en-US Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:33:37 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 36536572 Frans de Waal 1504712161 LibraryCin 4
I have read about some of the studies mentioned here before: some when I was taking psychology and anthropology in university, and others I’ve just read about. Anyway, it’s all so very interesting to me. Many of us with pets will read this (or in my case, I listened to the audio), and think it’s obvious, but of course, with science, there does need to be more objective studies, as well. I found the comparisons with children very interesting, as the author points out that with similar studies between kids and animals, kids get an explanation as to what’s happening; obviously, we are unable to provide animals with that same explanation, so it’s automatically biased toward the kids doing “better”. Of course (similar to IQ tests in humans that are culturally biased), many tests with animals are also biased toward humans. But some scientists are trying to change that. I found this very interesting.]]> 3.92 2016
author: Frans de Waal
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: animals, animal-behaviour, animal-experiments, intelligence, psychology, science
review:
The author studies primates. In this book, he is looking at various studies looking at cognition in various types of animals. He also does some comparisons of studies, looking at animals, then the same study looking at children. Of course, historically, there are areas of science that have “required” scientists to not anthropomorphize animals, and there have been many definitions of what makes humans “human” or distinct from other animals. Those goalposts have moved often as those definitions are proven wrong when there are studies that show animals who can and do actually do those things that were supposedly only the domain of humans.

I have read about some of the studies mentioned here before: some when I was taking psychology and anthropology in university, and others I’ve just read about. Anyway, it’s all so very interesting to me. Many of us with pets will read this (or in my case, I listened to the audio), and think it’s obvious, but of course, with science, there does need to be more objective studies, as well. I found the comparisons with children very interesting, as the author points out that with similar studies between kids and animals, kids get an explanation as to what’s happening; obviously, we are unable to provide animals with that same explanation, so it’s automatically biased toward the kids doing “better”. Of course (similar to IQ tests in humans that are culturally biased), many tests with animals are also biased toward humans. But some scientists are trying to change that. I found this very interesting.
]]> 19556996 "]]> 373 Bernd Heinrich 0547523637 LibraryCin 3
Not just about birds, but butterflies, bees, insects, other critters, humans, even trees… and home. What makes a home and compels critters to create that home and either migrate to/from or just want to “cocoon” and stay there?

I found some of the info more interesting than others. Of course, it started off with birds and other critters that migrate and how they manage to find their way to/from. But the book expands far beyond, even speculating on humans and home. I have to agree with others that I could have done without the hunting chapter. Even though this wasn’t an audio book, I did lose interest at times, though, which is why the rating somewhere between “ok” and “good” for me.]]> 3.94 2010
author: Bernd Heinrich
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/20
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: birds, home, science, animals, nature, animal-behaviour
review:
3.25 stars

Not just about birds, but butterflies, bees, insects, other critters, humans, even trees… and home. What makes a home and compels critters to create that home and either migrate to/from or just want to “cocoon” and stay there?

I found some of the info more interesting than others. Of course, it started off with birds and other critters that migrate and how they manage to find their way to/from. But the book expands far beyond, even speculating on humans and home. I have to agree with others that I could have done without the hunting chapter. Even though this wasn’t an audio book, I did lose interest at times, though, which is why the rating somewhere between “ok” and “good” for me.
]]> 20087222 Colin McAdam 1482925354 LibraryCin 3
Walt and Judy want children, but are unable to have any. When Walt sees a chimpanzee at a circus, he decides he will get one for his wife, in place of a child. They love Looee very much, like a son, but as with all wild animals, as he ages, he is too much to handle.

There is a chimpanzee sanctuary where people are studying the chimps’ behaviour. In the story, we alternate between Walt/Judy/Looee’s perspectives, and the perspectives of the people and chimps at the sanctuary.

I listened to the audio and at first, particularly when we switched to the sanctuary, I had some trouble initially figuring out what was going on. It was interesting to see things from the chimps’ perspectives at times, though. And heartbreaking. I also had trouble getting “into” the book at the start knowing Walt and Judy had done a terrible thing treating a wild animal as a child; There was no way it was going to end well for Looee. I felt like the book didn’t fully end, but it’s possible I missed something (audio), or maybe the author wanted “life” to just sort of continue on. ]]> 3.00 2013
author: Colin McAdam
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/20
date added: 2024/03/20
shelves: animals, chimpanzees, animal-experiments, human-animal-relationships, animal-behaviour, canadian-fiction, 1970s, 1980s, family
review:
3.5 stars

Walt and Judy want children, but are unable to have any. When Walt sees a chimpanzee at a circus, he decides he will get one for his wife, in place of a child. They love Looee very much, like a son, but as with all wild animals, as he ages, he is too much to handle.

