Inside Animal Hearts and Minds

In a world where a growing body of scientific research is closing the gap between the human and non-human, Inside Animal Hearts and Minds invites us to change the way we view animals, the world, and our place in it.As Charles Darwin suggested more than a century ago, the differences between animals and humans are “of degree and not of kind.” Not long ago, ethologists denied that animals had emotions or true intelligence. Now, we know that rats laugh when tickled, magpies mourn as they cover the departed with greenery, female whales travel thousands of miles for annual reunions with their gal pals, seals navigate by the stars, bears hum when happy, and crows slide down snowy rooftops for fun.In engaging text, photographs, and infographics, Inside Animal Hearts and Minds showcases fascinating and heart-warming examples of animal emotion and cognition that will foster wonder and empathy. Learn about an orangutan who does “macramé,” monkeys that understand the concept of money, and rats that choose friendship over food. Even language, math, and logic are no longer exclusive to humans. Prairie dogs have their own complex vocabularies to describe human intruders, parrots name their chicks, sea lions appear capable of deductive thinking akin to a ten-year-old child’s, and bears, lemurs, parrots, and other animals demonstrate numerical cognition.

"In this new book by veteran nature writer Belinda Recio, the once-narrow parameters of animal cognition and empathy are blown open; the Lockean conception of nonhuman animals as unthinking biological machines withers as Recio recounts in wonderfully anecdotal prose some of the latest scientific findings, from grieving birds to laughing rats to dozens of other species exhibiting traits humans once reserved for themselves. It all makes for consistently eye-opening reading." —Christian Science Monitor, "5 great book picks for gift-giving this holiday season" "In an increasingly human-dominated world, nonhuman animals (aka animals) need all the help they can get. Belinda Recio's Inside Animal Hearts and Minds will make it easier for people to rewild their hearts, and (re)connect with other animals. It's essential that as we learn about the inner lives of animals—their cognitive, emotional, and moral capacities— we take action on their behalf. Ms. Recio's book could be a game-changer."—Marc Bekoff, author of Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence and The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age "Belinda Recio has written a fascinating account of animal emotions and animal intelligence. She makes the stories she tells available to a wide audience, and her examples are fair, friendly, and charming. I cannot imagine any animal lover not finding this a wonderful book!"—Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, bestselling author of nine books on the emotional life of animals, including Beasts: What Animals Can Teach Us About the Origins of Good and Evil “Belinda Recio has assembled the best true stories of animals’ achievements in art, emotion, and reasoning all in one place. Everyone who reads it will come away feeling much closer to the other species we share this planet with, and be amazed by the sophisticated things they are capable of. . . . A provocative and beautiful book.”—David Rothenberg, author of Survival of the Beautiful and Why Birds Sing "A well-researched and well-written book, very thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated; a great overview of the ongoing revolutionary shift in our understanding of animal minds."—Vladimir Dinets, author of Dragon Songs and Wildlife Spectacles "A fabulous read full of fascinating information about the animal world around us. It’s a perfect gift for animal lovers or students who would like to learn more about the creatures who share our world."—Pamela Kramer, Huffington Post "An engaging coffee table book demonstrating that animals share a broad range of attributes with humans. A visually attractive light read . . . [it] has plenty to inform its readers in a thoroughly enjoyable fashion."—Earth Island Journal, "In this new book by veteran nature writer Belinda Recio, the once-narrow parameters of animal cognition and empathy are blown open; the Lockean conception of nonhuman animals as unthinking biological machines withers as Recio recounts in wonderfully anecdotal prose some of the latest scientific findings, from grieving birds to laughing rats to dozens of other species exhibiting traits humans once reserved for themselves. It all makes for consistently eye-opening reading." —Christian Science Monitor, "5 great book picks for gift-giving this holiday season" "In an increasingly human-dominated world, nonhuman animals (aka animals) need all the help they can get. Belinda Recio's Inside Animal Hearts and Minds will make it easier for people to rewild their hearts, and (re)connect with other animals. It's essential that as we learn about the inner lives of animals—their cognitive, emotional, and moral capacities— we take action on their behalf. Ms. Recio's book could be a game-changer."—Marc Bekoff, author of Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence and The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age "Belinda Recio has written a fascinating account of animal emotions and animal intelligence. She makes the stories she tells available to a wide audience, and her examples are fair, friendly, and charming. I cannot imagine any animal lover not finding this a wonderful book!" —Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, bestselling author of nine books on the emotional life of animals, including Beasts: What Animals Can Teach Us About the Origins of Good and Evil “Belinda Recio has assembled the best true stories of animals’ achievements in art, emotion, and reasoning all in one place. Everyone who reads it will come away feeling much closer to the other species we share this planet with, and be amazed by the sophisticated things they are capable of. . . . A provocative and beautiful book.” —David Rothenberg, author of Survival of the Beautiful and Why Birds Sing "A well-researched and well-written book, very thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated; a great overview of the ongoing revolutionary shift in our understanding of animal minds." —Vladimir Dinets, author of Dragon Songs and Wildlife Spectacles "A fabulous read full of fascinating information about the animal world around us. It’s a perfect gift for animal lovers or students who would like to learn more about the creatures who share our world." —Pamela Kramer, Huffington Post "An engaging coffee table book demonstrating that animals share a broad range of attributes with humans. A visually attractive light read . . . [it] has plenty to inform its readers in a thoroughly enjoyable fashion." —Earth Island Journal

Belinda Recio is a recipient of the Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals and Society, and a contributing editor for Organic Spa Magazine, where she writes the “State of the Ark” column on animals. She has developed science curricula for educational television, museums, and publishers; and has authored books on a variety of subjects, ranging from animals and nature to sacred arts and symbolism. Recio runs True North Gallery (www.truenorthgallery.net), where she exhibits art that connects people with animals, nature, and native traditions. She lives in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Jonathan Balcombe is an ethologist, author, and speaker. He has published over fifty scientific papers on animal behavior and animal protection. He is the director of Animal Sentience with the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy and the author of five books, including What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins.