Dr. Jane Goodall: 15 Books by Dr. Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall was born in 1934 in London, England. Always a lover of animals, she dreamed of traveling to Africa to study wildlife. In 1957, Dr. Jane met paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey, then curator of the Coryndon Museum in Nairobi, who asked her to be his secretary. He believed she would be the right person to study the then little-known chimpanzee. In the summer of 1960, Dr. Jane traveled to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania to begin her observations. She immersed herself in the chimpanzee habitat and defied scientific convention by giving chimpanzees names—like Fifi and David Greybeard—instead of numbers. Dr. Jane witnessed a chimpanzee using a twig to fish termites from a nest, thus revealing humans were not the only creatures to use tools.

Dr. Jane was awarded her Ph.D. in ethology by Cambridge University in 1965. In 2002, Dr. Jane was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace by Secretary-General Kofi Annan. As the UN messenger of peace, she travels more than 300 days each year to speak about the challenges facing chimpanzees and the environment. The following year, she was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). Dr. Jane dedicates every day of her life to the protection and conservation of the planet and its inhabitants.

Dr. Jane Goodall has written a number of books for both adults and young people to help people understand more about animals and conservation. Here are ten of her books for adults.

1. 1. In the Shadow of Man (1971): Dr. Jane’s In the Shadow of Man delves into her early experiences of primate study at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. In the book, Dr. Jane unpacks her observations of a group of chimps, their social hierarchy, and notable behaviors that connect them to human beings.
2. 2. My Life with the Chimpanzees (1988): In Dr. Jane’s autobiography My Life with the Chimpanzees, she discusses what it felt like to actualize her childhood dream of working with animals when she was observing chimpanzees in her mid-twenties in Tanzania.
3. 3. The Chimpanzee Family Book (1989): Also inspired by Dr. Jane’s work in Tanzania, this book paints a detailed portrait of a group of chimpanzees she studied, from how they gathered food to their social habits.
4. 4. Through a Window (1990): Through a Window is the sequel to In the Shadow of Man in which Dr. Jane details her experiences at Lake Tanganyika, Gombe, where she continued to study young chimpanzees and their routines, rituals, and life cycles.
5. 5. Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey (1999): In Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, Dr. Jane reflects on her career as an animal researcher and shares wisdom from her years in the forest.
6. 6. The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for the Animals We Love (2001): Dr. Jane collaborated with behavioral scientist Marc Bekoff on this book, which discusses the ten ways that humans can coexist harmoniously with the wildlife of our planet.
7. 7. Rickie and Henri: A True Story (2004): Dr. Jane tells the story of a chimp named Rickie, who was rescued from a Congolese market by a man, and the bond that Rickie developed with the man’s dog, Henri.
8. 8. Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating (2005): In this book, Dr. Jane suggests significant ways that food production and consumption can be altered to nurture and extend the life of our planet’s natural resources.
9. 9. Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink (2009): Dr. Jane Goodall worked with Zoo Director Thane Maynard on this book, which examines how a variety of species have been rescued from the brink of extinction.
10. 10. Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants (2013): In Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants, Dr. Jane explores the critical role that plants play in our natural environment.

Jane has authored a number of children’s books that teach young minds about the relationship between humans, plants, and animals.

1. 1. With Love (1994): In the picture book With Love, Dr. Jane tells some of her most emotional stories of working with chimps.
2. 2. The Eagle & the Wren (2000): In The Eagle & the Wren, Dr. Jane turns a story about a flight contest between birds during her childhood into a fable that emphasizes the importance of teamwork and togetherness.
3. 3. The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours (2001): Using dozens of photographs to illustrate her experiences, Dr. Jane discusses studying and caring for chimpanzees to increase awareness and encourage conservation.
4. 4. Dr. White (2003): With illustrations by artist Julie Litty, Dr. White follows a small white dog who brings comfort to the patients of a hospital.
5. 5. A Prayer for World Peace (2015): In A Prayer for World Peace, Dr. Jane encourages readers of all ages to reexamine their principles to prioritize justice and minimize suffering.

The Jane Goodall Institute is a nonprofit organization that aims to further the understanding of primates and fight against climate change. Nearly 300 chimpanzees and gorillas receive care through this sanctuary, which Dr. Jane supports herself. The Jane Goodall Institute also offers various programs in environmental studies, including youth programs like Dr. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program, which teaches children about humanitarian and conservation issues.

Though Dr. Jane began her work with chimpanzees, she quickly realized that saving chimps requires working with local communities. She knew that protecting the forest and educating people to understand their connection to it was essential. She began by helping the people living in the villages surrounding Gombe. The Jane Goodall Institute’s TACARE or “Take Care” approach provides local communities the tools needed to manage their resources for long-term growth and sustainability.

Get the MasterClass Annual Membership for exclusive access to video lessons taught by masters, including Jane Goodall, Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Paul Krugman, and more.