Frans de Waal books in order
Dutch primatologist and ethologist
- Lived
- 1948–2024
- Country
- Netherlands
- Books
- 15
Frans de Waal published 4 novels, 7 non-fiction books and 4 other books, beginning with Chimpanzee Politics (1982). The best-known is Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? (2016).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Frans de Waal
Start here
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
Frans de Waal's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Bonobo (1997)
Our Inner Ape (2005)
The Age of Empathy (May 2011)
Mama's Last Hug (2019)
Non-fiction in order
Good Natured (1996)
Natural Conflict Resolution (2000)
The Ape and the Sushi Master (2001)
Primates and Philosophers (2006)
The Bonobo and the Atheist (2014)
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? (2016)
Bird Brain (2016)
Other books in order
Chimpanzee Politics (1982)
Peacemaking Among Primates (1989)
Tree of Origin (2001)
My Family Album (2003)
About Frans de Waal
Franciscus Bernardus Maria de Waal was a Dutch-American primatologist and ethologist. He was the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Primate Behavior in the Department of Psychology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, director of the Living Links Center at the Emory National Primate Research Center, and author of numerous books including Chimpanzee Politics (1982) and Our Inner Ape (2005). His research centered on primate social behavior, including conflict resolution, cooperation, inequity aversion, and food-sharing. He was a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Frans de Waal FAQ
- How many books has Frans de Waal written?
- Frans de Waal published 4 novels, 7 non-fiction books and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Frans de Waal's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?.
- What is Frans de Waal's last book?
- Mama's Last Hug (2019).
- What is Frans de Waal's most famous book?
- Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? (2016) is Frans de Waal's most widely read book.
Authors like Frans de Waal
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.