Like no other animal book ever published -Grandin's perspective as an animal scientist and person with autism and her personal history have created a perspective like no other thinker in the field Huge publicity on hardback publication
Temple Grandin is an associate professor of animal science at Colorado State University. She was the subject of the famous New Yorker profile by Oliver Sacks, 'An Anthropologist on Mars'.
'This magisterial book on animal behaviour is unique and, for me, is gripping reading ... fascinating ... Grandin is the modern day Doctor Dolittle who does not have any mystical telepathy with animals - she is simply an extremely experienced, sharp observer and careful scientist who has isolated the principles that govern animal behaviour. We owe her a huge debt for having used her autistic obsession (into animals) and her autistic perception (for accurate details) to teach us so much' Simon Baron-Cohen, Guardian 'This is a wonderful book by an amazing woman - a woman whose understanding of animals is very special. What's more, she not only understands them, she also puts her knowledge to practical use' Desmond Morris, Daily Mail 'She may well have done more for animal welfare than anyone else in recent history ... a cross between a memoir, a layperson's guide to autism and a how-to guide to animal welfare ... we have much to learn' Sunday Telegraph 'An extraordinary book Even if you don't run a farm or own a pet, you have to read this book. It will change the way you think about animals, about autism, about yourself' Mail on Sunday
'This magisterial book on animal behaviour is unique and, for me, is gripping reading ... fascinating ... Grandin is the modern day Doctor Dolittle who does not have any mystical telepathy with animals - she is simply an extremely experienced, sharp observer and careful scientist who has isolated the principles that govern animal behaviour. We owe her a huge debt for having used her autistic obsession (into animals) and her autistic perception (for accurate details) to teach us so much' Simon Baron-Cohen, Guardian 'This is a wonderful book by an amazing woman - a woman whose understanding of animals is very special. What's more, she not only understands them, she also puts her knowledge to practical use' Desmond Morris, Daily Mail 'She may well have done more for animal welfare than anyone else in recent history ... a cross between a memoir, a layperson's guide to autism and a how-to guide to animal welfare ... we have much to learn' Sunday Telegraph 'An extraordinary book Even if you don't run a farm or own a pet, you have to read this book. It will change the way you think about animals, about autism, about yourself' Mail on Sunday
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. Grandin, an animal behavior expert specializing in the design of humane slaughter systems, is autistic, and she contends that animals resemble autistic people in that they think visually rather than linguistically and perceive the world as a jumble of mesmerizing details rather than a coherent whole. Animals-cows, say, on their way through a chute-are thus easily spooked by novelties that humans see as trivialities, such as high-pitched noises, drafts and dangling clothes. Other animals accomplish feats of obsessive concentration; squirrels really do remember where each acorn is buried. The portrait she paints of the mammalian mind is both alien and familiar; she shows that beasts are capable of sadistic cruelty, remorse, superstition and surprising discernment (in one experiment, pigeons were taught to distinguish between early period Picasso and Monet). Grandin (Thinking in Pictures) and Johnson (coauthor of Shadow Syndromes) deploy a simple, lucid style to synthesize a vast amount of research in neurology, cognitive psychology and evolutionary biology, supplementing it with Grandin's firsthand observations of animal behavior and her own experiences with autism, engaging anecdotes about how animals interact with each other and their masters, and tips on how to pick and train house pets. The result is a lively and absorbing look at the world from animals' point of view. (Jan.) Forecast: Anyone who's enjoyed the work of Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson-and especially those who liked it but felt it a bit warm and fuzzy in spots-should appreciate this valuable, rigorous book. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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