Synopses & Reviews
andldquo;Jans is an exceptional storytellerandmdash;no nature writer can top him in terms of sheer emotional force.andrdquo; andmdash;
New York Times and#160;
A Wolf Called Romeo is the true story of the exceptional black wolf who spent seven years interacting with the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance, and bringing the wild into sharp focus.
and#160;
When Romeo first appeared, author Nick Jans and the other citizens of Juneau were wary, but as Romeo began to tag along with cross-country skiers on their daily jaunts, play fetch alongside local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun on a quiet afternoon, Nick and the rest of Juneau came to accept Romeo, and he them. Part memoir, part moving animal narrative, part foray into the mystique, lore, science, and history of the wolf, A Wolf Called Romeo is a book no animal lover should miss.
and#160;
andldquo;Beautifully written, A Wolf Called Romeo is a thoughtful and moving story about one of natureandrsquo;s most evocative animals.andrdquo; andmdash;Patricia McConnell, author of The Other End of the Leash
and#160;
andldquo;Jans is a perfect narrator for this story. Heandrsquo;s deeply knowledgeable about the Alaskan wilderness and he evokes its harsh beauties in powerful and poetic prose . . . A tingling reminder of the basic bond that occasionally spans the space between two species.andrdquo; andmdash;Christian Science Monitor
and#160;
NICK JANS is an award-winning writer, photographer, and author of numerous books, including The Grizzly Maze. He is a contributing editor to Alaska magazine and has written for a variety of publications, including Rolling Stone and the Christian Science Monitor.
Review
“Highly readable...” Booklist
Review
“A moving tribute that beautifully evokes ‘the struggles, the initial triumphs, the setbacks, the unexpected and often stunning achievements during a grounbreaking scientific endeavor...” Publishers Weekly
Review
“A fascinating look at animal intelligence, Pepperbergs tale is also a love story between beings who sometimes ‘squabble like an old married couple but whose bond broke only with Alexs death at 31 in ‘07. Irresistible.” People
Review
“[Pepperbergs] book movingly combines the scientific detail of a researcher...with the affectionate understanding that children instinctively possess....” Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
Review
“To anyone whos dreamed of talking with the animals, Dr. Doolittle style, Alex was a revelation…This ornery reviewer tried to resist Alexs charms on principle. But his achievements got the better of me…Alex was a celebrity, and this book will surely please his legions of fans.” New York Times Book Review
Review
"Chaser is the most scientifically important dog in over a century. Her fascinating story reveals just how sophisticated a dogand#8217;s mind can be."
and#8212;Brian Hare, coauthor of The Genius of Dogs
"After you read Chaser, you will realize that you may have underestimated the intelligence of your dog. Marvelous insights into a dogand#8217;s mind."
and#8212;Temple Grandin, author of
Animals in Translation and Animals Make Us Human
"This is an extraordinary book, full of warmth and wisdom that has the potential to forever change the way we look at dogs. While Chaser herself seems extraordinary, maybe she is also every dog, in showing us what every dog is capable of. and#12288;Maybe not every dog can learn over a thousand words, but every dog I have ever known can read our heart, and that, to me, is the great secret between dogs and humans that we are just now learning, and which is so deeply evident in this wonderful book: and#12288;Chaser loves people, and because of that love she will do anything asked of her, even learn the names of one thousand toys! Dr. John Pilleyand#8217;s work with Chaser is not only a loving affirmation for readers who already know how much they adore and trust the ability of dogs, but is also a game-changer for skeptical scientists, who must find themselves, after reading this remarkable book, inching closer to recognizing the full humanity of dogs."
and#8212;Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of When Elephants Weep and Dogs Never Lie About Love
"A Border Collie that understands lots of words wonand#8217;t surprise people who work with these inventive dogs, but what makes John Pilleyand#8217;s tale special is his dogged determination, long after his retirement from teaching psychology, to keep his own brain fizzing with all the new words and techniques and ideas he needs to learn to get his results published in a respected science journal."
and#8212;Bruce Fogle, author of The Dogand#8217;s Mind and The Encyclopedia of Dogs
"If a truly great book leaves one better for having read it, then Chaser is quite simply a masterpiece.and#12288; Dogs and those of us who love them owe to debt of gratitude to the brilliant, courageous author and his equally heroic subject."
