As Charles Darwin suggested more than a century ago, the differences between animals and humans are of degree and not of kind.” Not long ago, ethologists denied that animals had emotions or true intelligence. Now, we know that rats laugh when tickled, magpies mourn as they cover the departed with greenery, female whales travel thousands of miles for annual reunions with their gal pals, seals … navigate by the stars, bears hum when happy, and crows slide down snowy rooftops for fun.
In engaging text, photographs, and infographics, Inside Animal Hearts and Minds showcases fascinating and heart-warming examples of animal emotion and cognition that will foster wonder and empathy. Learn about an orangutan who does “macramé,” monkeys that understand the concept of money, and rats that choose friendship over food. Even language, math, and logic are no longer exclusive to humans. Prairie dogs have their own complex vocabularies to describe human intruders, parrots name their chicks, sea lions appear capable of deductive thinking akin to a ten-year-old child’s, and bears, lemurs, parrots, and other animals demonstrate numerical cognition.
In a world where a growing body of scientific research is closing the gap between the human and non-human, Inside Animal Hearts and Minds invites us to change the way we view animals, the world, and our place in it.
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I really like this book because I have learned a lot about the way animals interact with each other. Animals are so much more than just four legged creatures or household pets. They use their minds to reason through problems and demonstrate affection for each and other species. I want to get copies for my grandkids to read. I highly recommend this book for anyone, especially animal lovers.
Validated and changed my perspective of the animal world. Just because we can’t always understand them doesn’t mean they are less worthy of respect and consideration when it comes to natural or man-made situations that affect their lives. They are more like us than not.
Animals are amazing!
It was very informational,interesting and fun to read. Excellent book.
This is a book that gives the reader an entirely different outlook on the animals around us. With many scientific experiments and observations scientists are beginning to realize the complexity of the animal world. They are capable of so many more things than one would have ever imagined.
This is one of those books that people who have been around animals all their lives think two things: 1) Why do scientists have to study things that we already know are true (like that cows have friendships and that dogs can read their people’s emotions…. and 2) wow! there is even more to the animal kingdom than I ever imagined (check out the stuff about the octopus in particular–and what about dolphins sucking on fish that have poison in them?). Very worth your time to read this one!
This book goes far beyond many others in dissecting animal behavior. Monkeys and apes are commonly explained; the family dog, too. But this well-researched book includes many lesser known animals whose behavior indicates they also understand far more than we humans ever expected. Elephants grieve and have rituals. All sorts of birds can count … as in math. Even the lowly ant is amazing in how it can get information from , of all things, the stars ! Both the width of the animal kingdom covered and the depth of the research make this a fine well-thought-out read.
Fascinating portrayal of how animals are really so much like humans.
This well written book is one of my most favorites. It shines a light on animal cognition as found by careful observation and not unrealistic, outdated experiments. The question: Are humans too egocentric to realize the intelligent awareness of other species? The examples provided are fascinating and illuminating and may well lead readers to explore and learn more.
Revelatory…enlightening… confirms what animal lovers have always known
This book taught me to look at animals in a more loving light.
Currently reading. Am enjoying!
The anecdotes and the clearly-presented scientific research in this book gave me an entirely new perspective on animals of all sorts, including humans. We share much more than I ever dreamed. Some of the traits we believe elevate us above them simply do no such thing, because they have those traits as well. It has set me on a path to completely re-thinking my relationships with them, from what I am willing to eat to how I relate to those animals who are willing to live their lives with me as partners of different species. I highly recommend these pages to anyone interested in knowing animals and themselves more thoroughly.
Pretty interesting.
This book reads like a research paper and is not at all fun to read. I thought it would include alot of endearing animal stories and experiences the writer had interacting with them. It was very dry and tedious. Don’t recommend.
This is a charming and interesting look at our fellow creatures, how they are more like us than we often think. Loved it!
I’ve read about every book on animals there is I enjoyed this one