Twenty years ago, irene pepperberg set out to discover whether largebrained, highly social parrots were capable of mastering complex cognitive concepts and the rudiments of referential speech. Jun 17, 2010 in this program from the massachusetts school of laws educational forum. Readers who meet the one pound ball of feathers that is alex, an african grey parrot, and follow his educational adventures may marvel. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics top ten books of the year, alex. Irene pepperberg has written a book about her work of three decades with the african grey parrot alex, who died unexepectedly in september, 2007. Nov 09, 2008 pepperberg has published dozens of scientific papers about alex s verbal, mathematical and cognitive abilities, noted david chandler, and the two have appeared on a wide variety of television. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process by irene m. In his lifetime, alex became a media star, thus helping to advance the understanding of both animal cognition and of the interconnectedness between animals and people. The research irene accomplished with alex is amazing. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in. Pepperberg has published dozens of scientific papers about alexs verbal, mathematical and cognitive abilities, noted david chandler, and the two have appeared on.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Irene pepperberg, who reveals the amazing story of how she, along with her parrot alex, smashed scientific boundaries with their experiments and research on avian learning, speech and cognition. I recently read irene pepperbergs book about her life with alex the world famous african grey, who could identify colors, quantities, materials, shapes and use language in astonishing context. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics top ten books of the. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alexs case, headline news. The moral lives of animals everybody who loves animals should read this book. Alex the famous african gray parrot, renowned for the landmark cognition research conducted by owner dr. This story of alex, a famous african grey parrot, documents his thirtyyear relationship with his trainer and the ways in which his life has changed scientific understanding about language and thought. Their work has forever changed the way we think about animals, as well as how we understand human nature. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process by dr irene pepperberg i found the book both remarkable and sad. The main focus of her work is to determine the cognitive and communicative abilities of these birds, and compare their abilities with those of great apes, marine mammals, and young children. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers.
A big part of this book centered on the linguistic and cognitive abilities of alex, and as someone who studied linguistics in college that really appealed to me. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process paperback september 1, 2009 by irene pepperberg author 4. Dr irene pepperberg describes her early childhood which set her on a course to demonstrate the cognitive abilities of african greys and her life long. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alex s case, headline news. Pepperberg, completely changed the way scientists perceived parrot intelligence. Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist irene m. Over the thirty years they had worked together, alex and irene had become famoustwo pioneers who opened an unprecedented. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Jun 28, 2019 alex and me irene pepperberg pdf june 28, 2019 by admin this item. Her work has been featured on television and in newspapers and magazines in the united states and europe. His last words to his owner, irene pepperberg, were you be good. Alex may 1976 6 september 2007 was a grey parrot and the subject of a thirtyyear experiment by animal psychologist irene pepperberg, initially at the university of arizona and later at harvard university and brandeis university. Irene pepperberg describes alex so well, i almost felt like i knew him. It recounts her thirtyyear experiment with an african grey parrot named alex short for avian learning experiment.
Pepperberg has published dozens of scientific papers about alex s verbal, mathematical and cognitive abilities, noted david chandler, and the two have appeared on a wide variety of television. On september 6, 2007, an african grey parrot named alex died prematurely at age thirtyone. The truth behind it and the idea of a thirty year experiment between man and beast is aweinspiring. Dec 24, 2008 i recently read irene pepperbergs book about her life with alex the world famous african grey, who could identify colors, quantities, materials, shapes and use language in astonishing context. Massachusetts school of law at andover 87,178 views 1. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process irene pepperberg, 2008 harpercollins 240 pp. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process, the common usually derogatory epithet of birdbrain takes on an entirely new meaning. See all 20 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This relatively short recount of irene pepperbergs experiment with alex is a very intriguing book. I found this book interesting, funny, and poignant. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process is a 2008 memoir by american animalintelligence researcher irene pepperberg. Her investigation and the bird at its center a male grey parrot named alex have since become almost as well known as their primate equivalents and no less a subject of fierce debate in the field.
Irene maxine pepperberg is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots. Pepperberg is an associate research professor at brandeis university in massachusetts and teaches animal cognition at harvard university. A scientist and a parrot discover a world of animal intelligence duration. When alex was about one year old, pepperberg bought him at a pet shop. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process by dr irene pepperberg i found the book both remarkable and sad.
Julia gibson does a terrific job of narrating this book, capturing the voice of alex through irenes words. The text is written for the layperson though and is easy to understand, telling irene pepperbergs story as well as alexs. She is an adjunct professor of psychology at brandeis university and a lecturer at harvard university. She is an adjunct professor of psychology at brandeis. Irene talks in the book about having birds as pets since she was 4 years old. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards customer service free shipping shopper toolkit registry sell. Pepperberg traces her childhood and the many hurdles she scaled in the scientific community. Mar 30, 2009 irene pepperberg humanizes science and her dear friend alex shows that being called a birdbrain is indeed a compliment of the highest order. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas.