by Irene Pepperberg
from HarperAudio
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Editorial ReviewOn September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were "You be good. I love you." What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex's case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together, Alex and Irene had become famous--two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Alex's brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures. The fame that resulted was extraordinary. Yet there was a side to their relationship that never made the papers. They were emotionally connected to one another. They shared a deep bond far beyond science. Alex missed Irene when she was away. He was jealous when she paid attention to other parrots, or even people. He liked to show her who was boss. He loved to dance. He sometimes became bored by the repetition of his tests, and played jokes on her. Sometimes they sniped at each other. Yet nearly every day, they each said, "I love you." Alex and Irene stayed together through thick and thin--despite sneers from experts, extraordinary financial sacrifices, and a nomadic existence from one university to another. The story of their thirty-year adventure is equally a landmark of scientific achievement and of an unforgettable human-animal bond.
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Customer Reviews:
- Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
- The Human Behind the Most Educated Non-Human Ever.
"Alex and Me" is the story of the personal relationship behind the ground-breaking partnership between Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex, the African Grey Parrot who proved that some Greys possess the intellectual aptitude one would associate with a 6-year-old human before he died in 2007 at the age of 31. Many people have heard of chimpanzees who communicated with sign language or learned to count, but unless you are a bird lover or have an interest in animal cognition, you may not have heard of Dr.... more info
- Wonderfully personal yet scientific
We bought this book for my son and his family (wife and 2 teens), and read it before wrapping it this Xmas. (I know, that's really cheap, but the times require it!) We were both very impressed with this book and how well-written it is. Pepperberg manages to explain the science of animal communication in terms we can understand, while also letting us peek into the close relationship that develops between her and Alex the parrot. All in all, a very marvelous book.
My daughter-in-law called on New Year's... more info
- Grateful
How lucky we are that there are humans who dedicate their time/life to bridging the gaps to understanding the differences (and similarities) between species. My regret... is: not meeting Alex. I believe Irene's book is the next best thing.
- Excellent Reading From A Parrot Lover
I have a 10 year old, female, Umbrella Cockatoo. I have known for many years that she is much more intelligent than people believe. This book proves it.
I fell in love with Alex and the work he did. The book is well written and describes training techniques that I would have never believed would work. It also shoots holes in techniques that present day "experts" believe to be the way to train a parrot, if you can, in fact "train" a parrot.
There is a "feeling" that is transmitted between you and... more info
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