I wanted to know what they were experiencing, and why to us they feel so compelling, and so-close. This time I allowed myself to ask them the question that for a scientist was forbidden fruit: Who are you? Weaving decades of field observations with exciting new discoveries about the brain, Carl Safina’s landmark book offers an intimate view of animal behavior to challenge the fixed boundary … the fixed boundary between humans and nonhuman animals. In Beyond Words, readers travel to Amboseli National Park in the threatened landscape of Kenya and witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack’s personal tragedy, and finally plunge into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest.
Beyond Words brings forth powerful and illuminating insight into the unique personalities of animals through extraordinary stories of animal joy, grief, jealousy, anger, and love. The similarity between human and nonhuman consciousness, self-awareness, and empathy calls us to re-evaluate how we interact with animals. Wise, passionate, and eye-opening at every turn, Beyond Words is ultimately a graceful examination of humanity’s place in the world.
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Important and original observations about the animal kingdom of which we are a part, embellished with prose that itself would recommend the book if only for the skill and beauty with which Carl Safina paints each page with words. A total experience of new knowledge and breathtaking beauty.
I doubt anyone who reads this book will ever look at elephants in the same way as they did before reading this marvelous story. Anyone who cares about animals will have their respect and consideration for all creatures magnified. Humans could learn a lot about family bonds, community consciousness, communication skills, grief, and just plain goodness from these giants. Their current plight is horrendously disturbing as they are killed for ivory, youngsters witness the violent destruction of their mothers, orphans lose the chance to learn the values of their species, enslavement for the entertainment or heavy work and mistreatment by humans, rapids habitat loss, etc. etc. If this book doesn’t inspire readers to participate in efforts to stop the demise and extinction of elephants and other animals sharing the planet, I cannot imagine what will with the exception of spending time with up close and personal with these magnificent, intelligent animals. I highly recommend.
A wonderful glimpse of what elephants, wolves and other animals are thinking. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about animals, about what we are doing to them and their Earth, and to anyone who wants to gather some insight into what animals are thinking and just how intelligent they really are.
Finally, someone is saying what most of us know about animals. They experience the world through the same kind of feelings that humans do. Safina had wonderful insights about elephants with lots of beautiful stories it was several chapters too long. Overall, I found the book slow and plodding.
A book for all ages to learn about the abilities of these large animals.
But sad, due to the diminishing size of the herds due to man’s killings for ivory.
Much to learn