I read Alex and Me over the weekend, and highly recommend it. The book is about author Irene Pepperberg’s life, both as a scientist and as a parrot owner, with Alex, the African Grey Parrot. I’ve known of her research for years, and (full disclosure here), consider her a friend, so I can’t pretend that I’m completely objective. But if you are interested in animal intelligence, animal communication and/or what parrots have to teach us about the minds of non-human animals, this book is for you.
Irene, whose first real friend was a parakeet, left a promising career in chemistry to jump into the controversial field of “language” in non-human animals. No field better illustrates that, although the process of science is objective, scientists aren’t. That is often a good thing: scientists are often passionate about their work and that drive allows them to work through difficult problems, lousy pay (often), and working 80 hour weeks. It also means that individuals feel strongly about some issues, and the question of what goes in the mind of animals like chimpanzees, parrots and pet dogs still can elicit heated arguments among colleagues. Unbeknownst to her, Irene jumped into the field at the heat of controversy about whether non-human animals could use “language,” what “language” studies with primates actually told us about the minds of other animals, and other simple, trivial questions like “what does it mean to be human?” That controversy, and the fact that her training was as a chemist, not a psychologist or linguist, meant that Irene walked an uphill path to get funding and acknowledgment for her discoveries. This book describes her amazing and often difficult journey with Alex, both as a woman and as a scientist.
Irene started teaching Alex (which stood at first for Animal Language Experiment and was changed to Animal Learning Experiment because the word “language” was so controversial) to make sounds to label objects. As most of you know, Alex eventually became the Einstein of parrots, and was able not only to use labels (most of us would call them words!) to identify and request objects, colors, shapes, materials and number), he could also understand abstract concepts like “bigger” and “different” and most interestingly to me, “nothing. (Go teach your dog to fetch “nothing!” Wow, what a challenge! Could we?)
Irene has spoken and written extensively about her research with Alex, but Alex and Me is a personal look at the challenging journey she traveled, trying to get others to accept that a parrot with a brain the size of a walnut could do things only humans were supposed to be able to do. I won’t steal the book’s thunder by telling you all my favorite parts, but here’s one:
Someone sent Alex a toy parrot that was suspended over his cage. He walked up to it and said “You tickle,” his demand (Alex was very good at demands) for someone to tickle his neck. Of course, the stuffed toy did nothing. After a moment, Alex said “You turkey!” and walked off “in a huff.” Irene tells us that sometimes students had said “You turkey” to Alex when he was messing up, and he adopted the epithet for himself. (As anyone who has parrots knows, they are as skilled as we are at delivering epithets. No wonder sailors and parrots go together so well?)
I wish the book was longer, and went into her work with Alex in more depth, but that’s just me being greedy. It’s a fascinating and inspiring book, and if you are interested in both the science of animal communication and animal intelligence, and a compelling story about a woman’s relationship with a one of the world’s most famous animals, this book is for you.
On the home front, winter is here for good. Snow every couple of days, though luckily not too much of it at a time, at least not here in Southern Wisconsin. Here’s a photo looking out my kitchen window, up the hill behind the house to the “orchard pasture” where I can watch the sheep graze in summer.
Holly says
I have asked for the book for Christmas. I find animal intelligence to be an incredibly interesting field and have thought for a long time, we don’t give the credit where due to their ability to understand and problem solve.
Susan says
I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to go to a lecture given by Dr Pepperberg tomorrow night. I have known of her and Alex for quite some time, but most likely would not have been interested in her lecture until reading your thoughts about her. I am looking forward to reading her book.
Crystal says
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28112599/
Just thought you might be interested in this article about whether or not dogs understand the concept of unfairness.
GoLightly says
Wow, just found your site. It was your book that finally helped me to understand why my dog would go deaf when she smelled her favourite thing, dead anything. Thank you.
I am fascinated by all things animal. Animal & Human Behaviour is something I can and do observe acutely. I can get very uncomfortable in social situations. Feel much more comfortable around animals.
I’ve reached a very good state in my dog training development, at least, me & my dogs think so. I know my limits, faults and strengths. I do my best, and don’t TRY so hard to be the perfect trainer anymore.
May I please ask a question, with apologies if it’s been covered before?
Could you please tell me why Cesar Milan is such a divisive subject? I read, and learned and read and learned from everyone.everything I could, that made good gentle sense. Karen Pryor, yourself, Jean Donaldson, Carol Lea Benjamin, Monks of New Skete, etc…I was having a problem with my new rescue dog heeling properly. After watching several episodes of Cesar, I “got” it. I used NO force, no corrections, no physical negative reinforcement (snore) and she heeled perfectly. When I got my puppy, half-sister to my rescue, I thought I’d give her some puppy classes, and found a “reputable” training facility. I was disappointed to be told that “Cesar” is the WORST thing to ever happen to dog training. I am STILL trying to figure out why. I don’t believe it, I’m afraid. It’s seems counter-intuitive, to me.
Thank you for recommending the Alex book. I’ve heard it’s just a bit short on juicy details.
It’s an honour to have found your web-site. I still have your book, and still enjoy learning from it.
All the best.
Anne says
Hi Patricia,
CAT-PROOF CHRISTMAS TREE MAT/APRON:
This comment doesn’t pertain to your topic here, but I didn’t know where else to reach you: Since your mention of it (and you said you’d post more info) on Sat.’s Calling All Pets show (Dec. 6), I’ve been dying to find more info – didn’t catch it during the show – I’ll try to find your podcast – on the cat-proof Christmas tree mat.
I’ve had no luck searching the web for it.
thanks for everything!
A.
Marsha says
This may be a good time to ask what you think about this
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/12/08/dogs-get-petty-about-treats.html
I don’t know the parameters of the study,number of dogs used etc so can’t say if study was well conceived,but would love to hear your response!
(PS..I wasn’t able to attend Dr Pepperberg’s lecture her in DC)
Elizabeth says
I just wanted to let you know I just read this book! I remembered you recommending it and found it in the library this week. Thanks for a good recommendation; I greatly enjoyed it.
Like you, I wish she’d gone into a little more detail about the actual training. Have you read her other book, The Alex Studies? Is it more in-depth?
I hope your finger feels better soon!