Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I'm not a bird person,so will admit I was surprised how attached I became to Alex with his supersize personality. If he were my bird I'd be running constantly to bring him all the nuts and his doleful "sorries" would have left me in puddles. That's why I could never be a Research Scientist. Pepperberg really found her life's calling in studying bird intelligence through language. I was astonished by what she showed birds are capable of, although I really shouldn't have been. So happy that animals today are being granted their due for their native intelligence, instead of being compared to humans. I leaked a few tears at the end :`)
I read this on my trip home, and really enjoyed it! I thought it was a great balance between anecdotes/memoir-style narrative and science writing. Gave me some great arguments to use in my animal behaviour exam that’s coming up.
The fraction of the book that is actually about Alex is everything I expected and more. Alex's personality and remarkable intelligence left me by turns amazed and amused. Dr Pepperberg's love for this bird and the secrets he shared shine through in every anecdote.
Unfortunately, there are precious few anecdotes. This is is another potentially good book in desperate need of an editor. It's a long hard slog through the early chapters, which begin, inexplicably, at the end, with Alex's death--or more specifically, Dr Pepperberg's *feelings* about Alex's death--and then march us mercilessly through an extended review of the author's childhood and early academic career. We don't get to meet Alex until about halfway through. It was almost too late for me.
The sexism and skepticism Pepperberg encountered in the academic world were critical elements of Alex's story. How much more exciting work could have been done with Alex and the other birds if they'd had a stable location and dependable funding? We'll never know. But we simply didn't need to know all about Dr. Pepperberg's childhood. Much of this book reads like a desperate search for absolution. I wish she had focused on her shining achievements instead.
Despite all the heavy lifting at the beginning and again at the end, the part of the book devoted to Alex is so thoroughly delightful that I had to give it four stars. Anyone who has spent time with animals can recognize the signs of personality that make us treasure them as individuals, and Alex had far more than his share. I'd have enjoyed another 200 pages all about Alex!
Unfortunately, there are precious few anecdotes. This is is another potentially good book in desperate need of an editor. It's a long hard slog through the early chapters, which begin, inexplicably, at the end, with Alex's death--or more specifically, Dr Pepperberg's *feelings* about Alex's death--and then march us mercilessly through an extended review of the author's childhood and early academic career. We don't get to meet Alex until about halfway through. It was almost too late for me.
The sexism and skepticism Pepperberg encountered in the academic world were critical elements of Alex's story. How much more exciting work could have been done with Alex and the other birds if they'd had a stable location and dependable funding? We'll never know. But we simply didn't need to know all about Dr. Pepperberg's childhood. Much of this book reads like a desperate search for absolution. I wish she had focused on her shining achievements instead.
Despite all the heavy lifting at the beginning and again at the end, the part of the book devoted to Alex is so thoroughly delightful that I had to give it four stars. Anyone who has spent time with animals can recognize the signs of personality that make us treasure them as individuals, and Alex had far more than his share. I'd have enjoyed another 200 pages all about Alex!
I really wanted to give it 2.5 stars since I did like it well enough. I learned a lot about Alex the parrot, bird brains, language and intelligence, and was very satisfied with that aspect of the book. What I found a little awkward was the story of the author/researcher's life with Alex. This memoir part was interesting but it felt a little TMI (too much information) to me. However, it seems that a lot of people wanted to learn more about Alex's personal life, as it were, so I don't say that the author shouldn't have written about it, only that it didn't interest me. And, I admit, the flat prose style made me feel like I was reading a student's diary in those sections of the book.
This book absolutely captivated me from start to finish. There were times when I felt it was a bit repetitive and others where I wished Pepperberg had gone into more detail, but overall this was a lovely read that I will be suggesting to absolutely everyone.
The first chapter of this had me in tears. There were some funny moments after that, so I am glad I kept reading, though I wish there had been a lot more information about Alex the bird when he was alive. I found it very strange that a book that spends so many pages on a particular death doesn't explain the cause even though it's stated that an autopsy was done.
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.
Interesting, but I found myself wishing that it focused more on Alex (and his achievements) and less on some of the background stuff. I had also never really considered just how bored some of these lab animals must get, being asked the same questions over and over again.
The phrases Alex uses to describe stuff is so cute. It is amazing to think of how much birds actually do understand. I really enjoyed the book and I am going to read more about Alex.