Marc Bekoff brings us an insightful look into the often debated subject of whether animals are capable of emotions. To those of us who share our lives with pets, this may seem like a question that can be easily answered. The wagging tail of our dogs as they hear the subtle sounds of their leash being gathered in preparation for a walk. The purring of the cat as they let us know that they like to be stroked or held. These all seem like clear signs of emotion to me, and to the author.

What I don't think of often, are the non-domestic animals. Lions, dolphins, wolves, mice, and countless others. The author brings us some fascinating examples that are truly awe inspiring. Whether it is the lions who rescued a 12 year old girl from her kidnappers, the dolphins who saved 4 swimmers from being eaten by a shark, the magpies who seemed to hold a funeral of sorts for a fallen friend or the many other situations that are defined, one thing is certain, you will never look at animals the same way.

What I found quite disturbing in this book were some of the descriptions of treatment of animals. Often by scientists who, while recognizing that their own pets are capable of feeling emotion, refuse to consider the fact that test subjects are capable of the same. I guess part of it is that it is probably easier to subject these creatures to the testing without having to consider the suffering involved.

The author brings forth a great argument for better treatment of animals in those conditions as well as those who are confined in zoos. It's shocking to learn that some scientists will ignore rules and regulations in order to further their research. Research which often is not helpful since it has been shown that animals who are treated poorly while being studied, often have unreliable results due to stress and trauma. In human terms, it would be something like having no sleep for a week, then catch a bad flu and be feeling at your worst and then having to sit an important exam. You know you wouldn't do as well.

Data has proven that this kind of research has led to medication being tested on animals, being passed through the FDA and then has still led to countless deaths. Adverse drug reactions are the fifth leading cause of death in the US. Maybe it's time to think about more reliable - and humane - testing methods.

This book is a great mix of stories, personal experience and scientific research that will help anyone who reads it, make the right choices and help create a more humane society. It's a fascinating read which caught my attention firmly from the first page and I highly recommend it.

Author's website: http://literati.net/Bekoff ( )

I love this book! Marc Bekoff is a leading scientist in the area of cognitive ethology (the observation of animals under natural conditions). As an animal lover, I found myself nodding along to all of his statements. Even though Marc Bekoff presents scientific content, his writing style is simple and straight-forward. He thoroughly explains the scientific terms he uses. I walked away from the book having learned several new terms. My favorite is anthropomorphism, which is the attribution of uniquely human characteristics to non-human beings.

I borrowed this book from the library but about half way through reading it I decided to buy it. I know this is the type of book I'll reference again and again. I also bought another book by Marc Bekoff, "Minding Animals: Awareness, Emotions, and Heart". I can't wait to read it! ( )

The second read for this year of my book club was picked by a Buddhist/vegan/animal rights activist friend of mine. I was not sure at all I would enjoy it, but I did. This thoroughly enjoyable read was informative, if a bit repetitious at times.

Anyone who lives with a dog or a cat or has grown up on a farm is well aware of the intelligence, memory, and emotions expressed by animals. Bekoff’s book is loaded with anecdotes from ethologists (researchers in animal emotions) as well as lay persons. As he says, “the plural of anecdote is data” (121). Many of his anecdotes closely match what we have observed with our pets at home.

Bekoff shows how animals and humans share brain structure and chemistry. He posits that our emotions have evolved along with our physical structure. To my surprise, Darwin also speculated about animal emotions, and he believed they evolved along with physical structure.

One chapter ends with, “if we try to learn more about forgiveness, fairness, trust, and cooperation in animals, maybe we’ll also learn to live more compassionately and cooperatively with one another” (109).

This read has not made me a vegetarian, but it has made me more conscious of products I buy. I simply like meat too much to give it up completely. However, I try and buy products not tested on animals, free-range chicken, and organic, hormone and antibiotic-free milk and eggs. It is a first small step.

The most interesting question Bekoff poses is, would you treat your family pet the same way you would treat the animals in your lab, on your farm, or in the wild? I suspect almost everyone would answer with a resounding, “No!”

--Jim, 10/31/08 ( )

To have a "scientist" present a case for animals as feeling beings warms my heart. To think so many believe animals incapable of human emotions is to display how unfeeling and unimaginative they are, not the animals they seem blind to. This book is not full of "cute" stories. It's full of moving stories which only the most mechanistic of us could possibly mistake for other than animals as beings as fully evolved in their own way as we are. Come to think. Perhaps more evolved. Just a thought. ( )

This could have been a much better book. The author's aim is to refute a belief common in the scientific world that animals do not have emotions or feelings. He claims that there is strong scientific evidence for animal emotion, but instead of citing any, he mostly entertains us with oh so cute anecdotes of animals doing oh so cute things. The author could have provided more, and I was very disappointed. ( )