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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Quick read. I read thru some of the other reviews and while I think they are valid this book is just a memoir, not a documentation of all the work done with Alex. As a former parrot owner (sadly, could not keep because mine never adjusted to me having a spouse and children) it was fascinating to see what they can learn when taught correctly. I enjoyed this... enough... though it wasn't captivating. I read a LOT of scientific texts, and this was for the lay public, so it was easily digestible. All in all, if the topic interests you, it is an interesting read.
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
quick, interesting read that made me wonder more about the intelligence of animals.
3.5 stars
This story made me cry at both the beginning and the end! As a macaw owner and lover, I found this story absolutely fascinating because my Blue & Gold can just barely say hello, and I've never met many other birds that have a wide vocabulary. So for me I was both smiling at Alex & Griffin's tales and crying for Pepperberg's loss. It had equal parts inspiration and scientifically educational conflicts and facts that I had never even thought existed.
Definitely a must-read for parrot lovers and an eye opener, I'm sure, for people who have never even seen a parrot
This story made me cry at both the beginning and the end! As a macaw owner and lover, I found this story absolutely fascinating because my Blue & Gold can just barely say hello, and I've never met many other birds that have a wide vocabulary. So for me I was both smiling at Alex & Griffin's tales and crying for Pepperberg's loss. It had equal parts inspiration and scientifically educational conflicts and facts that I had never even thought existed.
Definitely a must-read for parrot lovers and an eye opener, I'm sure, for people who have never even seen a parrot
"You be good. I love you. See you tomorrow." These were the last words ever spoken by Alex, a parrot, to his handler of 30 years, Irene Pepperberg.
Alex was an amazing bird who was able to revolutionize the way scientists saw birds as Alex was able to learn colors, numbers, textures, and so much more. Throughout the 1970s until his death in 2007 Alex continued to learn and never reached his full potential.
This is the story of Alex written by Dr. Pepperberg, who despite her scientific study loved Alex as a friend and pet. It is a very moving story for anyone with a human bone in their body. Pepperberg writes with a purpose; wanting the entire world to know the amazing friend she had in Alex, who was gone long before the world was ready.
Alex was an amazing bird who was able to revolutionize the way scientists saw birds as Alex was able to learn colors, numbers, textures, and so much more. Throughout the 1970s until his death in 2007 Alex continued to learn and never reached his full potential.
This is the story of Alex written by Dr. Pepperberg, who despite her scientific study loved Alex as a friend and pet. It is a very moving story for anyone with a human bone in their body. Pepperberg writes with a purpose; wanting the entire world to know the amazing friend she had in Alex, who was gone long before the world was ready.
A very readable and interesting book about Irene Pepperberg's work with an African Grey parrot. Since I am a hobby scientist I figured I should start with this book before moving onto the more detailed book of studies (which I am very interested to read now that I have the gist of the work.)
Alex and Me is actually rather a fluffy read but still conveys the importance of the work as well as the struggles Pepperberg has in maintaining the studies. There are only minor "memoir" aspects to the book so even though the author mentions a little about her childhood experiences with birds and her failing marriage, there is no dwelling on her personal life per se (career moves aside).
Some of the anecdotes are hilarious, especially for those familiar with bird antics of any kind, but the tone of the book is quite bittersweet since it was written in the wake of Alex's unexpected death.
8 pages of black and white photos are a nice addition.
Alex and Me is actually rather a fluffy read but still conveys the importance of the work as well as the struggles Pepperberg has in maintaining the studies. There are only minor "memoir" aspects to the book so even though the author mentions a little about her childhood experiences with birds and her failing marriage, there is no dwelling on her personal life per se (career moves aside).
Some of the anecdotes are hilarious, especially for those familiar with bird antics of any kind, but the tone of the book is quite bittersweet since it was written in the wake of Alex's unexpected death.
8 pages of black and white photos are a nice addition.
A great book for experienced parrot owners and novices alike! I have my own grey and I absolutely cried when Dr Pepperberg wrote about Alex's death. I recommend this book to everyone, regardless of your experience with birds, as a lovely bit of entertainment, and an insight into the minds of parrots, and I recommend it to those experienced with parrots as very relatable entertainment!
Een verassend interessante inkijk in de gedragsbiologie. Ik had niet gedacht dat ik zo van dit boek zou genieten. Ten eerste beschrijft Pepperberg hoe zij als vrouw keihard heeft moeten knokken om gehoord te worden in de academische wereld van voornamelijk vooringenomen mannen in de jaren 70, 80 en 90. Ik heb zo, zo veel respect voor haar doorzettingsvermogen! Daarnaast beschrijft ze de scepsis rondom onderzoek naar dierlijke intelligentie en taal. Hoe ze eerst werd gezien als iemand "die te veel had gerookt" en over hoe lastig het daardoor was om geld te krijgen voor haar onderzoek. Zelfs haar eigen man stelt opgegeven moment dat haar onderzoek "geen echte baan" is :O
Het laat zo mooi en goed zien hoe intersectioneel dit is: hoe onderzoek naar dierlijke intelligentie en taal in het begin vaak door vrouwen gedaan werd (denk ook Jane Goodall) en hoe deze vrouwen daardoor zowel seksisme als ongeloof te verduren kregen.
