How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process by irene pepperberg alex and me ebook epubpdfprcmobiazw3 alex and me on september 6, 2007, an african grey parrot named alex. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process kindle edition published october 6th 2009 by harpercollins e books. 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. Pepperbergs book movingly combines the scientific detail of a researcher. Over the thirty years they had worked together, alex and irene had become famoustwo pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Irene maxine pepperberg born april 1, 1949 is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots. 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 kindle edition by pepperberg, irene. 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. 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. I recently read irene pepperberg s book about her life with alex the world famous african grey, who could identify colors, quantities, materials, shapes and use language in astonishing context. Jil just finished the book, and i too thought it was weird that the autopsy report.
The text is written for the layperson though and is easy to understand, telling irene pepperberg s story as well as alex s. When alex died in september 2007, his last words to pepperberg were you be good. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal. Irene pepperberg, a researcher at harvard university in the field of animal cognition, specifically of african grey parrots.
Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who pro. Alex and me ebook epubpdfprcmobiazw3 free kindle books. Over the thirty years they had worked together, alex and irene had become famoustwo pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The hidden world of animal minds although his brain was no bigger than a walnut, alex the african gray parrot could do more than speak and. Julia gibson does a terrific job of narrating this book, capturing the voice of alex through irene s words. The research irene accomplished with alex is amazing. On 6 september 2007, an african grey parrot named alex died prematurely at 31. 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 intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process by irene pepperberg. Irene pepperberg parrot forum parrot owners community. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Pepperberg also serves on the advisory council of meti messaging extraterrestrial intelligence. Pepperberg started her academic career pursuing a doctorate in chemistry, but she changed her focus to animal communication.
A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics top ten books of the. People would ask, what is all the fuss about, why was alex so special. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alex s case, headline news. I found this book interesting, funny, and poignant. Pepperberg posted on 09202008 by rhapsodyinbooks dr. As a scientist who studies, lives with, and even breeds and handfeeds parrots, it is easy for me to empathize with irene pepperberg, the author of the longawaited book with the awkward title. I got a copy of this book from my daughter for mothers day.
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. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to. The name alex was an acronym for avian language experiment, or avian learning experiment. And so i write the story of a particular birds life, but it must begin at the end. Pepperberg, alex s owner and researcher, limns the importance of alexs life and her work with him on the subjects of intelligence, cognition, and language. Trade paperback 0061673986 pepperberg, irene alex and me. Irene pepperberg has written a book about her work of three decades with the african grey parrot alex, who died unexepectedly in september, 2007. The text is written for the layperson though and is easy to understand, telling irene pepperbergs story as well as alex s. 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. The story of their thirtyyear adventure is a landmark of scientific achievement and of an unforgettable humananimal bond. I love you, were alexs final words to his owner, research scientist irene. On september 6, 2007, an african grey parrot named alex died prematurely at age thirtyone. 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.
My work began with alex, a colleague of mine for 30 years, who was shown to have the emotional age of about a 2 year old. His last words to his owner, irene pepperberg, were you be good. Irene pepperberg, an adjunct associate professor at brandeis university and research associate and lecturer at harvard, studies cognition and communication in grey parrots. 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. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process horrendous cost of tuition, housing, and books. Its not a particularly long book and i read it in a little under a week. She has been a professor, researcher andor lecturer at multiple universities, and she is currently a research associate and lecturer at harvard university. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process by irene m. 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. Irene pepperberg describes alex so well, i almost felt like i knew him. I was fascinated by alexs ability to communicate with irene pepperberg, who. I love you, were alex s final words to his owner, research scientist irene pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirtyone on september 6, 2007. 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.
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