Overview

How communication works across the animal kingdom, for readers of Other Minds and Ed Yong Why Animals Talk is a scientific journey through the untamed world of animal communication. From the majestic howls of wolves and the enchanting chatter of parrots to the melodic clicks of dolphins and the spirited grunts of chimpanzees, these diverse and seemingly bizarre expressions are far from mere noise. In fact, they hold secrets that we are just beginning to decipher. For example, wolves - just like humans - possess unique accents that distinguish their howls, and not only do dolphins give themselves names, but they also respond excitedly to recordings of the whistles of long-lost companions. Chapter by chapter and animal by animal, Kershenbaum draws on his extensive research and observations of animals in the wild to explain the science behind why animals are communicating. Also revealing profound insights into our own language and why it is different, Why Animals Talks tells the comprehensive story of communication and how it works across the entire animal kingdom.

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Reviews

A wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology -- Richard Dawkins, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy Crawls with curious facts * Sunday Times, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy * A fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy If you don't want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth -- Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy A fascinating plunge into the deep-time history of life on Earth and animal evolution in all its glorious diversity * The Times, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy * Entertaining . . . the real joy springs from Kershenbaum's exploration of the laws of biology that have shaped the bizarre variety of living creatures on our own world - and will do so on any other * The Times/Sunday Times, Science Books of the Year, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy * An imaginative journey into the lives of animals . . . Kershenbaum has a rare talent for scientific storytelling . . . inviting, accessible . . . Instead of trying to judge animal communication by human standards, Kershenbaum guides us to toward a more productive and interesting approach: He asks us to step outside ourselves, outside our own perceptual and linguistic world, to apprehend animals on their own terms, understanding how their unique forms of communication have helped them solve unique evolutionary challenges . . . Read this book and, I promise, you’ll never listen to animals in the same way again -- Jessica Pierce, author of Who’s a Good Dog?

A wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology -- Richard Dawkins, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy Crawls with curious facts * Sunday Times, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy * A fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy If you don't want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth -- Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy A fascinating plunge into the deep-time history of life on Earth and animal evolution in all its glorious diversity * The Times, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy * Entertaining . . . the real joy springs from Kershenbaum's exploration of the laws of biology that have shaped the bizarre variety of living creatures on our own world - and will do so on any other * The Times/Sunday Times, Science Books of the Year, on The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy *

Author Information

Intrepid zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum is the world-leading expert in animal vocal communication, and has roamed the wilds of Europe, North America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia for over a decade, working to decipher it. He is a college lecturer and fellow at Girton College, University of Cambridge, and has published more than thirty academic publications. His previous book, The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy, was a Times/Sunday Times Book of the Year and was published in eleven languages.

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