Why Dogs Hump and Bees Get Depressed

November 1, 2013
Renowned animal analyst Bekoff has been writing a blog about animal emotions for Psychology Today since 2009. In this collection of posts, he encourages humans to see animals, from horses to jellyfish, as emotional and intellectual equals, not as inferiors to be dominated. Some chapters focus on the science of animal cognition, some on human-animal interactions, and others on animal expression and emotion. The most poignant pieces consider the implications of such a major shift in human thought and behavior. For example, if we know that bees get depressed and feel both sorrow and joy, can we really go on treating them with such callous disregard? This important question is one Bekoff pushes his readers to ask in every essay. This thoughtful book is a great resource for everyone who has a passion for understanding and protecting the animal kingdom. Bekoff's unbiased diction and clear examples will provide even the most human-centric skeptics with a scientific learning experience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)