Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall was an English author, primatologist and anthropologist whose writing career developed alongside her scientific work. She wrote 32 books for adults and children and became known for combining field observation with accessible narrative.

Her publications included scientific monographs, memoirs, children’s stories and works on ethics, conservation and spirituality. Many of her books appeared in multiple languages and formed part of a broader public engagement effort that continued until she died in 2025.

Goodall began publishing in the 1960s, releasing early accounts of her research in Tanzania through articles and features in National Geographic. Her first major book, My Friends the Wild Chimpanzees (1969), introduced her fieldwork to a general readership. In the Shadow of Man (1971) offered the first complete account of her observations at Gombe and was later translated into 48 languages.

It became the central text linking her research with international audiences and established her approach to writing about animal behaviour in direct, descriptive prose.

In the 1980s, she produced two extensive studies synthesising decades of field notes. The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behaviour (1986) presented the technical findings of her long-term research and received major scientific awards. Through a Window (1990) expanded on her first memoir and covered the development of individual chimpanzees across several generations. Visions of Caliban (1991), co-authored with Dale Peterson, examined the ethical treatment of primates in captivity.

From the late 1990s, Goodall broadened her written work. Brutal Kinship (1999), created with photographer Michael Nichols, combined text and images to document the impact of human activity on chimpanzee communities. Reason for Hope (1999) presented a spiritual autobiography shaped by her time in the field and her reflections on environmental responsibility.

Later works, including Harvest for Hope (2005) and Hope for Animals and Their World (2009), addressed food systems, conservation programmes and species recovery. Seeds of Hope (2014) examined the importance of plants and was revised before publication due to questions over its sourcing.

Goodall also wrote extensively for younger readers, beginning with Grub: The Bush Baby (1972). My Life with the Chimpanzees (1988) introduced her research to children and became a standard school text. The Chimpanzee Family Book (1989) won the UNICEF award for best children’s book and appeared in more than 15 languages. Later titles, such as Chimpanzees I Love (2001), combined memoir with environmental education.

In the 2000s and 2010s, she continued to publish works integrating scientific explanation with advocacy. The Ten Trusts (2002), co-authored with Marc Bekoff, outlined principles for the ethical treatment of animals. The Book of Hope (2021), written with Douglas Abrams and Gail Hudson, presented a long series of interviews exploring resilience and conservation.

Goodall’s books supported her wider public work and shaped international understanding of primate behaviour and environmental ethics.