There is a chimpanzee sanctuary where people are studying the chimps’ behaviour. In the story, we alternate between Walt/Judy/Looee’s perspectives, and the perspectives of the people and chimps at the sanctuary.

I listened to the audio and at first, particularly when we switched to the sanctuary, I had some trouble initially figuring out what was going on. It was interesting to see things from the chimps’ perspectives at times, though. And heartbreaking. I also had trouble getting “into” the book at the start knowing Walt and Judy had done a terrible thing treating a wild animal as a child; There was no way it was going to end well for Looee. I felt like the book didn’t fully end, but it’s possible I missed something (audio), or maybe the author wanted “life” to just sort of continue on.
]]> 25938481
As she travels around the world to the most cutting-edge frontiers of research, Ackerman not only tells the story of the recently uncovered genius of birds but also delves deeply into the latest findings about the bird brain itself that are shifting our view of what it means to be intelligent. At once personal yet scientific, richly informative and beautifully written, The Genius of Birds celebrates the triumphs of these surprising and fiercely intelligent creatures.]]> 352 Jennifer Ackerman 1594205213 LibraryCin 3
As the title suggests, this book looks at bird intelligence. How intelligent are birds? And how do we measure this?

It’s hard to base intelligence on what humans think is smart. I think it’s similar to culturally-biased IQ tests, really. Birds don’t need to know the same things as humans. That being said, there are things that birds know or can figure out that is comparable to humans and/or other primates. They are smart, IMO. Most of us know how smart corvids (crows, ravens, etc) are, but other birds are smart, too, in different ways, including sparrows, pigeons… some birds that aren’t “traditionally” thought of as smart. Some of the things discussed in the book include songs, migration, tools, aesthetically—pleasing displays, etc. I listened to the audio, but I bet I would have taken in more had I actually read it in print or via ebook. ]]> 4.03 2016
author: Jennifer Ackerman
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/19
date added: 2024/01/20
shelves: birds, animals, wildlife, science, nature, intelligence, animal-behaviour
review:
3.5 stars

As the title suggests, this book looks at bird intelligence. How intelligent are birds? And how do we measure this?

It’s hard to base intelligence on what humans think is smart. I think it’s similar to culturally-biased IQ tests, really. Birds don’t need to know the same things as humans. That being said, there are things that birds know or can figure out that is comparable to humans and/or other primates. They are smart, IMO. Most of us know how smart corvids (crows, ravens, etc) are, but other birds are smart, too, in different ways, including sparrows, pigeons… some birds that aren’t “traditionally” thought of as smart. Some of the things discussed in the book include songs, migration, tools, aesthetically—pleasing displays, etc. I listened to the audio, but I bet I would have taken in more had I actually read it in print or via ebook.
]]> 22320456 461 Carl Safina 0805098887 LibraryCin 4
If there are still people out there who think animals don’t think or feel, they are deluding themselves. Anyone who spends any time around animals at all has to realize. And it seems most or all are smarter than we think. And how do we define “intelligence”, anyway? In human terms. Even IQ tests are biased. The author points out many instances where if we held humans to the same standards as scientists hold animals when they are being studied, humans may not fare very well, either.

Of the three animals that were mainly focused on, I have read very little about whales, so I probably learned the most in that section. Sadly (and to no surprise for most of us), each of these animals are having a hard time surviving with everything humans are doing to their world, and this is touched on toward the end of the sections for each of the animals. If we start to “understand” them a bit better, will that help change things we are doing to our world (as it affects them so much)?]]> 4.40 2015
author: Carl Safina
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/24
date added: 2022/09/25
shelves: animals, whales, elephants, wolves, animal-behaviour, psychology
review:
The subtitle sums up this book in just a few words, but to be more specific, the author talks to people who have been studying elephants, wolves, and whales (and travels to the places to see the animals). One additional section does not focus on any one specific type of animal, but looks at many different animals and various studies of animal observation and behaviour.

