Book cover of The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy – and Why They Matter

Book description

Based on award-winning scientist Marc Bekoff’s years studying social communication in a wide range of species, this important book shows that animals have rich emotional lives. Bekoff skillfully blends extraordinary stories of animal joy, empathy, grief, embarrassment, anger, and love with the latest scientific research confirming the existence of emotions…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Emotional Lives of Animals as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book sparked my interest in equine emotion, something I have observed all my life but have rarely seen analyzed in writing.

In addition to offering the science behind animal emotion, Bekoff’s work appeals to me because it includes true stories that illustrate his points. I found them great fun to read.

From Janet's list on horse and human interaction.

I feel that true understanding of animals comes from deep within the human psyche, if only we would allow ourselves to indulge in our own natural instincts and needs. Scientist Marc Becoff’s years of research show that animals have rich emotional lives, like humans, and are not as different as we are taught to believe. He has assisted in the successful social revolution combining science and ethics, resulting in a call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we treat them. Not only do animals feel joy, love, surprise, sadness, fear, anger, and empathy, but they are now…

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