Title: The Genius of Birds
Author: Jennifer Ackerman
Genre: Nonfiction, Nature
Published: 2016
Pages: 266
Goodreads Rating: 4.04
Rating: 8/10
“Surely grief isn’t a human invention any more than love…”
“… humans differ mentally from other species only in degree but not in kind.”
Before we jump into this review, let’s address the elephant in the room: anthropomorphizing. If you have about 20 minutes, check out Carl Safina’s Ted Talk on what animals think and feel where he shares many enlightened thoughts. To summarize… it’s not anthropomorphizing to credit animals with emotions and intellect. Now… let’s get to the review.
Since I was a child, I’ve always loved birds. From the chickadee and titmouse to the pelican and swan, I find birds fascinating and beautiful. Now, thanks to Ackerman, I can appreciate them for their resourcefulness and behavioral uniqueness as well. If you are a fellow bird lover who does not have a problem with giving credit where credit is due, check out The Genius of Birds.
Pros:
Interesting facts and research studies
Ackerman does a brilliant job of highlighting observed behavior in birds and how we’re interpreting that behavior. Tool development and usage, gift giving, self-awareness, self-control, teaching, decorating… all of these have been observed, identified, and studied in various species of birds. As we’ve learned, bird species are not all the same in their type or level of ability. And there’s plenty of outstanding questions and research needed to continue our understanding of what birds are capable of.
Makes you think
I love that this book brings to light the egotistical thought that humans are the only species capable of complex cognitive abilities. When in actuality, every decade we learn more and more about how other animals have a complex array of mental and emotional capabilities. As Ackerman said, “… humans differ mentally from other species only in degree but not in kind.” And as Carl Safina said in his Ted Talk, “… we are the most extreme. We are the most compassionate, most violent, most creative, and most destructive animal that has ever been on this planet. But love is not the thing that makes us human. It’s not special to us.” I think humans often forget that we, too, are animals.
To continue with Safina’s Ted Talk, “It is not scientific to say that they are hungry when they’re hunting and they’re tired when their tongues are hanging out, and then say when they’re playing with their children or acting joyful and happy, we have no idea if they can possibly be experiencing anything. That is not scientific.”
Gets you excited
I look forward to following the continued findings from bird research. Not to mention the continued evolution of birds as they develop new, innovative abilities. It’s a tough job with nay-sayers screaming anthropomorphism to discredit the birds and researchers. But as an example, just think what the New Caledonian crow could learn in the future! Birds continue to surprise us with their ever-changing abilities.
Cons:
Repetitive and long-winded
To avoid being long-winded, I’ll keep this brief. The book could have been much shorter.
Overall…
I highly recommend The Genius of Birds and I look forward to reading more from Ackerman in the future! This book was enlightening, fascinating, and open-minded. As for the next time I hear a chickadee, I’ll know what she’s communicating.
Caroline’s Library 