If there are still people out there who think animals don’t think or feel, they are deluding themselves. Anyone who spends any time around animals at all has to realize. And it seems most or all are smarter than we think. And how do we define “intelligence”, anyway? In human terms. Even IQ tests are biased. The author points out many instances where if we held humans to the same standards as scientists hold animals when they are being studied, humans may not fare very well, either.

Of the three animals that were mainly focused on, I have read very little about whales, so I probably learned the most in that section. Sadly (and to no surprise for most of us), each of these animals are having a hard time surviving with everything humans are doing to their world, and this is touched on toward the end of the sections for each of the animals. If we start to “understand” them a bit better, will that help change things we are doing to our world (as it affects them so much)?
]]> 325779
Fouts is a professor of Psychology.]]> 448 Roger Fouts 0380728222 LibraryCin 4
Roger Fouts was a psychology student in the late 1960s when he got a job helping with a chimpanzee, Washoe, to study whether or not chimps could learn human language by way of ASL (American Sign Language). Despite that he really wanted/planned to work with kids, this began decades of research with, then activism for, chimpanzees. He and his family (wife and eventually three kids) moved where Washoe was either sent or where was best for her. Roger was unable to help many other chimpanzees he met along with way (though he was able to help a few), but (often with Jane Goodall’s help), he fought to make living conditions for chimpanzees used in research in the U.S. better.

He was still fighting for changes in 1997 when the book was published, but on checking today, things have gotten better – not for all chimps, but for many (most?). There were a few sections in the book where he was talking about research and studies that got just a bit dry, but for the most part, I loved reading about the chimps and the studies and was (to no surprise) horrified at what he saw in the medical research labs. Whether in my psychology or anthropology classes 30ish years ago, I had heard of both Fouts and Washoe, as well as many of the other scientists and studies Fouts mentions in this book. I went through a bunch of emotions reading this book – happiness, sadness, anger... I love that he ended up being an activist, and wanted(s) to see change. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this book!]]> 4.47 1997
author: Roger Fouts
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.47
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/03
date added: 2022/07/03
shelves: chimpanzees, animals, animal-experiments, language, psychologists, psychology, communication, late-20th-century, anthropology, animal-behaviour, animal-activists, memoir, science
review:
4.5 stars

Roger Fouts was a psychology student in the late 1960s when he got a job helping with a chimpanzee, Washoe, to study whether or not chimps could learn human language by way of ASL (American Sign Language). Despite that he really wanted/planned to work with kids, this began decades of research with, then activism for, chimpanzees. He and his family (wife and eventually three kids) moved where Washoe was either sent or where was best for her. Roger was unable to help many other chimpanzees he met along with way (though he was able to help a few), but (often with Jane Goodall’s help), he fought to make living conditions for chimpanzees used in research in the U.S. better.

He was still fighting for changes in 1997 when the book was published, but on checking today, things have gotten better – not for all chimps, but for many (most?). There were a few sections in the book where he was talking about research and studies that got just a bit dry, but for the most part, I loved reading about the chimps and the studies and was (to no surprise) horrified at what he saw in the medical research labs. Whether in my psychology or anthropology classes 30ish years ago, I had heard of both Fouts and Washoe, as well as many of the other scientists and studies Fouts mentions in this book. I went through a bunch of emotions reading this book – happiness, sadness, anger... I love that he ended up being an activist, and wanted(s) to see change. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this book!
]]> 4386485 The Hidden Life of Dogs.

In her groundbreaking and best-selling book Animals in Translation, Temple Grandin drew on her own experience with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver extraordinary insights into how animals think, act, and feel. Now she builds on those insights to show us how to give our animals the best and happiest lifeon their terms, not ours.

It's usually easy to pinpoint the cause of physical pain in animals, but to know what is causing them emotional distress is much harder. Drawing on the latest research and her own work, Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals. Then she explains how to fulfill them for dogs and cats, horses, farm animals, and zoo animals. Whether it's how to make the healthiest environment for the dog you must leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored, or how to know if the lion pacing in the zoo is miserable or just exercising, Grandin teaches us to challenge our assumptions about animal contentment and honor our bond with our fellow creatures.

