Alex & Me (how A Scientist And A Parrot Discovered A Hidden World Of Animal Intelligence — And Formed A Deep Bond In The Process)

By (author) Pepperberg, Irene M.
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Will relentless consumerism end up destroying our planet? Or can science and technology allow us to innovate our way out of trouble? This book invite you to examine the risks and opportunities to come.
Description

On 6 September 2007, an African Grey Parrot named Alex died prematurely at 31. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were ‘You be good. I love you.’

Alex & Me is the remarkable true account of an extraordinary relationship between Irene and Alex — a relationship that disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything comparable to human intelligence. In the thirty years he spent with Irene, Alex demonstrated an incredible ability to communicate and understand complex ideas.

Yet this is much more than the story of a scientific breakthrough. Alex and Irene were emotionally connected: he missed her when she was away; he was jealous when she paid attention to others; and, nearly every day, they each said,‘I love you.’ Astonishing, moving, and unforgettable, Alex & Me is a powerful reminder of the bond that can exist between humans and animals.

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‘Pepperberg gives the general reader, older teens included, a peek into a researcher''s life and has written a short, happy page-turner. Bird and animal lovers and anyone fascinated by language acquisition and learning processes will especially enjoy Alex and "his" book.’

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‘... a moving tribute that beautifully evokes the struggles, the initial triumphs, the setbacks, the unexpected and often stunning achievements during a groundbreaking scientific endeavor spent uncovering cognitive abilities in Alex that no one believed were possible.’

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‘... a fascinating portrait of a remarkable and singular being.’

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‘charming ... Her book movingly combines the scientific detail of a researcher, intent on showing with “statistical confidence” that Alex “did indeed have this or that cognitive ability,” with the affectionate understanding that children (and children’s books about animals) instinctively possess: that “animals know more than we think, and think a great deal more than we know.” While her training as a scientist keeps her from lapsing into sentimentality, her love for her longtime avian colleague keeps her from sounding like a stuffy academic.’

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‘Scientist Dr. Pepperberg''s chronicle of her relationship with an African Grey parrot, Alex is intriguing and deeply moving ... Staying together through thick and thin and sneers from the ''experts'', this story of a thirty year odyssey between a parrot and his mentor records amazing landmark achievements as well as being a warm, compelling tale of animal–human bonding.’

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‘Everybody who loves animals should read this book. Irene Pepperberg has done pioneering work on communication between people and animals. Alex has proved to the world that birds are much smarter than — people think.’

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‘Alex & Me is a wonderful read about the close and enduring bonds that developed between a very bright bird and a very motivated researcher during a long-term collaboration. It provides a rare personal and bird’s-eye view of the ‘ins and outs,’ ‘ups and downs,’ and behind-the-scenes goings-on of scientific research. Irene Pepperberg humanizes science and her dear friend Alex shows that being called a birdbrain is indeed a compliment of the highest order.’

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‘This is a brave book. By insisting on treating Alex as her friend — a friend with whom she laughs and must ultimately grieve over — Dr Pepperberg takes a stand defying those who insist on confining the issue of consciousness to cold redu