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devonforest's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been wanting to read this for a while since a friend recommended it to me. And he was right, this book was great! Just reading about all the amazing stories about how animals interact with each other. Animals are truly fascinating and I always enjoy reading and learning about what we are constantly learning from and about them.
bluepazookie's review against another edition
Really dry and audio hard to listen to, even though read by the author (who you’d think would be more enthusiastic about his work). Other reviews on the misinformation about wolves later in the book also contributed to DNF.
rebel_rocketman's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
namestaken's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed a lot of the first third of the book. His information on elephants was very interesting and informative, however, it all fell apart when he moved into wolves. His evidence was flimsy and, seemingly, influenced heavily by his emotional ties to his dogs. His disdain for researchers was very off-putting.
Ultimately, most of the book felt like a repetition of the first few points. Additional evidence of his ideas didn't help to convince, especially when his anger towards researchers became evident. I wish he'd have ended the book with elephants, the rest felt like padding for a page count.
Ultimately, most of the book felt like a repetition of the first few points. Additional evidence of his ideas didn't help to convince, especially when his anger towards researchers became evident. I wish he'd have ended the book with elephants, the rest felt like padding for a page count.
pwtjax's review against another edition
5.0
This book should be required reading for all humans. Very moving and profound.
uditnair24's review against another edition
4.0
The book takes a perspective of a world outside us- a world in which humans are not the measure of all things. The fundamental premise of the book is that all creatures on earth have shared experiences because we all have got the same basic brain. The argument presented here is appropriately more understandable for social animals. The book makes the case broadly through three studies. The first part of book deals with a particular family of African elephants, followed by a wolf population of yellow stone and finally it deals with killer whales and other cetaceans. Most of the claims made by author are backed by ethograms and natural observations in the wild. I still believe that in many places it felt like little over the board but probably it's because of my academic training as biologist which makes me wired to neutrality even when it might not be the case.
The author rightly says that we can safely say that what elephants or wolves or whales are saying and understanding is more sophisticated than is our understanding of what these creatures are saying. Humans desperately need to believe that we are not just unique- as all species are - but we are so very special, that we are resplendent,transendent, divinely inspired,weightlessly imbued with eternal souls. Anything less induces dread and panic. But the reality is that we are just one amongst many magnificent creatures who walk on this earth.
Humans have overestimated their own capabilities and have grossly underestimated the intelligence and sensitivity of other animals. One might think that intelligence or cognition or consciousness are abstract concepts for animals but they are as abstract as we choose to define it. At the end of the day the basic wiring of the brain and thus the biological system presents a continuity across the animal kingdom.
The author rightly says that we can safely say that what elephants or wolves or whales are saying and understanding is more sophisticated than is our understanding of what these creatures are saying. Humans desperately need to believe that we are not just unique- as all species are - but we are so very special, that we are resplendent,transendent, divinely inspired,weightlessly imbued with eternal souls. Anything less induces dread and panic. But the reality is that we are just one amongst many magnificent creatures who walk on this earth.
Humans have overestimated their own capabilities and have grossly underestimated the intelligence and sensitivity of other animals. One might think that intelligence or cognition or consciousness are abstract concepts for animals but they are as abstract as we choose to define it. At the end of the day the basic wiring of the brain and thus the biological system presents a continuity across the animal kingdom.
terrypaulpearce's review against another edition
2.0
A shame, this one. It was at its best when it commented on the animals' lives and left you to draw your own conclusions about their inner lives. But far too often it rambled far, far off course. A good editor could've cut half, and the folksy style didn't resonate with me at all. For somebody who repeatedly claimed to be following the science, it strayed dangerously close to woo a few times, and argument after argument boiled down to suppositions and assumptions.
It's not really a very scientific book at all, which left travelogue and experience as to what it should have focused on -- and again, when it did that well, it had some great passages on the lives of wolves and elephants... just enough to get me to finish it.
If you're interested in the broad aim of this book but want something much better written, I strongly recommend Frans de Waal's 'Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?'.
It's not really a very scientific book at all, which left travelogue and experience as to what it should have focused on -- and again, when it did that well, it had some great passages on the lives of wolves and elephants... just enough to get me to finish it.
If you're interested in the broad aim of this book but want something much better written, I strongly recommend Frans de Waal's 'Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?'.
valen92's review against another edition
5.0
So fascinating and necessary, everyone should read this book. Animals are the best.
dlrcope's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about animal behavior and what it tells us about how animals experience life. Many, many animals are discussed, but there is a focus on elephants, wolves, gorillas, bonobos and orcas. A major theme for me was becoming aware of these animals as individuals, the uniqueness of each one, the possibility is knowing each as an individual. I feel closer to all of them now, more aware of their needs, and how my choices support or harm them.
I hope lots of people read this book and grow in similar ways.
I hope lots of people read this book and grow in similar ways.
whichthreewords's review against another edition
3.0
There's some good stuff in here but frankly I found it a bit of a slog. The clichéd tactic of mocking the titles of papers and tossing insults at behavioural science methods don't add to the book's credibility; I wish the author hadn't stooped to that. Also the endless litany of ways in which humans are horrible to animals adds pathos but is tangential to the main argument -- which is good, although there's more cliché in the inevitable coverage of elephants, wolves and killer whales. Frustrating; IMO this could be brilliant with a good editing.