Animals Make Us Human is the culmination of almost thirty years of research, experimentation, and experience.

This is essential reading for anyone who's ever owned, cared for, or simply cared about an animal.]]> 341 Temple Grandin 0151014892 LibraryCin 4 animals, animal-behaviour
Temple Grandin is autistic and has a Ph.D. in animal science. She works to made conditions for animals better – on ranches and farms, in slaughterhouses and plants, in zoos, etc. In this book, she has an introductory chapter talking about animal emotions, then individual chapters on different animals: dogs, cats, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, and, more generally, wildlife and zoos. She explains how to make animals lives better. With all her experience and training, she can give lots of good examples to explain what she means.

I think Temple Grandin has an amazing insight into animals and their behaviour because of her autism (and she talked a lot about the link between animals and autistic people in “Animals in Translation”). She is a good middle of the road voice for animals – she’s not an extreme activist, but she is working hard to make sure animals are treated well and don’t suffer. Even the animals I am not all that familiar with, I found very interesting to read about in this book. The way she describes things is very matter-of-fact, and it is horrifying the way some animals are treated, but there was only one time I was almost in tears, in the chicken chapter. Even she was horrified, despite all she’s seen, with the conditions in the chicken plant she described.

If you are at all interested in animals and/or animal behaviour (and/or work with animals in any way), I highly recommend this book.
]]> 4.02 2009
author: Temple Grandin
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2010/03/21
date added: 2022/03/18
shelves: animals, animal-behaviour
review:
4.5 stars.

Temple Grandin is autistic and has a Ph.D. in animal science. She works to made conditions for animals better – on ranches and farms, in slaughterhouses and plants, in zoos, etc. In this book, she has an introductory chapter talking about animal emotions, then individual chapters on different animals: dogs, cats, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, and, more generally, wildlife and zoos. She explains how to make animals lives better. With all her experience and training, she can give lots of good examples to explain what she means.

I think Temple Grandin has an amazing insight into animals and their behaviour because of her autism (and she talked a lot about the link between animals and autistic people in “Animals in Translation”). She is a good middle of the road voice for animals – she’s not an extreme activist, but she is working hard to make sure animals are treated well and don’t suffer. Even the animals I am not all that familiar with, I found very interesting to read about in this book. The way she describes things is very matter-of-fact, and it is horrifying the way some animals are treated, but there was only one time I was almost in tears, in the chicken chapter. Even she was horrified, despite all she’s seen, with the conditions in the chicken plant she described.

If you are at all interested in animals and/or animal behaviour (and/or work with animals in any way), I highly recommend this book.

]]> 7816264 An inspiring story of survival and our powerful bond with man's best friend, in the aftermath of the nation's most notorious case of animal cruelty.

Animal lovers and sports fans were shocked when the story broke about NFL player Michael Vick's brutal dog fighting operation. But what became of the dozens of dogs who survived? As acclaimed writer Jim Gorant discovered, their story is the truly newsworthy aspect of this case. Expanding on Gorant's Sports Illustrated cover story, The Lost Dogs traces the effort to bring Vick to justice and turns the spotlight on these infamous pit bulls, which were saved from euthanasia by an outpouring of public appeals coupled with a court order that Vick pay nearly a million dollars in "restitution" to the dogs.

As an ASPCA-led team evaluated each one, they found a few hardened fighters, but many more lovable, friendly creatures desperate for compassion. In The Lost Dogs, we meet these amazing animals, a number of which are now living in loving homes, while some even work in therapy programs: Johnny Justice participates in Paws for Tales, which lets kids get comfortable with reading aloud by reading to dogs; Leo spends three hours a week with cancer patients and troubled teens. At the heart of the stories are the rescue workers who transformed the pups from victims of animal cruelty into healing caregivers themselves, unleashing priceless hope.

Includes an 8-page photo insert.


Watch a video]]> 279 Jim Gorant 1592405509 LibraryCin 5
It starts off heartbreaking as we get the background of the dogs as they were kept in Vick’s yard. And there is some discussion of the trial, etc, but moreso it follows the investigation into what happened and all the behind-the-scenes stuff as they gathered evidence against Vick and the other men who bred and fought these dogs.

