Book Discussion: Nim Chimpsky

STAY TUNED: If the weather is very bad we'll announce a new date for this discussion. A decision will be made by Tuesday. Discuss "Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human" with the VSDC Book Club. To participate just read at least half the book -- and RSVP at least two days before the meeting. "In what is surely one of the most memorable and intelligent recent books about animal-human interaction, Hess (Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter) tells the story of Nim Chimpsky, who in the 1970s was the subject of an experiment begun at the University of Oklahoma to find out whether a chimp could learn American Sign Language--and thus refute Noam Chomsky's influential thesis that language is inherent only in humans. Nim was sent to live with a family in New York City and taught human language like any other child. Hess sympathetically yet unerringly details both the project's successes and failures. . ." Publishers Weekly Starred Review (paperback December 30) At this meeting we also vote for two upcoming books. We'll meet at a vegetarian restaurant in Maryland. People who RSVP "yes" will get the location information. For more details contact Beth through meet up or use the form at www.vsdc.org/book.html.