Book description
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
I wanted to know what they were experiencing, and why to us they feel so compelling, and so close. This time I allowed myself to ask them the question that for a scientist was forbidden fruit: Who are you?
Weaving decades of field observations with…
Why read it?
3 authors picked Beyond Words as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This is another amazing nonfiction book by ecologist and New York Times bestselling author Carl Safina.
With his usual exquisite prose, the author delves deep into the lives and feelings of other beings, from elephants to dolphins. And once again, Safina does an outstanding job in uncovering the secrets of the natural world that surrounds us using many of his personal experiences in the wild and his wonderful ability to tell stories to the general public.
From Maddalena's list on what animals feel and think.
In the prologue, Carl Safina notes that “Science usually steers firmly from the questions about the inner lives of animals.” His book does not. Each animal portrayed in Beyond Words is unapologetically considered a “who” instead of an “it.” We are filmmakers, not scientists, and as we came to know a pack of wolves as individuals, that granted us a freedom to explore questions that science hadn’t asked. Consequently, reading the amazing and often heart-rending stories about wolves, elephants, orcas, and other animals in this touching book resonated with us deeply.
From Jim's list on that paint a multi-dimensional portrait of the wolf.
Beyond Words is one of the most compelling books you will ever read. Carl Safire is graced with the ability to present stunning facts in a beautiful and seemingly effortless manner. Besides a trove of knowledge, what you take away after reading this masterpiece is the certainty that every species on this planet is related and deserving of attention. Reading about the complex behaviours of the animals he features, we find ourselves asking the same questions the author poses: What do you feel? What are you communicating? What is it like to be you?
From Jean's list on the ways that animals redeem us.
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