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Read about the life and legacy of Jane Goodall in these books
The pioneering activist dedicated her life to the study of chimpanzees
Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist and conservationist, has died at the age of 91. Having dedicated her life to the study of chimpanzees and to protecting endangered species, her conservation work took her all over the world, while her own institute – the Jane Goodall Institute – helped advance her vision of global and community action to defend habitat loss.
Venturing into a scientific world largely dominated by men, Goodall’s study of wild chimpanzees began more than 60 years ago in Tanzania. There, she discovered how threatened the survival of their species was by habitat destruction and illegal trafficking. As such, she developed a breakthrough approach that underpins our modern understanding of species conservation.
She was considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. In 2018, she told Time Magazine: “I didn’t have any female explorers or scientists to look up to, but I was inspired by Dr. Dolittle, Tarzan and Mowgli in The Jungle Book — all male characters. It was only my mother who supported my dream.”
After a childhood being fascinated by animals, she left London for Africa in her twenties, where a chance encounter with a leading primatologist, Professor Louis Leakey, led to the funding for her first research trip in 1960. That same year, she witnessed a large male chimpanzee in Tanzania digging with a stick, becoming the first person to observe an animal using a tool. These groundbreaking studies were published in leading journals – including the cover of the National Geographic – before she gained worldwide fame after being featured in a documentary narrated by Orson Welles. Her unique and warm research approach (she often called chimpanzees her “friends”) set Goodall apart from her male peers in the scientific world.
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In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute which directly supported conservation efforts. Her tireless activism efforts continued right into her eighties, from appearances on the Call Her Daddy podcast to being recognised in both a Barbie doll and a Lego set. She died in California, days before a sold-out event she was due to speak at.
If you’re looking to read more about her life and legacy, Jane Goodall has written more than 30 books – you can discover some of her most popular titles below.
'In the Shadow of Man' by Jane Goodall, published by W&N
Jane Goodall’s seminal memoir, In the Shadow of a Man, recounts her groundbreaking field study of chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania from 1960. Under the guidance and funding of leading anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, she witnessed previously unknown behaviours like the chimpanzee’s tool use to get food, as well as their complex social structures. Not only is it enlightening on chimpanzees, but also explores how Goodall changed our anthropological understanding of them.
'The Book of Hope' by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams, published by Penguin Books
Published in 2021, The Book of Hope is based on conversations with Goodall and the author Douglas Abrams. A New York Times Bestseller, its aim is to raise awareness of how humans can act to improve the world and help the endangered species living in it. Abrams recounts Goodall's life story and studies, sharing her “four reasons for hope” – namely, human intellect, nature's resilience, youth's power, and the human spirit.
'Through a Window' by Jane Goodall, published by Orion
Written in 1990 after 30 years of conservation efforts and study in Gombe, Tanzania, Through a Window is the follow-up to In the Shadow of Man. The book meticulously details chimpanzee life, exploring their social dynamics, emotions, and complex behaviours, learned through Goodall’s observations over the decades. As part of her activism efforts, Goodall notes throughout the similarities between humans and chimpanzees, from relationships to conflicts. It’s considered among the most significant scientific works on animal behavior.
Looking for more literary inspiration? I’ve read 36 books this year, but this is my standout favourite