and#8212;Jennifer Arnold, author of Through a Dogand#8217;s Eyes
"An engrossing and remarkable tale." -- The Bark "A delightful memoir that offers a challenge to behavioral psychologists and inspiration for pet lovers." -- Kirkus Reviews "This marvelous blend of good science and heartwarming dog story will inspire all of us to reexamine our canine friends." -- Booklist, *starred* review
Review
"Moving."and#160;and#8212;People, 4/4 stars "The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary blew me away. It is a master work that deserves an audience stretching from the US Congress to medical-school students to the widest possible public." - Bookslut.com "a powerful look at how we treat our closest relatives" - Cleveland Plain Dealer "what I found from the first chapter was compassion, education and some of the best writing I have encountered in a very long time.and#12288; This book is not an in-your-face telling-you-what-to-do animal rights book full of horror, but an account of tenderness, turmoil and traverse spanning over a period of time much longer thanand#12288;when Fauna Sanctuary opened its doors 14 years ago." - Times Union "This incisive book describes the daily lives of 13 resident chimps, their resilience after so much suffering and the invasive research practices that 'render them as psychologically compromised as human victims of domestic violence or political and war prisoners.'...An affecting work about our genetic cousin." - Kirkus "A distressing, deeply important exposand#233; of the suffering we have inflicted on our closest animal relation, the ethics of animal testing, and finally (and happily) a heartening picture of Fauna Sanctuary's commitment and compassion." - Publishers Weekly "The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary is a true story of endurance and resilience, compassion, dedication and love. I knew the prison-like conditions of the medical research facility from which Gloria [Grow] rescued these chimpanzees; when I visited them at their new sanctuary I was moved to tears. Finally they had reached a secure haven where, gradually, they could recover from their years of torment. Andrew Westoll is a born story teller: The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary, written with empathy and skill, tenderness and humour, involves us in a world few understand. And leaves us marveling at the ways in which chimpanzees are so like us, and why they deserve our help and are entitled to our respect." --Jane Goodall Ph.D., DBE and#12288; "This book will make you think deeply about our relationship with great apes. It amazed me to discover the behaviors and feelings of the chimpanzees."and#8212;Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation "This book is a wonder. Passionate, intelligent, moving and, above all, tremendously important, it illustrates the triumph of the wild spirit and offers surprising hope that the human animal might yet be redeemed. Think of Peter Singer's Animal Liberation and J.M. Coetzeeand#8217;s The Lives of Animals, and youand#8217;ll have some idea of what it is you hold in your hands. It has been a long time since any author has inspired me to such extremes of compassion and humility."and#8212;Barbara Gowdy, author of The White Bone
Synopsis
"You be good. I love you," were Alex's final words to his owner, research scientist Irene Pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirty-one on September 6, 2007. An African Grey parrot, Alex had a brain the size of a shelled walnut, yet he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none, and he disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Alex & Me is the remarkable true account of an amazing, irascible parrot and his best friend who stayed together through thick and thin for thirty years—the astonishing, moving, and unforgettable story of a landmark scientific achievement and a beautiful relationship.
Synopsis
Alex & Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas. A New York Times bestseller and selected as one ofthe paper sTop Ten Books of the Year, Alex & Me is much more that the story of an incredible scientific breakthrough. It s a poignant love story and an affectionate remembrance of Pepperberg s irascible, unforgettable, and always surprising best friend.
"
Synopsis
New York Times Bestseller
The remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas.
You be good. I love you, were Alex's final words to his owner, research scientist Irene Pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirty-one on September 6, 2007. An African Grey parrot, Alex had a brain the size of a shelled walnut, yet he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none, and he disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence.
Alex & Me is the incredible story of an amazing, irascible parrot and his best friend who stayed together through thick and thin for thirty years--the astonishing, moving, and unforgettable story of a landmark scientific achievement and a beautiful relationship.
Synopsis
Dolphins arenand#8217;t just beloved, they are brilliant and conscious. So why do we treat them so terribly? Diana Reiss is one of the worldand#8217;s leading experts on dolphin intelligence. In addition, as a dolphin advocate, she is a leading rescuer who helped inspire and served as an adviser for the Oscar-winning filmThe Cove.Here, she combines her science and activism to show just how smart dolphins really are and why we must stop mistreating them. Readers will be astonished at their sophisticated lifelong creativity and playfulness, their emotional intelligence, their level of self-awareness, and their ability to communicate with humans. Her beloved mentor dolphins (as she calls them), each with distinct personalities, create their own toys, use underwater keyboards, tease and scold her playfully, and give us glimpses of their intelligence that often seem very familiar.The Dolphin in the Mirroris both a scientific revelation and an emotional eye-opener, revealing one of the greatest intelligences on the planet.
Synopsis
Alex & Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas. A New York Times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics Top Ten Books of the Year, Alex & Me is much more that the story of an incredible scientific breakthrough. Its a poignant love story and an affectionate remembrance of Pepperbergs irascible, unforgettable, and always surprising best friend.
Synopsis
The amazing story of a very smart Border collie who is redefining animal intelligence.
Synopsis
A New York Times Bestseller andquot;The most scientifically important dog in over a century.andquot; andmdash;Brian Hare
Chaser has fascinated dog lovers and scientists alike. Her story reveals the potential for taking out dialogue with dogs well beyond andquot;fetch.andquot; When retired psychology professor John Pilley first got his new Border collie puppy, Chaser, he wanted to explore the boundaries of language learning and communication between humans and manand#39;s best friend. Exhibiting intelligence previously thought impossible in dogs, Chaser soon learned the names of more than a thousand toys and sentences with multiple elements of grammar. Chaserand#39;s accomplishments are revolutionizing the way we think about the intelligence of animals. John and Chaserand#39;s inspiring journey demonstrates the power of learning through play and opens our eyes to the boundless potential in the animals we love.
