Beyond Words

What Animals Think and Feel

By: Carl Safina

Narrated by: Carl Safina

Weaving decades of field observations with exciting new discoveries about the brain, Carl Safina's landmark book offers an intimate view of animal behavior to challenge the fixed boundary between humans and nonhuman animals. In Beyond Words listeners travel to Amboseli National Park in the threatened landscape of Kenya and witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack's personal tragedy and finally plunge into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Beyond Words brings forth powerful and illuminating insight into the unique personalities of animals through extraordinary stories of animal joy, grief, jealousy, anger, and love. The similarity between human and nonhuman consciousness, self-awareness, and empathy calls us to reevaluate how we interact with animals. Wise, passionate, and eye opening at every turn, Beyond Words is ultimately a graceful examination of humanity's place in the world.

©2015 Carl Safina (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This book breathes love of and respect for animals and is rich with observations and extraordinary travel experiences." (Frans de Waal, author of The Bonobo and the Atheist)

Passionate, beautiful, fascinating

The stories Safina tells are compelling and fascinating. One about a wolf defending her cubs against her violent big sister is heart-wrenching. The other wolves would usually side with the dominant female, but in this case, they take the young mother's side instead. It shows complexity of mind and social structure that just makes me want to learn more.

But by far the best part is his take-downs of some of the stupidest ideas held by behavioural scientists. Recognizing a red dot on oneself in a mirror proves whether an animal is conscious? No, it proves the animal knows how to use mirrors.

Dehaene's "Consciousness and the Brain" is a good follow-up to this book, because it goes a long ways to provide neuroscience data to backup what Safina is saying here. Higher animals absolutely are conscious and they lead complex lives—and we need to do so much more if we want to continue sharing a world with them.

amazing. spectacular. astonishing.

this book is amazing. fantastic insights into the animal world that we are apart of!

Who is looking back?

If you are a lover of animals, wild or domestic and have ever found yourself wondering just who is looking back, this book will confirm what you've no doubt experienced.
I was moved by all of the stories and to tears by more than one.

This is a MUST- for us all-listened 3xplus

Humans aren't top dogs we think we are - not superior to other animals- without anthropomorphism - evidence based science blows open and questions assumptions held re animals abilities to feel reason and communicate . This book is top -giving anyone with an iota of compassion and open mindedness - to be make the world better ..

Enlightening, Inspiring, and Convicting

A gripping read that will inspire, educate, and enlighten you. The story is strong and compelling- the characters, both human and nonhuman, will stay with you after you put the book down haunting your dreams and daydreams. The writing is technical yet completely accessible. There is no shortage of research/ data then the establishment of facts, then finally conclusions. The history of human knowledge and insight into the world we are a part of us startling incomplete. One cannot help but feel the weight of wrong headedness and hurt that people reaped or condoned on the world around them. How incomplete and incorrect was the understand that many people held without knowing? Now that we know the harm our actions or silence have caused, how can we stand by idle? What else do we not know or understand without realizing? The world is both smaller and more fragile and bigger, more complex, and more wonderful than I ever knew. I feel my eyes have been opened and my brain now knows that my heart was not wrong- consciousness and intelligence is all around us. After reading Beyond Words there is no other possible answer. Animals think, feel, reason, and love.

Made me feel wonder and sadness

What did you love best about Beyond Words?

Reading about the inner lives and communication of animals.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beyond Words?

How decimated the animal populations have become. The loss of elephants and killer whales is tragic and senseless.

What about Carl Safina’s performance did you like?

The author's performance took a while to truly involve me in the book. Overall quite good though.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I recommend this book even though it made me quite sad.

Any additional comments?

A book that many people would benefit from reading.

Fascinating

I absolutely loved this book. Learning about animals--the ways they live and how they communicate--through Carl Safina's eyes and his words was a powerful reminder of our connection. Bravo for this well-written and interesting book.

Beautiful

Carl does a great job at keeping it scientific and practical. It confirms things I already knew, and it’s so great to hear it from a scientist! His writing style, information gathering, and detailed descriptions make this book top notch. Changed my life, and I hope it changes many more. At times the truth does hurt to hear and I definitely cried, but it’s information we must all take in to make changes in this world.

Eye opening

My 2nd listen to this book. Amazing facts about elephants, wolves, dolphins, killer whales and many more including how they interact with other species. There is also a commentary on how little humans know about the day to day lives of the other species that inhabit our world. I will look more closely at the world around me. I'm already saddened whenever I hear about bombs and other ordinance being tested in the ocean.

A truly beautiful must-read book

This book is quite informative, well written and enthusiastically read. The author really helped me understand how much I've not understood about humanity through a better understanding of other species. This is a must read book for everyone. But for me it is a call to do some serious soul searching as to what my action item is based on what i've learned. I promise I will do something.