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klord3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
An enjoyable accounting by one of the big names in animal cognition. The book focuses on why evolution should be considered in the study of cognition rather than a constant comparison to humans as the ones to beat or match.
michalow's review against another edition
2.0
There's lots of interesting information in here about observations and experiments demonstrating various kinds of intelligence in the animal world. De Waal argues persuasively about the need to consider animals' cognitive abilities in the context of their species' particular ecological needs. However, his derisiveness toward his predecessors and colleagues who disagree with his views quickly becomes tiresome. Too much of the book has a negative tone that was off-putting to me as an outsider who is largely uninterested in the field's internal disputes.
aust1nz's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cool read that explains how animals perceive the world, and how human researchers often underestimate animal intelligence based on their preconceptions and survey design.
That said, it's a bit textbooky, and the author sometimes goes on for pages about disagreements between different type of cognition researchers. I'm sure it's important for professionals to mark out these distinctions, but if I'm being honest I would have liked to have more interesting animal cognition studies instead.
That said, it's a bit textbooky, and the author sometimes goes on for pages about disagreements between different type of cognition researchers. I'm sure it's important for professionals to mark out these distinctions, but if I'm being honest I would have liked to have more interesting animal cognition studies instead.
sunrays118's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting book however the author puts the emphasis in the wrong places. The author spends four pages about the history of the name of a type of science and then has two sentences on a fascinating study of elephants.
Decent read. Bit long winded. Bit self-aggrandizing.
Decent read. Bit long winded. Bit self-aggrandizing.
aklev13's review
5.0
I started this book earlier in the year and then life got in the way i suppose because it sat unfinished for a long time. Well im glad i finally made my way back to it because it was super interesting and gradually but convincingly made the argument that we need to stop thinking of humanity as intrinsically superior to animals and that every animal has the skills and abilities it needs for its survival but also based on its experience. Im really keen to read more books by this author especially the one about chimpanzee politics he mentioned.
peripetia's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book years ago and didn't finish it. I don't know why - I found it fascinating and have often thought about it since. I started from the beginning with the audiobook and found it just as fascinating.
Humans love to believe in their exceptionalism, which is the most important theme of this book. We come up with reasons why we are unique, special, and natural masters of the world. In this book, de Waal busts these myths one after the other.
The book's title asks if we are smart enough to know how smart animals are, but at the same time de Waal questions what intelligence even is and why we measure intelligence based on our skills. Why do we consider dogs smarter than wolves simply because they do what humans tell them to do? What is the correct measurement to use when measuring intelligence, and why is it even necessary to do so?
De Waal also rails against the inhumane (heh) treatment of animals in the name of science, which I appreciated. He also criticizes the way humans have used similar arguments as they do with animals to oppress everyone that is not a white man.
I think this is a great book for people who are interested in animals and/or science.
(P.S. Reading the top reviews in Goodreads made me wonder if we read the same book. I literally scrolled back up to check.)
Humans love to believe in their exceptionalism, which is the most important theme of this book. We come up with reasons why we are unique, special, and natural masters of the world. In this book, de Waal busts these myths one after the other.
The book's title asks if we are smart enough to know how smart animals are, but at the same time de Waal questions what intelligence even is and why we measure intelligence based on our skills. Why do we consider dogs smarter than wolves simply because they do what humans tell them to do? What is the correct measurement to use when measuring intelligence, and why is it even necessary to do so?
De Waal also rails against the inhumane (heh) treatment of animals in the name of science, which I appreciated. He also criticizes the way humans have used similar arguments as they do with animals to oppress everyone that is not a white man.
I think this is a great book for people who are interested in animals and/or science.
(P.S. Reading the top reviews in Goodreads made me wonder if we read the same book. I literally scrolled back up to check.)