Fall 2026 OLLI Digital Catalog

THE ARROGANT APE (H381)

H – Literature

This class is built around the book by the same name by Christine Webb, with the subtitle: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why it Matters. The author is a Harvard primatologist with stated expertise in social behavior, cognition and emotion, but not linguistics, based the instructor’s assessment. Participants are asked to read the book, if possible, and be prepared to discuss the issue of anthropocentrism as an embedded part of Western culture, and more specifically, “WEIRD” culture (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic). The purpose of this class is to make you think.

This offering meets for a total of 5 session(s).

INSTRUCTOR: Trudie Thompson

THOMPSON, TRUDIE — M.S., strategic intelligence, National Intelligence University; M.A., international relations; University of Southern California, B.A., German, Middlebury College. Volunteers for many different organizations, including PAWS for People, Rotary, Rehoboth Beach Library, and of course, OLLI. Retired Army Reserve officer and foreign service officer who served in Germany, Botswana, Korea, Australia, Afghanistan and Washington, D.C. Loves music and never misses a chance to sing harmony; sings with the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and various barbershop groups.

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