*A book of the year in the New York Times*
*Longlisted for the Nayef Al-Rodhan Book Prize*
*Winner of the Cosmos Book Prize 2026*
*Winner of the Phi Beta Kappa 2026 Award in Science*

'I wish this book had been published five hundred years ago and been compulsory reading ever since' Jay Griffiths, author of How Animals Heal Us

'A crucial and transformative read' Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast

'Will leave you in awe' Justin Gregg, author of If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal

Most people are certain that humans are the most intelligent, sophisticated, successful species on earth. But what if we're wrong? And what if our arrogant human exceptionalism is leading us to exploit the earth at the expense of other species - and destroy our own world in the process?

In The Arrogant Ape, leading primatologist Christine Webb demonstrates how our belief in our own importance is directly linked to some of the greatest threats against us and our environment - and offers a hopeful, inspiring way forwards.

'With compelling stories and fresh research [Webb] gives us a paradigm-shifting way of looking at other organisms on their own terms, one that is revolutionizing our perception both of them and of ourselves' Phi Beta Kappa Society

"Provocative, moving ... deeply felt, searching but rigorous" - New Scientist

"Excellent" - New York Times Book Review

"Christine Webb's powerful new book is both a carefully crafted unpacking of the errors behind human exceptionalism and a practical guide to how we can unlearn our species arrogance. She draws from her intimate knowledge of great apes and a deep and evidenced empathy for other living beings. Building on the legacy of her mentor, Frans de Waal, Webb's book is a passionate call on us to shape a better world as the 'humble' apes of the future" - Melanie Challenger, author of How to be Animal

"Inspiring and potentially life-changing. After reading Webb's book, it is hard to think of nonhuman animals in the same way. What makes Webb's account novel and fresh is the sheer wealth of detail that she offers about the capabilities of nonhuman animals, and her use of that detail to support her plea for humility and awe. Her ultimate goal for arrogant apes, including scientists, is resonant. It is nothing less than a re-enchantment of the world" - Democracy Journal

"With compelling stories and fresh research she gives us a paradigm-shifting way of looking at other organisms on their own terms, one that is revolutionizing our perception both of them and of ourselves" - The Phi Beta Kappa Society