Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods

I almost never read non-fiction and I especially avoid memoirs, but this time I am really glad that I went outside my comfort zone. I won't give away the content of the book because I want people to read it for themselves. I loved reading this book because it flowed easily, the main character is likeable and just as flawed as the rest of us, and because I now know things I would not have learned otherwise. This book is so much more than the story of the author's life for a year. I will grant you that she had a very exciting year, but what I liked most about the book was the questions it raised in my mind while reading it. What makes humans different than animals? What makes us the same? How can we do research on animals that will benefit both animals and humans? How can we make a positive difference in countries in Africa that need outside help? Reading this book gave me both an escape from my own life and challenging things to think about.