Synopsis
True tale of a remarkable, seven-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska.
Synopsis
This is a fascinating and moving account of a remarkable community of chimpanzees who gradually learn to become chimps again after spending years in research laboratories.and#160; Brimming with empathy and touching stories, this book makes us question just what we owe to the animals who are our nearest genetic relations.
Synopsis
and#8220;Astonishing . . . Moving.and#8221; and#8212;
People and#8220;The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary is an unflinching, visceral look at the emotional and physical damageand#8212;actual, real damage done to specific, individual apesand#8212;in some of Americaand#8217;s most notorious biomedical research labs. It is also the story of humans who were driven to provide them with refuge, retirement . . . and, ultimately, their inherent right to dignity.and#8221; and#8212;Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants
IN THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS, Gloria Grow has created a rehabilitation center like none other. Thirteen chimpanzees, rescued from zoos and medical testing laboratories, now call Fauna Sanctuary home. After decades of cruelty and deprivation, these resilient primates are finally free to eat, sleep, play, and roam in peaceand#8212;all while fighting their personal demons. Primatologist and author Andrew Westoll lived and worked at Fauna one remarkable summer, and The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary is his poignant testimony to the capacity of these animals to healand#8212;and to learn to be chimps again. This is an absorbing, bighearted story about the species more closely related to us than any other.
and#8220;There is plenty of moral outrage in this book, but there is also plenty of wonder . . . Impassioned and well reasoned.and#8221; and#8212;Cleveland Plain Dealer
Synopsis
The heartwarming and amazing story of Chaser, a Border Collie who has learned the names of over 1,000 objects, and her octogenarian trainer, exploring the true potential of animal intelligence and the ways in which any dog lover could achieve similar results.
Synopsis
A New York Times Bestseller The amazing story of a very smart Border collie who is redefining animal intelligence.
Chaser has a way with words. She knows over a thousand of themandmdash;more than any other animal of any species except humans. In addition to common nouns like house, ball, and tree, she has memorized the names of more than one thousand toys and can retrieve any of them on command. Based on that learning, she and her owner and trainer, retired psychologist John Pilley, have moved on to further impressive feats, demonstrating her ability to understand sentences with multiple elements of grammar and to learn new behaviors by imitation.
Johnandrsquo;s ingenuity and tenacity as a researcher are as impressive as Chaserandrsquo;s accomplishments. His groundbreaking approach has opened the door to a new understanding of animal intelligence, one that requires us to reconsider what actually goes on in a dogandrsquo;s mind. Chaserandrsquo;s achievements reveal her use of deductive reasoning and complex problem-solving skills to address novel challenges.
Yet astonishingly, Chaser isnandrsquo;t unique. Johnandrsquo;s training methods can be adopted by any dog lover. Through the poignant story of how he trained Chaser, raised her as a member of the Pilley family, and proved her abilities to the scientific community, he reveals the positive impact of incorporating learning into play and more effectively channeling a dogandrsquo;s natural drives.
Johnandrsquo;s work with Chaser offers a fresh perspective on whatandrsquo;s possible in the relationship between a dog and a human. His story points us toward a new way of relating to our canine companions that takes into account our evolving understanding of the way animals and humans learn.
About the Author
Dr. Diana Reiss is Professor of Psychology at Hunter College in New York City and Director of Dolphin Research at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. She is also adjunct faculty in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology at Columbia University, and she serves as a member of the Animal Welfare Committee of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She has authored papers published in numerous international scientific journals and book chapters and her work has been featured in many television science programs.
Table of Contents
1.and#8194;The Dog Who Knows a Thousand Wordsand#8195;1
2.and#8194;Good-byeand#8195;11
3.and#8194;Christmas in Juneand#8195;26
4.and#8194;Let the Puppy Be a Puppyand#8195;36
5.and#8194;and#8220;Youand#8217;ve Got to Name Her Chaser!and#8221;and#8195;52
6.and#8194;Chaser Learns What Not To Chaseand#8195;63
7.and#8194;Listening to the Farmerand#8195;73
8.and#8194;Learning by Playingand#8195;89
9.and#8194;Herding Wordsand#8195;108
10.and#8194;Herding Sheepand#8195;119
11.and#8194;Advanced Lessonsand#8195;129
12.and#8194;Getting Publishedand#8195;138
13.and#8194;Going Viraland#8195;153
14.and#8194;Chaser Takes a Bowand#8195;167
15.and#8194;Chaser Goes to Washingtonand#8195;193
16.and#8194;Expanding the Conversationand#8195;209
Epilogue: Unleashing Chaserand#8217;s Geniusand#8195;229
Appendixand#8195;231
Acknowledgmentsand#8195;237
Indexand#8195;238