Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

By: Frans de Waal

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

From world-renowned biologist and primatologist Frans de Waal comes this groundbreaking work on animal intelligence destined to become a classic.

What separates your mind from an animal's? Maybe you think it's your ability to design tools, your sense of self, or your grasp of past and future - all traits that have helped us define ourselves as the planet's preeminent species. But in recent decades, these claims have been eroded - or even disproved outright - by a revolution in the study of animal cognition. Take the way octopuses use coconut shells as tools; elephants that classify humans by age, gender, and language; or Ayumu, the young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame.

Based on research involving crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, whales, and of course chimpanzees and bonobos, Frans de Waal explores both the scope and the depth of animal intelligence. He offers a firsthand account of how science has stood traditional behaviorism on its head by revealing how smart animals really are - and how we've underestimated their abilities for too long. People often assume a cognitive ladder from lower to higher forms, with our own intelligence at the top. But what if it is more like a bush, with cognition taking different, often incomparable forms? Would you presume yourself dumber than a squirrel because you're less adept at recalling the locations of hundreds of buried acorns? Or would you judge your perception of your surroundings as more sophisticated than that of an echolocating bat?

De Waal reviews the rise and fall of the mechanistic view of animals and opens our minds to the idea that animal minds are far more intricate and complex than we have assumed. De Waal's landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal - and human - intelligence.

©2016 Frans de Waal (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Now hear this

Word means listen - so hear this - Having a book read to you still counts as reading a book - and I found myself laughing out loud in places and shocked in others - this was a very good read

Good, but a bit dry in places

Overall I loved the subject matter, but only liked the writing. It didn't impart the full impact of how important this discussion is.

Pleasurable listen

This book was written in a somewhat funny way. It was truely entertaining and quite enlightening.

The narrator was also amazing. He read the book in a way which really pulled me in and made sure to not make me bored. Well, some of this credit also goes for the author who made this book with, apparently, true enthusiasm.

I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in animal interaction, as well as those who seek breakthroughs and revolutionary findings, although the new generation might find some of the ideas discussed in the book as "dah".

Delightful, insightful and entertaining

This Book has changed my opinion about cognition of all animals... including humans 😄 well done.

animal intelligence

lots of good studies and thought provoking stuff. I think it may help understand human behavior too

Wonderful look into intelligent animals

Puts a great perspective on the study of the intelligence of animals! I learned many things while listening to this book!

What he said!

Any additional comments?

Great arguments for intelligence of animals, when judge from animal perspective. Loads of examples and stories. Nothing really new, except for perspectives sake. Humans think animals should be rated from a human point of view. Wrong! Narrator is one of my favorites! Very warm and easy on ears.

Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?

A wonderful finally giving animal s the credit for the intelligence they possess. Those of us who have pets and are around animals have already assumed they're smart, that they think, they plan and execute said plans...and lo, they do. Read it...you'll be very glad you did

Amazing

I've read all of the authors books but this one is much more broad on species and experiments. Every person interested in evolutionary cognition should read it.

Interesting

I like how he presents his research. It’s long overdue that we recognize that animals too have feelings and accord them more freedom in our labs.
I remember in med school how the dogs/cats were treated as medical students laboured to understand the functions of human organisms. How they woke up at times whilst we far into a lesson with their insides laid open before us, and started to whimper. Very difficult study for an animal lover who’s father was the son of Native American mother who had different approach to treatment of animals. Who believed animals should not be bought and sold just like your children shouldn’t.
Book has allot of scientific jargon but still easily understood. And the points made in the book are well worth learning in this crazy world!