The Parrot's Lament

“[Linden’s] incisive prose turns even these non-human scoundrels into endearing subjects.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Satisfying, sentimental but still scientifically solid. The science of consciousness and animal intelligence is contentious, but many in the field—Linden included—deeply suspect that animals know more than we can verify. Linden lays down the science with clarity and good humor, but he leaves it to his animal coauthors, the amorous dolphins, escape-artist orangs, enigmatic cats, and lying hyenas that populate the book’s scores of anecdotes, to make his argument.”—Paul Hughes 
 
“Since the 1970s, Linden (Apes, Men and Language) has argued that many animals possess humanlike intelligence. Here, he drives that point home by presenting more than 100 anecdotes… Linden’s sources include vets, trainers, zookeepers, field biologists and researchers… If the scientific community remains skeptical about the quality of animal intelligence, Linden leaves no doubt about where he stands. He accepts evidence of animal consciousness and, at the end of his brisk, detailed report, so will many readers.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Stories that reveal evidence of the consciousness of their animal subjects, set into the context of what is scientifically known about animal cognition… A compelling argument in favor of consciousness in animals.”—Nancy Bent, Booklist
 
“Linden keeps the anecdotes short and sweet, and, thankfully, taps into those untold rather than recycling the same stories about apes saving human toddlers and elephants enjoying sunsets.… Most of all, these stories suggest a range of possibilities in animal awareness and feeling that signal the caring respect to be awarded any creature. Animals are an indicator species, Linden suggests, so take a look: how we treat them reflects how we treat everything else.”—Kirkus Reviews