Book description
New York Times Bestseller
The remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas.
"You be good. I love you," were Alex's final…
Why read it?
2 authors picked Alex & Me as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Most of us think of parrots as amusing creatures capable of repeating sometimes embarrassing utterances in hilarious falsettos. Alex & Me goes beyond that superficial understanding; it reveals the multifaceted personality of one African Grey parrot and the connection he developed with a psychologist who was struck by and deeply moved by the bird’s remarkable intellect.
From Carol's list on The best books that make you want to hug an animal.
Like most people, I did not think of birds the same way as I did furred companions. This story was enlightening. Irene Pepperberg’s unforgettable tale of intellectual adventure and emotional connection between herself and the world’s most famous African grey parrot shows how smart he was, and how deeply complex his emotions were. Over the thirty years they partnered in bird cognition research, they grew older together, fought the academic world’s political restraints, and established Alex as a mentor and coach to Irene’s other experimental birds. They shattered preconceived notions that birds can only mimic language and proved that they…
From Sunny's list on The best books about building relationships with fearful dogs.
If you love Alex & Me...
December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…
Want books like Alex & Me?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Alex & Me.
Share your top 3 reads of 2026!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
170
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like Alex & Me, you might also like...
Sexy Selfie Nation
The problem is not with the actions young women take but with the toxic, sexist conditions they are responding to.
Tanenbaum found, based on six years of interviews with young people ages 14-30, that young women are navigating a culture littered with gendered dress codes, revenge porn, and sexually explicit…
In This Together
In This Together explores how we can harness our social networks to make a real impact fighting the climate crisis. Against notions of the lone environmental crusader, Marianne E. Krasny shows us the power of "network climate action"—the idea that our own ordinary acts can influence and inspire those close…
