About this item
Noted science writer Virginia Morell explores the frontiers of research on animal cognition and emotion, offering a surprising and moving exploration into the hearts and minds of wild and domesticated animals. Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a fish? Or a parrot, dolphin, or elephant? Do they experience thoughts that are similar to ours, or have feelings of grief and love? These are tough questions, but scientists are answering them. They know that ants teach, earthworms make decisions, and that rats love to be tickled. They've discovered that dogs have thousand-word vocabularies, that parrots and dolphins have names, and that birds practice their songs in their sleep. But how do scientists know these things? Animal Wise takes us on a dazzling odyssey into the inner world of animals from ants to wolves, and among the pioneering researchers who are leading the way into once-forbidden territory: the animal mind.
About the Author
I am an author of science and natural history books, and a prolific contributor to Science, National Geographic, Smithsonian, and other publications. I love writing about the natural world, and how scientists are exploring it. In my newest book, ANIMAL WISE, I explore the once-forbidden land of animal minds with scientists courageous enough to tackle the questions: What and how do animals think? In my book, you'll read about my trips to meet researchers who've discovered that ants teach, parrots converse, rats laugh, and cheetahs can die from heartbreak. I live in Ashland, Oregon, with my husband and fellow-writer, Michael McRae, our American Working Farm Collie, Buckaroo, and sweet, but camera-shy Calico kitty, Nini.