But the bulk of the story follows (some of) the dogs after they are rescued. These dogs, unlike other fighting dogs before them, were not immediately euthanized, There were rescues that came to help with foster homes and sanctuaries to see if they could be rehabilitated and the vast majority of them were. Many found forever homes and some (as of the publishing of the book in 2010) were living in sanctuaries where volunteers continued to work with them. It was hard to read about one of the shelters that took some of them in right away – it’s a rough shelter with not much in the way of amenities.

There are sad parts thrown in as if it’s from one dog’s point of view, as well. Some of the work with the scared dogs reminded me of my volunteering with shy/scared cats, to be honest. The end of the book did a “where are they now?” for both the dogs and the people involved. Of course, “now” was around the time of publication over a decade ago. I realized that none of the dogs are probably living now. ]]> 4.37 2009
author: Jim Gorant
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2021/10/26
date added: 2021/10/27
shelves: dogs, animals, dog-fighting, pit-bulls, animal-behaviour, animal-training, animal-cruelty, true-crime, virginia
review:
This is (primarily) a look at the rescue and rehabilitation of Michael Vick’s fighting dogs.

It starts off heartbreaking as we get the background of the dogs as they were kept in Vick’s yard. And there is some discussion of the trial, etc, but moreso it follows the investigation into what happened and all the behind-the-scenes stuff as they gathered evidence against Vick and the other men who bred and fought these dogs.

But the bulk of the story follows (some of) the dogs after they are rescued. These dogs, unlike other fighting dogs before them, were not immediately euthanized, There were rescues that came to help with foster homes and sanctuaries to see if they could be rehabilitated and the vast majority of them were. Many found forever homes and some (as of the publishing of the book in 2010) were living in sanctuaries where volunteers continued to work with them. It was hard to read about one of the shelters that took some of them in right away – it’s a rough shelter with not much in the way of amenities.

There are sad parts thrown in as if it’s from one dog’s point of view, as well. Some of the work with the scared dogs reminded me of my volunteering with shy/scared cats, to be honest. The end of the book did a “where are they now?” for both the dogs and the people involved. Of course, “now” was around the time of publication over a decade ago. I realized that none of the dogs are probably living now.
]]> 6968687
In her classic, In the Shadow of Man , Jane Goodall wrote of her first ten years at Gombe. In Through a Window she continues the story, painting a more complete and vivid portrait of our closest relatives.

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe is a community where the principal residents are chimpanzees. Through Goodall’s eyes we watch young Figan’s relentless rise to power and old Mike’s crushing defeat. We learn how one mother rears her children to succeed and another dooms hers to failure. We witness horrifying murders, touching moments of affection, joyous births, and wrenching deaths.

As Goodall compellingly tells the story of this intimately intertwined community, we are shown human emotions stripped to their essence. In the mirror of chimpanzee life, we see ourselves reflected.

“A humbling and exalting book . . . Ranks with the great scientific achievements of the twentieth century.”— Washington Post

“[An] absolutely smashing account . . . Thrilling, affectionate, intelligent—a classic.”— Kirkus Reviews, starred review]]> 400 Jane Goodall 0547336950 LibraryCin 4
This was originally written in 1990, 30 years after Jane Goodall went to Gombe National Park in Tanzania to study chimpanzees My edition was published in 2010, so there is even extra info with a preface and an afterword written by Jane in 2009. This continues/updates her first book on the chimps of Gombe, In the Shadow of Man.

I read In the Shadow of Man a number of years ago, but I loved revisiting the same chimps and their offspring, and following them later in the their lives! Jane is also an adamant activist/conservationist, so at the end of the book, after all the extra chimp information and updates (which really is the bulk of the book), she writes a little bit about human-raised chimps, chimps used in experiments, chimps losing their habitat, etc. There are a number of photos of the chimps included, as well. Overall, I really really enjoyed reading this!]]> 4.30 1990
author: Jane Goodall
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1990
rating: 4
read at: 2017/06/07
date added: 2017/06/09
shelves: animals, chimpanzees, africa, animal-behaviour
review:
4.5 stars

This was originally written in 1990, 30 years after Jane Goodall went to Gombe National Park in Tanzania to study chimpanzees My edition was published in 2010, so there is even extra info with a preface and an afterword written by Jane in 2009. This continues/updates her first book on the chimps of Gombe, In the Shadow of Man.

