New book by Marc Bekoff: The Emotional Lives of Animals

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: 'I welcome Marc Bekoff's book The Emotional Lives of Animals'

Based on award-winning scientist Marc Bekoff's years of experience studying patterns of social communication in a wide range of species, this important book shows that numerous animals have rich emotional lives.

Animal emotions not only teach us about love, empathy, and compassion, argues Bekoff, but they require us to radically rethink our current relationship of domination and abuse of animals. Bekoff skillfully blends extraordinary stories of animal joy, empathy, grief, embarrassment, anger, and love with the latest scientific research confirming the existence of emotions that commonsense and experience with animals have long implied.

Bekoff also explores the evolution of emotions and points to new scientific discoveries of brain structures shared by humans and animals that are important in processing emotions. He goes on to emphasize their role in establishing evolutionary continuity among diverse species and presents new findings of noninvasive neurological research and detailed behavioral studies.

Filled with Bekoff's light humor and touching stories, The Emotional Lives of Animals is a clarion call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we treat them.

Marc Bekoff is professor emeritus of biology at the University of Colorado Boulder and cofounder, with Jane Goodall, of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals . He has won many awards for his scientific research, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, and in 2005 he was presented with The Bank One Faculty Community Service Award for the work he has done with children, senior citizens, and prisoners. He is the author or editor of more than two hundred articles and numerous books, including the Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare, The Ten Trusts (with Jane Goodall), The Smile of a Dolphin, Minding Animals, Animal Passions and Beastly Virtues, and the Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior.

Bekoff speaks throughout the world and has appeared on numerous television programs, including Good Morning America and Anderson Cooper 360.

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The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy -
and Why They Matter (Hardcover)
by Marc Bekoff, Jane Goodall (Foreword)

Praise for The Emotional Lives of Animals:

"As a boy studying Buddhism in Tibet, I was taught the importance of a caring attitude toward others. Such a practice of nonviolence applies to all sentient beings - any living thing that has a mind. Where there is a mind, there are feelings such as pain, pleasure, and joy. No sentient beings want pain; instead, all want happiness. Since we all share these feelings at some basic level, as rational human beings we have an obligation to contribute in whatever way we can to the happiness of other species and try our best to relieve their fears and sufferings. I firmly believe that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Therefore, I welcome Marc Bekoff's book The Emotional Lives of Animals."
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

"An extraordinary, intelligent, and valuable book about a subject one might be forgiven for thinking taboo since it is so absent from discussion: an exploration of the other animals' feelings, the emotional makeup we share with them yet often do not know exists, forget entirely, deliberately ignore, or casually disregard. Here we see animals, whole and complete, thinking their not-so-private thoughts, grieving, loving, jumping for joy, and fleeing that which is painful or upsetting. And it makes us think about who they are and what our impact is and can be on their lives. Marc Bekoff not only captures poignant incidents of the animals' emotions as evidenced by observations and pure commonsense but brings to each discovery his own vital repertoire of human emotion and expression. A glorious, moving, important book to enjoy and share."
- Ingrid Newkirk, cofounder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

"Marc Bekoff ably presents the richness and variety of the emotions in nonhuman animals - and doesn't hesitate to draw the ethical conclusions implicit in his findings. I hope this book will be widely read by those who care about animals - and even more widely by those who don't."
- Peter Singer, professor of bioethics, Princeton University, and author of Animal Liberation and Writings on an Ethical Life

"In clear and convincing language, Marc Bekoff provides rational defense for what many of us already sense - that animals can feel sorrow, joy, anger, and pleasure much as we humans do. Bekoff proves that this idea not only is compatible with the fact of evolution but is required by it. Once science considers the argument of this finely reasoned book, it will never be the same."
- David Rothenberg, professor of philosophy, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and author of Why Birds Sing and Sudden Music

"Move over Darwin. And prepare to be moved. In The Emotional Lives of Animals, world-class scientist Marc Bekoff argues forcefully that our emotions are the gifts of our animal ancestors. Bekoff's new book itself is a gift that invites us to explore and appreciate the passionate lives of animals. Weaving the latest scientific data about empathic mice and elephants suffering from PTSD with wonderful stories about laughing dogs and pissy baboons, Bekoff's forward-looking book offers both an explanation and an ethical compass that opens the door for hope in the ways in which we interact with other animals."
- Marty Becker, resident veterinarian on Good Morning America and author of The Healing Power of Pets

"Marc Bekoff is one of those rare scientists who can talk real sense about animals because he is aware of being an animal himself. Read this wonderful book."
- Mary Midgley, author of Animals and Why They Matter

Source: Marc Bekoff
Author: Marc Bekoff

Link: Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Link: Interview with Marc Bekoff
Link: Sentience
Link: The Emotional Lives of Animals - to order in UK
Link: The Emotional Lives of Animals - to order in USA