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11corvus11's review
3.0
This book was really promising as a science book about animal minds I thought I'd actually finish. The author seemed genuinely interested in showing respect for nonhuman animals and highlighting researcher bias against them. That is, until about halfway through when we got to the rat studies. You can't claim rats have complex minds, cognition, emotion, etc while highlighting research involving cutting out pieces of baby rats brains and keeping them alive to see what happens, electrically stimulating their brains to induce fear and suffering, deliberately breeding them to be depressed, and shying away from calling it out as straight up unethical. Some of the studies in other sections weren't perfect and involved ethical problems but this is torture. Maybe I need to give up on finding a science book on this topic that actually does it and it's subjects any form of justice.
bupdaddy's review
4.0
---Review of a first-reads advanced reading copy from goodreads---
Stuffy scientists used to consider animals, until recently, to be mindless automatons that had no awareness of themselves, nor the ability to consider another entity's point of view. Real recently. Some of the them still don't accept the obvious - that many species are capable of reasoning, and that the difference between humans and other animals is quantitative, not qualitative, mentally speaking.
Morell's an engaging writer, and takes us on a survey tour of many of these species, together with the scientists that study them. Elephants, dogs, chimps, gorillas, dolphins and parrots* all get their turns to demonstrate what they know - counting, knowledge of individuals, rudimentary language, memory, and general 'they get it-ness.' There are also archer fish and ants who demonstrate some things that dry scientists have set up as hurdles of intelligence, although even I have a tough time envisioning ants as being mindful. But you know what? They teach. Ants will teach other ants a path - not just through pheromones, but through leading the other ant - which the second ant learns so it can show a third ant.
If you're an animal lover or a science geek, you'll love this book.
*Any animal-brain loving reader will be glad to know that Alex the gray parrot is featured in a chapter.
Stuffy scientists used to consider animals, until recently, to be mindless automatons that had no awareness of themselves, nor the ability to consider another entity's point of view. Real recently. Some of the them still don't accept the obvious - that many species are capable of reasoning, and that the difference between humans and other animals is quantitative, not qualitative, mentally speaking.
Morell's an engaging writer, and takes us on a survey tour of many of these species, together with the scientists that study them. Elephants, dogs, chimps, gorillas, dolphins and parrots* all get their turns to demonstrate what they know - counting, knowledge of individuals, rudimentary language, memory, and general 'they get it-ness.' There are also archer fish and ants who demonstrate some things that dry scientists have set up as hurdles of intelligence, although even I have a tough time envisioning ants as being mindful. But you know what? They teach. Ants will teach other ants a path - not just through pheromones, but through leading the other ant - which the second ant learns so it can show a third ant.
If you're an animal lover or a science geek, you'll love this book.
*Any animal-brain loving reader will be glad to know that Alex the gray parrot is featured in a chapter.
lizaroo71's review
3.0
i won this ARC on read it forward.com.
i love the anecdotes about the various animals and thier cognitive abilities. morell begins with ants and works her way to the more evolved minds of dolphins and chimpanzees. a lot of the ethologists and various scientists she spoke to were doctors i've seen before on other documentaries and read about in similar books.
i found myself discussing how smart various animals were at different points during my day, so i think if you love animals, you will find this information intriguing.
morell begin this idea with an article in national geographic magazine, which i read. her writing style is accessible and makes the content easier to grasp.
i love the anecdotes about the various animals and thier cognitive abilities. morell begins with ants and works her way to the more evolved minds of dolphins and chimpanzees. a lot of the ethologists and various scientists she spoke to were doctors i've seen before on other documentaries and read about in similar books.
i found myself discussing how smart various animals were at different points during my day, so i think if you love animals, you will find this information intriguing.
morell begin this idea with an article in national geographic magazine, which i read. her writing style is accessible and makes the content easier to grasp.
liziev's review
5.0
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.
This book was absolutely fabulous! I was so engrossed with the book from the very first page. Morell covers the thoughts and emotions of a wide array of creatures, from ants and fish to the great apes. She gives each one their due respect, and highlights some of the most cutting edge research in the field.
One thing I found particularly interesting was the information on how things have changed regarding science's view toward animals. Morell discusses previous philosophies, ideas and limitations, how things were in the past, and how they are now. It was interesting (and heartbreaking) to hear about how scientists viewed animals as empty vessels, and are now learning that their minds are capable of so much more than they were given credit for.
Each chapter can be read free-standing, so if you're particularly interested in a specific animal, it's possible to read that chapter on its own. But, it made a great read from cover to cover.
This book was absolutely fabulous! I was so engrossed with the book from the very first page. Morell covers the thoughts and emotions of a wide array of creatures, from ants and fish to the great apes. She gives each one their due respect, and highlights some of the most cutting edge research in the field.
One thing I found particularly interesting was the information on how things have changed regarding science's view toward animals. Morell discusses previous philosophies, ideas and limitations, how things were in the past, and how they are now. It was interesting (and heartbreaking) to hear about how scientists viewed animals as empty vessels, and are now learning that their minds are capable of so much more than they were given credit for.
Each chapter can be read free-standing, so if you're particularly interested in a specific animal, it's possible to read that chapter on its own. But, it made a great read from cover to cover.
crikhopit's review
5.0
This was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Each chapter was devoted to an animal (or bug) and detailed research and observation projects that teach us how these animals "think" and express "emotion." (I use quotations because the ideas of "thinking" and "emotions" are different for animals than they are for humans.) We started out small, with ants, and worked our way up to dolphins, chimps, and dogs.
I've always known animals are expressive and smart, but the lengths to which these researchers go to prove that animals feel pain, understand grief, experience joy, and solve problems were beyond anything I've ever read before. Utterly fascinating.
Note to all readers: Do not read the chapter on elephant grief while at work. Or in public at all.
I've always known animals are expressive and smart, but the lengths to which these researchers go to prove that animals feel pain, understand grief, experience joy, and solve problems were beyond anything I've ever read before. Utterly fascinating.
Note to all readers: Do not read the chapter on elephant grief while at work. Or in public at all.
mountain_adventures's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Excellent book on animal cognition. The writing is very accessible to nonscientists. The introduction is very slow, but once you get past that the book moves along nicely. The only issue with books like this one is that they quick become out of date.
quigonchuy's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A book on cognition in the animal kingdom, from ants through to cats and dogs, the great apes, and many more. Well written, easy to understand, and very informative. Learned quite a few things in this book, highly recommend!