I read In the Shadow of Man a number of years ago, but I loved revisiting the same chimps and their offspring, and following them later in the their lives! Jane is also an adamant activist/conservationist, so at the end of the book, after all the extra chimp information and updates (which really is the bulk of the book), she writes a little bit about human-raised chimps, chimps used in experiments, chimps losing their habitat, etc. There are a number of photos of the chimps included, as well. Overall, I really really enjoyed reading this!
]]> 8036748       In The Bird Detective , the author explains why some birds readily “divorce,” why parents don’t treat their sons and daughters equally, why females sneak in quick sex with neighbouring males and why some adults forgo breeding altogether. Stutchbury writes about the territorial nature of birds and describes their nesting habits, revealing why some species prefer to live in over-crowded groups. Perhaps most important, she illuminates how climate change and other pressures of the modern world are forcing birds to change their habits as they fight for their very survival.]]> 247 Bridget Stutchbury 1554683475 LibraryCin 3
This is a nonfiction account of the author's study of birds. She looks at mating, migration, song, colour, and more for various species of bird.

It started off a little slow for me, but overall, this was good. It did pick up a bit, I thought. A lot of the species she was looking at were not ones I have seen, but it was still interesting to learn about their habits and how varied they are. She doesn't really talk much about climate change and how the environment is affecting them (she has another book for that), except in the epilogue and it was mentioned maybe once or twice otherwise. The focus of this one is simply the birds' behaviour.]]> 3.79 2010
author: Bridget Stutchbury
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2014/07/08
date added: 2016/04/09
shelves: birds, animal-behaviour, animals, from-shelfari, year-read-2014
review:
3.5 stars

This is a nonfiction account of the author's study of birds. She looks at mating, migration, song, colour, and more for various species of bird.

It started off a little slow for me, but overall, this was good. It did pick up a bit, I thought. A lot of the species she was looking at were not ones I have seen, but it was still interesting to learn about their habits and how varied they are. She doesn't really talk much about climate change and how the environment is affecting them (she has another book for that), except in the epilogue and it was mentioned maybe once or twice otherwise. The focus of this one is simply the birds' behaviour.
]]> 1309910
For a human being to become accepted by a group of wild animals is a major achievement. The author's adventure began in 1960, when the famous anthropologist, L. S. B. Leakey, for whom she was then working, suggested that a long-term study of chimpanzees in the wild might shed light on the behavior of our stone-age ancestors. Accompanied only by her mother and her African assistants, she set up camp in the remote Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in Tanzania on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. For months the project seemed hopeless; out in the jungle from dawn till dark, she had but fleeting glimpses of frightened animals. At last came the day when she was accepted, and no longer feared. She was able to record previously unknown behavior, such as the use -- and even the making -- of tools, hitherto considered an exclusive skill of man. As the chimps began to come into her camp, she became increasingly aware of them as individual beings.

Though Jane van Lawick-Goodall started on her own, the full success of the enterprise was made possible by the early arrival of Hugo van Lawick, an expert wildlife photographer sent to her by Dr. Leakey. The couple promptly fell in love, were married in London, and returned for their honeymoon to their chimps at Gombe Stream.

The lessons to be learned from chimpanzee behavior are endless. In simplified form, their behaviors parallel ours, while the differences allow us to reflect on man's uniqueness.]]> 297 Jane Van Lawick-Goodall 0395127262 LibraryCin 0 4.40 1971
author: Jane Van Lawick-Goodall
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.40
book published: 1971
rating: 0
read at: 2007/01/01
date added: 2016/04/09
shelves: animals, memoir, animal-behaviour, chimpanzees, from-shelfari, year-read-2007
review:

]]> 1167818
Autistic people can often think the way animals think -- in fact, Grandin and co-author Catherine Johnson see autism as a kind of way station on the road from animals to humans -- putting autistic people in the perfect position to translate "animal talk." Temple is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. Not only are animals much smarter than anyone ever imagined, in some cases animals are out-and-out brilliant.

The sweep of "Animals in Translation" is immense, merging an animal scientist's thirty years of study with her keen perceptions as a person with autism -- Temple sees what others cannot.

