Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals

"A Fascinating and dazzling account of animal thought and feeling drawn from both science and careful naturalistic observations. A wonderful book that I recommend to everyone with any interest in animals or their well-being." —Bernard Rollin, author of Animal Rights and Human Morality

For centuries we have believed that humans are the only ones that matter. The idea that animals have feelings was either dismissed or considered heresy. Today, that's all changing. New scientific studies of anumal behavior reveal perceptions, intelligences, awareness, and social skills that would have been deemed fantasy a generation ago. These implications add a moral depth to our troubled relationship with animals.

Jonathan Balcombe, animal behaviorist and author of the critically acclaimed Pleasurable Kingdom, draws on the latest research, observational studies, and personal anecdotes to reveal the full gamut of animal experience—from their sense of emotions, to their ability to solve problems and to make moral judgements. Balcombe challenges the widely held idea that nature is red in tooth and claw and highlights animal traits we have disregarded until now: their nuanced understanding of social dynamics, their consideration for others,and their strong tendency to avoid violent conflict. Did you know that dogs recognize unfairness and rats practice random acts of kindness? Did you know that chimpanzees can trounce humans in short-term memory games? Or that fish distinguish good guys from cheaters, and birds are susceptible to mood swings including both depression and optimism?

With vivid stories and entertaining anecdotes, Balcombe gives the human pedestal a strong shake while opening the door into the inner lives of animals themselves.