Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process

· Harper Collins
4.8
20 reviews
Ebook
244
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

New York Times Bestseller

The remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas.

"You be good. I love you," were Alex's final words to his owner, research scientist Irene Pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirty-one on September 6, 2007. An African Grey parrot, Alex had a brain the size of a shelled walnut, yet he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none, and he disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence.

Alex & Me is the incredible story of an amazing, irascible parrot and his best friend who stayed together through thick and thin for thirty years—the astonishing, moving, and unforgettable story of a landmark scientific achievement and a beautiful relationship.

Ratings and reviews

4.8
20 reviews
JAY LIBARDI
June 24, 2019
Started to read the book and while reading before going to sleep the bird went into a seizure no vet around open after it was over the family was crying now it was 04:30 and the vet opened at 09:00 but I knew that the vet got in at 07:00 so I keep the bird in bed with me and my wife I went to the vet at 06:30 when I got there the bird sait to me (. it will be all right poppy ) as I get into the office the bird had another seizure and she rushed the bird into the back. They said to call later and I did the girl said that the vet was with the bird that it had another seizure and they got all the blood tests back and it showed that there was no calcium in the blood and another chemical that could not be I.D. . So I went to the vets office and again the bird said it will be all right poppy.and then the bird passed. The vet said to send the blood and the results to the vet school in P.A and we did . I am waiting for the answers now . Will follow up when I know !
1 person found this review helpful
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Meghan
August 2, 2015
Stumbled upon this and couldn't put it down. I woke up this morning with no respect for a bird's intellect, and I go to sleep tonight with a completely different outlook. Just read it.
3 people found this review helpful
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Bec Mc
June 15, 2017
Good read
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About the author

Irene M. Pepperberg is an associate research professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and teaches animal cognition at Harvard University. She is head of the Alex Foundation and author of The Alex Studies: Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots.

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