Among its provocative ideas, the book:



argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness -- and that animals do have consciousness

applies the autism theory of "hyper-specificity" to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they "can't see the forest for the trees" -- a talent as well as a "deficit"

explores the "interpreter" in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much of the reality that surrounds them -- a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearly

explains how animals have "superhuman" skills: animals have animal genius

compares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even see

examines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future

reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals

maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid

Temple Grandin is like no other author on the subject of animals because of her training and because of her autism: understanding animals is in her blood and in her bones.]]> 368 Temple Grandin 0743247698 LibraryCin 0 4.13 2004
author: Temple Grandin
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at: 2007/01/01
date added: 2016/04/09
shelves: animals, animal-behaviour, autism
review:

]]> 315659 Book 164 Farley Mowat 0553133012 LibraryCin 4
For some odd reason, I've never read anything by Mowat. I don't know why because I love animals, and being Canadian, I try to read Canadian authors. This was such a good book. It was humourous and it was so interesting to get to know the wolf family that he watched during his time there. A lot of the wolf behaviour he found, I think is fairly well-known now, but I don't think it was then. It must have been amazing to be discovering it for the first time!]]> 3.98 1963
author: Farley Mowat
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1963
rating: 4
read at: 2009/02/01
date added: 2016/04/09
shelves: animals, canadian-authors, animal-behaviour, wolves, conservation, arctic, from-shelfari, year-read-2009
review:
Farley Mowat was a new biologist when, in the 1950s, he was hired by the Canadian government to go to the Arctic to count wolves and to see what kind of impact they were having on caribou numbers. Instead, he ended up doing a close study of wolf behaviour, which mostly contradicted what he'd been told about wolf behaviour before he went.

For some odd reason, I've never read anything by Mowat. I don't know why because I love animals, and being Canadian, I try to read Canadian authors. This was such a good book. It was humourous and it was so interesting to get to know the wolf family that he watched during his time there. A lot of the wolf behaviour he found, I think is fairly well-known now, but I don't think it was then. It must have been amazing to be discovering it for the first time!
]]> 167224
The popularity of When Elephants Weep has swept the nation, as author Jeffrey Masson appeared on Dateline NBC, Good Morning America, and was profiled in People for his ground-breaking and fascinating study. Not since Darwin's The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals has a book so thoroughly and effectively explored the full range of emotions that exist throughout the animal kingdom.

From dancing squirrels to bashful gorillas to spiteful killer whales, Masson and coauthor Susan McCarthy bring forth fascinating anecdotes and illuminating insights that offer powerful proof of the existence of animal emotion. Chapters on love, joy, anger, fear, shame, compassion, and loneliness are framed by a provocative re-evaluation of how we treat animals, from hunting and eating them to scientific experimentation. Forming a complete and compelling picture of the inner lives of animals, When Elephants Weep assures that we will never look at animals in the same way again.]]> 320 Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson 0385314280 LibraryCin 4
I found this really interesting. I know of a lot of the animals mentioned (some of Jane Goodall’s chimps, Dian Fossey’s gorillas, Irene Pepperberg’s parrot, Alex, and more from my psychology classes in university), but this book brings them all together in one place to show what most people would agree, that animals do feel.

Be warned that Masson is vegan and you can tell his feelings about certain things (vivisection, for instance), but I agree with most of his points, so it didn’t bother me. This was written in 1995,"Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Susan McCarthy]]> 4.03 1994
author: Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at: 2010/09/06
date added: 2016/04/09
shelves: animals, science, animal-behaviour, emotions, from-shelfari, year-read-2010
review:
Scientists are trained not to “anthropomorphize” animals, which includes attributing “human” emotions to them. Yet, even as pet guardians, we can often tell that our pets are happy or sad. This book takes a look at anecdotes and studies that, though they weren’t intended to show whether or not animals have emotions, they seem to show it.

I found this really interesting. I know of a lot of the animals mentioned (some of Jane Goodall’s chimps, Dian Fossey’s gorillas, Irene Pepperberg’s parrot, Alex, and more from my psychology classes in university), but this book brings them all together in one place to show what most people would agree, that animals do feel.

