Title: When
Elephants Weep
Author: JeffreyMoussaieff Masson
Review: This
book is a point by point comprehensive examination of the argument made by the
majority of scientists that animals, both domesticated and wild (including dogs
& cats), are simply not capable of emotion.
Do animals experience fear, love, friendship, grief, sadness, joy, and
so on? Are they capable of
suffering? Before When Elephants Weep
was writen, no one had yet offered an in-depth rebuttal that animals' lives are
indeed filled with complex sensibility. The author, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson,
has done meticulous research to present answers to this question and has used
example after example that back up his position, all of which is based on
scientific studies and anecdote-filled field notes of biologists, ethologists,
animal trainers and animal behaviorists, both in the field as well as in
captivity. It is a non-biased collection
of scientific observations that state the undeniable breadth and depth of
various animals' emotional capacity, observations which include elephants and
chimpanzees who enjoy creating art, Koko the hand-signing gorilla who insists
on playing with dolls, Alex the parrot who vocalized to his guardian,
"Come here! I love you. I'm
sorry. I want to go back." when
left at the veterinarian's office for an exam, as well as countless
others.
Having a deep affection for animals of all stripes, I was both amused and touched by the multitude of illustrations which displayed their heart-warming antics as well as horrified by atrocity after atrocity committed against them by the exploitative measures of scientists. One frustration I did have with this book was that it skimmed the surface of many points instead of selecting a handful and speaking directly to them in depth. All in all, When Elephants Weep is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding more about the deeply layered and complex lives of animals.
Having a deep affection for animals of all stripes, I was both amused and touched by the multitude of illustrations which displayed their heart-warming antics as well as horrified by atrocity after atrocity committed against them by the exploitative measures of scientists. One frustration I did have with this book was that it skimmed the surface of many points instead of selecting a handful and speaking directly to them in depth. All in all, When Elephants Weep is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding more about the deeply layered and complex lives of animals.
Thanks for this review go to T.H. Waters
Publisher: Published October 21st 1996 by Delta (first
published 1994)
ISBN: 978038531428
Copyright: 1994
Pages: 320
Quick Review: 4
stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It:
I have a deep connection to animals of all stripes and wanted to better
understand their emotional element
Where I Obtained
the Book: From a friend
Synopsis: This
national bestseller exploring the complex emotional lives of animals was hailed
as "a masterpiece" by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas and as
"marvelous" by Jane Goodall.
The popularity of When Elephants Weep has swept the
nation, as author Jeffrey Masson appeared on Dateline NBC, Good Morning
America, and was profiled in People for his ground-breaking and fascinating
study. Not since Darwin's The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals has a
book so thoroughly and effectively explored the full range of emotions that
exist throughout the animal kingdom.
From dancing squirrels to bashful gorillas to spiteful
killer whales, Masson and coauthor Susan McCarthy bring forth fascinating
anecdotes and illuminating insights that offer powerful proof of the existence
of animal emotion. Chapters on love, joy, anger, fear, shame, compassion, and
loneliness are framed by a provocative re-evaluation of how we treat animals,
from hunting and eating them to scientific experimentation. Forming a complete
and compelling picture of the inner lives of animals, When Elephants Weep
assures that we will never look at animals in the same way again.
Author Biography:
He has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy
and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.
He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two
sons, three cats and three rats.
Other Reviews:
No comments:
Post a Comment