I finished the book over the weekend.

The reason why the term "Mother Culture" is used is excused explained. I'm not convinced, but my panties are in a wad right now anyway, so maybe I should move on from that quibble...

The conclusion is presented. I'll talk about it more later, but let me say right away that I can agree with most of the conclusion... but I could go almost line by line, like a determined e-mail debater, and argue with supporting arguments.

Don't tell me that cats, or dogs, don't have culture. I don't understand it, but it certainly appears to me that they have customs and knowledge that is not instinctual. We don't know enough about most non-domesticated animals to know whether they might. I can imagine wolf culture, or porpoise culture (porpoises engage in oral sex-- can we be sure they don't have art?)

By the way, the ape user pics are bonobos, mainly from bonobo.com.