Be warned that Masson is vegan and you can tell his feelings about certain things (vivisection, for instance), but I agree with most of his points, so it didn’t bother me. This was written in 1995,"Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Susan McCarthy
]]> 333880 204 Jane Goodall 1199702765 LibraryCin 0 4.25 1967
author: Jane Goodall
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1967
rating: 0
read at: 2007/01/01
date added: 2016/04/09
shelves: animals, memoir, animal-behaviour, chimpanzees, from-shelfari, year-read-2007
review:

]]> 6684911 0 Rita Mae Brown 1400113229 LibraryCin 4
As an animal-lover myself, I really enjoyed this. I agree with a lot of what she has to say, and disagree with some, but then I'm a city-person and she's a country-person and having grown up in a small town, I do realize that we see things differently. However, it's very obvious how much she loves animals, so underneath it all, we're on the same page. ]]> 3.10 2009
author: Rita Mae Brown
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.10
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2013/09/22
date added: 2013/09/22
shelves: animals, memoir, animal-behaviour, authors
review:
Author Rita Mae Brown based some of her mysteries on one of her cats, Sneaky Pie. As an animal lover, she has written this memoir about all the various animals she has known and loved, including cats, dogs, horses, and various wildlife.

As an animal-lover myself, I really enjoyed this. I agree with a lot of what she has to say, and disagree with some, but then I'm a city-person and she's a country-person and having grown up in a small town, I do realize that we see things differently. However, it's very obvious how much she loves animals, so underneath it all, we're on the same page.
]]> 9660195
Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets - especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans… until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what's really going on inside.

When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and "liberating" the apes, John's human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he'll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest - and unlikeliest - phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John, a green-haired vegan, and a retired porn star with her own agenda.

Ape House delivers great entertainment, but it also opens the animal world to us in ways few novels have done, securing Sara Gruen's place as a master storyteller who allows us to see ourselves as we never have before.


From the Hardcover edition.]]> 336 Sara Gruen 0385664451 LibraryCin 4
I really liked this, but then, I love animals! The sign language studies are fascinating. I have to say that I'm glad I was reading this at home at the point where Isabel went through a place that does testing/experimentation on animals. That was super-tough to read (yet sadly, those places are out there). I did make the mistake of reading a few reviews the day I started reading it, so I did read something that I would have preferred not to know, but that was my mistake. My copy had an Author's Note and a Reader's Guide at the end where Gruen talked about her research for the book, which I always find interseting. You can tell, even without reading that, though, that how much she loves animals, herself. ]]> 3.55 2010
author: Sara Gruen
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2013/07/06
date added: 2013/07/06
shelves: animals, animal-behaviour, reality-tv, research, human-animal-relationships, animal-training, american-sign-language, bonobos
review:
Isabel is running a study of bonobos learning sign language and communicating with humans. Her entire world changes (as does the bonobos' world) when there is an explosion in the lab, Isabel is hurt, and the bonobos are taken away. Isabel is on a mission to find them, as she considers them her family.

I really liked this, but then, I love animals! The sign language studies are fascinating. I have to say that I'm glad I was reading this at home at the point where Isabel went through a place that does testing/experimentation on animals. That was super-tough to read (yet sadly, those places are out there). I did make the mistake of reading a few reviews the day I started reading it, so I did read something that I would have preferred not to know, but that was my mistake. My copy had an Author's Note and a Reader's Guide at the end where Gruen talked about her research for the book, which I always find interseting. You can tell, even without reading that, though, that how much she loves animals, herself.
]]> 64807 288 Elizabeth Marshall Thomas 0743426894 LibraryCin 4
This book looks at cat behavior, including big and small cats. There is also an extensive section on lions and their culture. There are a lot of anecdotes included in the book.

I quite liked this. Found it interesting, and there were some very nice illustrations. One thing that bothered me was her referring to mates as “husbands” and “wives”, though.]]> 3.81 1994
author: Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
name: LibraryCin
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at: 2013/01/20
date added: 2013/01/20
shelves: animals, cats, lions, culture, animal-behaviour
review:
3.75 stars

This book looks at cat behavior, including big and small cats. There is also an extensive section on lions and their culture. There are a lot of anecdotes included in the book.

I quite liked this. Found it interesting, and there were some very nice illustrations. One thing that bothered me was her referring to mates as “husbands” and “wives”, though.
]]>