On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were “You be good. I love you.”What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex’s case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together, Alex and Irene had become famous—two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the … into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Alex’s brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.
The fame that resulted was extraordinary. Yet there was a side to their relationship that never made the papers. They were emotionally connected to one another. They shared a deep bond far beyond science. Alex missed Irene when she was away. He was jealous when she paid attention to other parrots, or even people. He liked to show her who was boss. He loved to dance. He sometimes became bored by the repetition of his tests, and played jokes on her. Sometimes they sniped at each other. Yet nearly every day, they each said, “I love you.”
Alex and Irene stayed together through thick and thin—despite sneers from experts, extraordinary financial sacrifices, and a nomadic existence from one university to another. The story of their thirty-year adventure is equally a landmark of scientific achievement and of an unforgettable human-animal bond.
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I love birds so this book was an eye opener on how parrots are really smart! It also taught me that if you have a parrot and you leave it in the cage 24/7 it is considered CRUELTY to the parrot. Parrots are very smart creatures and need interaction and things to do. If you have a pet parrot and you don’t let it out of the cage, you are not doing a …
I learned so much from this book. I laughed and told some of the stories showcasing Alex’s humor to my husband. He found it just as funny and clever. I was cheering on Dr. Pepperberg the whole time. Her scientific work endured. I was so proud of her. For a story that started with a well known death, I sobbed and used four tissues near the end of …
Easy read.
i have birds of my own and am always amazed by their intelligence it was great reading about Alex
Alex captivated the world with his “bird brain” intelligence. Able to communicate on the level of a four to five-year old child, the author chronicles the challenges, as well as, the rewards of working with a super intelligent African Gray parrot. As a parrot owner, I know the joys of being a parrot mom and how easily attached one becomes to their …
Opened my eyes to the wonderful non-human creatures we share our planet with. This book will amaze you.
Fascinating account of intelligence of a talking parrot. True Story.
It keeps you interested and in love with the work she does
One of my favorite animal books of all times. First hand information from a scientist who loved Alex and contributed greatly to our understanding of African Greys.
I fell in love with this precious little bird…he was a human in a bird’s body in my estimation…I don’t know if you want to print this because it may spoil the ending…but Alex’s last words absolutely broke my heart…
A very interesting tale of a very gifted bird. After you read it you will never question animal intelligence again.
This book was fascinating and a great reminder of the intelligence of animals
Totally interesting and was a real life story
Animal human bonding
Bird brains is often to as a disparaging term for being dumb. But, Alex shows the folly of this term. Not only does he learn words, but understands the meanings, can differentiate, do simple arithmetic and show emotions. A must read for those who love animals and can appreciate their cognitive skills and feelings.
Learning more about the person who knew and loved Alex most made the story more touching.
Arrogant humans believe we are the only creatures who can reason. Alex proved otherwise.
I loved this book. It taught me a lot about the world of science and even more about parrots and their amazing abilities. I would highly recommend this to animal lovers and anyone interested in animal studies.
À very interesting story that you would never think of unless you have a personal interest in the subject matter.
This is the perfect read for bird lovers with a scientific bent. Alex was an exceptional bird which is on par for an African Grey parrot. Her owner/trainer was creative in the way she taught Alex speech. They had such a tight bond, that Irene and Alex became famous in scientific circles for their linguistic expertise.