| Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 158 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1308
Category: Book
Authors: Temple Grandin, Catherine Johnson
Publisher: Harvest Books
Studio: Harvest Books
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
Label: Harvest Books
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 372
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0156031442
Dewey Decimal Number: 591.5
EAN: 9780156031448
ASIN: 0156031442
Publication Date: January 2, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
I don't know if people will ever be able to talk to animals the way Doctor Doolittle could, or whether animals will be able to talk back. Maybe science will have something to say about that. But I do know people can learn to "talk" to animals, and to hear what animals have to say, better than they do now. --From Animals in Translation
Why would a cow lick a tractor? Why are collies getting dumber? Why do dolphins sometimes kill for fun? How can a parrot learn to spell? How did wolves teach man to evolve? Temple Grandin draws upon a long, distinguished career as an animal scientist and her own experiences with autism to deliver an extraordinary message about how animals act, think, and feel. She has a perspective like that of no other expert in the field, which allows her to offer unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas.
People with autism can often think the way animals think, putting them in the perfect position to translate "animal talk." Grandin is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. The sweep of Animals in Translation is immense and will forever change the way we think about animals.
*includes a Behavior and Training Troubleshooting Guide
Among its provocative ideas, the book:
- argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness--and that animals do have consciousness
- applies the autism theory of "hyper-specificity" to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they "can't see the forest for the trees"--a talent as well as a "deficit"
- explores the "interpreter" in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much of the reality that surrounds them--a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearly
- explains how animals have "superhuman" skills: animals have animal genius
- compares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even see
- examines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future
- reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals
- maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid
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| Customer Reviews: Read 153 more reviews...
 A fascinating read October 20, 2008
A fascinating book.
I did find the discussions of Temple's own experiences that made up more of the first few chapters to be more interesting than that later chapters. The insights into the autistic mind, from an autistic mind, were fascinating. The descriptions of research into perception also were captivating.
In the second part of the book, I felt like I was getting more of her theories, rather than experiences, and I found them less fascinating, but still well documented - I added several more books to my reading list as a result of reading this.
All in all, a very interesting book.
One of my all time favorites September 22, 2008
My favorite kind of book. This is such a rewarding book - so much information, such insights, interesting case studies, lots of documentation in the form of scientific studies. I loved this book so much that after reading the library copy, I asked to have it as a birthday present, and then turned around and bought two copies of it as a CD to give my son-in-law and a friend to listen to in the car. I am so grateful to the author for all that I learned and the growth I felt in my understanding of the animal and human world.
Fascinating read September 14, 2008
Temple Grandin truly has a gift to see the world through the eyes of animals--and humans. Somehow she manages to be both empathetic in her point of view, yet objective in her reporting, which enables her to offer us this fascinating text on the subtleties of animal response and behavior. What a great book. Her non-academic tone makes the style fluent and enjoyable to read, and every few pages there emerges a "Wow" moment when she reveals some truth about the psychology of animals in general, including humans. I liked this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who is studying or interested in animal (or human) behavior.
 No understanding of canine behavior August 26, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Please do not use this book as a guide to understanding your dog. Dr. Grandin does not appear to know anything about dogs or even like them very much.
Wholly Fascinating! July 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the most fascinating book I have ever read. The amazing Temple Grandin takes two subjects: autism and animal behavior,and draws comparisons with remarkable insight. She brings the world of animal behavior into sharp focus with examples and explanations and makes it easy for the lay reader to understand. She and coauthor, Catherine Johnson, write with a conversational prose that makes even the most difficult concepts easy to grasp. Every chapter elicits a "Wow".
Although the dry title may put some people off because it sounds clinical and cerebral, this absolutely exciting book holds a plethora of facts and wonders about the animals we come into contact with on a daily basis. A real eye-opener!
- C.A. Wulff, author of Born Without a Tail
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