Ik heb regelmatig hardop moeten lachen over de opmerkingen en streken van Alex. Wat een persoonlijkheid had die vogel! Zo leuk hoe hij continu de onderzoekers voor was en hoe hij ze vaak voor de gek hield uit verveling. Je vraagt je soms af: wie test wie nou eigenlijk en wie is nou de onderzoeker.
Ik hou echt van papegaaien en dit boek kan daardoor natuurlijk niet missen in mijn leeslijst. Ik ben zo benieuwd hoeveel we nog ontdekken over de intelligentie van andere dieren, maar zoals eerder gezegd in reviews op andere gedragsbiologie boeken: het blijkt steeds weer dat we dieren onderschatten. Ik zou dit boek aan iedereen aanraden die geïnteresseerd is in vogels of gedragsbiologie. Een absolute must read!
Het laat zo mooi en goed zien hoe intersectioneel dit is: hoe onderzoek naar dierlijke intelligentie en taal in het begin vaak door vrouwen gedaan werd (denk ook Jane Goodall) en hoe deze vrouwen daardoor zowel seksisme als ongeloof te verduren kregen.
Ik heb regelmatig hardop moeten lachen over de opmerkingen en streken van Alex. Wat een persoonlijkheid had die vogel! Zo leuk hoe hij continu de onderzoekers voor was en hoe hij ze vaak voor de gek hield uit verveling. Je vraagt je soms af: wie test wie nou eigenlijk en wie is nou de onderzoeker.
Ik hou echt van papegaaien en dit boek kan daardoor natuurlijk niet missen in mijn leeslijst. Ik ben zo benieuwd hoeveel we nog ontdekken over de intelligentie van andere dieren, maar zoals eerder gezegd in reviews op andere gedragsbiologie boeken: het blijkt steeds weer dat we dieren onderschatten. Ik zou dit boek aan iedereen aanraden die geïnteresseerd is in vogels of gedragsbiologie. Een absolute must read!
I absolutely loved this book! Being an African Grey parrot mom, I learned so much about their intelligence. Alex was an amazingly smart bird. I like that he was so witty and had the classic attitude I see with my bird. When I speak of Alex to my friends they cannot believe some of the things he said and did. What a special bird! His death was tragic and I couldn't help but cry. I feel he knew his time had come. Alex had so much more to do on this Earth. It's such a shame he left so soon. Alex has touched my soul and even though I never knew about his story until recently I will never forget him.
As for the author, Dr. Irene Pepperberg, I think she is a fantastic, patient research scientist. I do not think she was feeling sorry for herself when writing about her childhood. As for writing certain things in her journal I think she just simplified the day after long and tiresome training sessions. The book was written well. I would have liked to have had more Alex moments because his witty attitude made me laugh! I laughed and I cried. Well done Dr. Pepperberg.
As for the author, Dr. Irene Pepperberg, I think she is a fantastic, patient research scientist. I do not think she was feeling sorry for herself when writing about her childhood. As for writing certain things in her journal I think she just simplified the day after long and tiresome training sessions. The book was written well. I would have liked to have had more Alex moments because his witty attitude made me laugh! I laughed and I cried. Well done Dr. Pepperberg.
This is the story of Alex, an African Grey parrot who was the subject of Irene Pepperberg’s 30-year experiment in animal intelligence.
As someone who is convinced we humans do not give other animals due credit when it comes to intelligence, I was ready to be wowed by Alex. While Alex’s intellect was impressive, Pepperberg’s writing left something to be desired. To start, it takes her 50 pages (of a 226-page book) to actually begin the story, and spends entirely too much time talking about herself. I was disappointed in the book’s brevity and overall lack of detail about his leaning progress, particularly when it came down to technique and the methods used to test his intelligence. I would happily have digested a book twice this size in exchange for more fascinating detail.
For another, better written take on avian intelligence, try Wesley the Owl.
As someone who is convinced we humans do not give other animals due credit when it comes to intelligence, I was ready to be wowed by Alex. While Alex’s intellect was impressive, Pepperberg’s writing left something to be desired. To start, it takes her 50 pages (of a 226-page book) to actually begin the story, and spends entirely too much time talking about herself. I was disappointed in the book’s brevity and overall lack of detail about his leaning progress, particularly when it came down to technique and the methods used to test his intelligence. I would happily have digested a book twice this size in exchange for more fascinating detail.
For another, better written take on avian intelligence, try Wesley the Owl.