (1967) sold over 10 million copies and was translated into 23 languages. It belongs to a tradition of books that unsettled humanity's self-image: Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859), Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams (1899), Dawkins' The Selfish Gene (1976). Each was scandalous in its time. Each is now on university syllabuses. Morris also had a parallel life as a Surrealist painter and a colleague of Joan Miró — a fact most obituaries will bury in a footnote.
What's In Your Control
Whether you read The Naked Ape — or re-read it. Whether you remember that a life combining rigorous science and fine art, stretching nearly a century, is an instructive model for a life well constructed.
Does This Require Action?
Awareness only, with an invitation. Morris lived 98 full years and left behind a body of work that still provokes. That's worth a moment's reflection — and perhaps a library visit.
Source: BBC
