

Alex & Me
Author: Irene Pepperberg
Narrator: Julia Gibson
Unabridged: 5 hr 39 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: HarperAudio
Published: 10/28/2008
Categories: Nonfiction, Pets, Nature, Birdwatching Guides, Animals
Author: Irene Pepperberg
Narrator: Julia Gibson
Unabridged: 5 hr 39 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: HarperAudio
Published: 10/28/2008
Categories: Nonfiction, Pets, Nature, Birdwatching Guides, Animals
Irene M. Pepperberg is an associate research professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and teaches animal cognition at Harvard University. She is head of the Alex Foundation and author of The Alex Studies: Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots.
Ms. Pepperberg began doing research on the cognitive capacities of a Gray parrot, Alex, in the 1970s, a time when animals were widely believed to be little more than bio-automatons, lacking not only intellectual capability, but emotions as well. Pepperberg endured years, decades of ridicule, scorn,......more
So, here's what I expected: a touching memoir about the trials and tribulations -- and joys and moments of wonder -- of working closely with a remarkable creature. I've heard it said that children often have an easier time bonding with animals than adults. If I were going to theorize, I'd say that ma......more
Irene Pepperberg was just finishing up a PhD in chemistry when a nature program on animal cognition caused her to abruptly change fields and begin the life-long study of the learning abilities of African Gray parrots. At the time she first purchased a 13-month old Gray from a Chicago pet store, prev......more
I loved it! I tried to read The Alex Studies years ago, but it was so heavy on the scientific detail and analysis that I lost interest. This is written for the non-scientist with such a lovely, human voice. As a long-time bird lover who is very aware of how intelligent birds can be, I still found my......more
I'm on p.40--and very surprised that the author is taking so long to get into her and Alex's story. These 40 pages could have been condensed into an Introduction. Okay, I finished this. And once Dr. Pepperberg got past talking about herself, Alex came to life. The degree of communication that he deve......more