The Jane Effect

Celebrating Jane Goodall

If Tarzan and Jane Goodall met for a drink at an eco resort in Ghana, would he have the good sense to shower first, and then thank her for putting Africa, conservation issues, and humane animal research on the map for hundreds of millions of people? Would she have the good humor to needle him about his king-of-the-jungle schtick?

The Jane Effect does Goodall the service of skipping the dry recitation of her career exploits and, instead, offering heartfelt, two-page testimonials from one hundred of her friends, colleagues, and students. They paint her as an impossibly kind, generous, intelligent human being and a scientist of the highest order.

Divided into eight sections—Jane as Friend, Jane as Colleague, Partner, Professor, Naturalist, Exemplar, Visionary, and Inspiration—the common thread between all the essays is Jane as life changer.

Most gratifying is to imagine eighty-year-old Jane, misty eyed, reading this ultimate tribute herself.

Reviewed by Matt Sutherland

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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