Publishers Weekly
05/16/2022
Gregg (Are Dolphins Really Smart), a senior research associate with the Dolphin Communication Project, examines the “puzzling gulf between the way humans understand and experience the world, and the way all other animals do” in this entertaining work of pop science. He begins with a brief account of Friedrich Nietzsche’s mental health decline, arguing that superior intelligence might not always be a good thing, because if the philosopher’s mind had been more like that of a narwhal’s, he wouldn’t have suffered such despair. It’s a lighthearted conceit, and it leads to an enlightening tour of animal behavior: a chapter on deception contrasts the human tendency to lie with the “tactical deception” of the male cuttlefish, which disguises itself as a female when rivals are nearby. Meanwhile, Gregg’s experience as a beekeeper leads him to consider questions about whether bugs experience something similar to consciousness (they very well may, he posits), and a look at alcohol’s effects on the brain gives way to the revelation that elephants can get drunk. Wonderfully accessible and charmingly narrated, this is a fascinating investigation of intellect and cognition. Budding animal scientists—or those just looking to better understand what makes humans’ wild companions tick—are in for a treat. Agent: Lisa DiMona, Writers House. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"both demystifying and remarkable... will change how you look at animals, humans, and the meaning of life itself"—Next Big Idea Club
“Justin Gregg’s witty exploration of animal intelligence is a useful guide – but there is more to human life than a search for contentedness… No one who reads Gregg’s witty and instructive book will come away without having learnt some humbling truths about themselves and their animal kin.”—New Statesman
"As a researcher, Gregg is clearly a knowledgeable guide. Unlike many academics, though, he does not allow himself to be burdened by the weight of his own knowledge and specialism… Instead, by melding science, history and philosophy, the book becomes a highly readable, and on occasion quite surprising, tour of the limits of consciousness.”—The Times
"[Gregg's] understanding of human and animal cognition provides real insight into how we think, why our brains have evolved to think that way, and what we might want to do about it"—Financial Times
“A fascinating work of popular science, Gregg explores the enormous gulf between how humans and other animals experience the world.... Accessible and insightful, it’s a thought-provoking read.”—The Observer
"Gregg is a brilliant communicator of complex ideas, with a writing style that is rich in both humour and detail."—The Guardian
Kirkus Reviews
2022-06-01
A science writer examines various aspects of human intelligence.
While many of us believe that possessing a higher degree of intelligence is inherently good, Gregg shows how increased cognitive skills do not necessarily equate to success. In fact, human intelligence has frequently resulted in tragic consequences, and “evolution is still deciding what to make of the human capacity for causal reasoning.” Humans are keenly aware of their own mortality, and knowledge of the inevitability of death has resulted in ongoing holy wars among competing ideologies. Similarly, so-called moral reasoning has been used to justify innumerable “unbelievably repugnant and horrifying” actions. The author closely examines “the dark reality of the human moral capacity: We, as a species, can justify—on moral grounds—genocide. Not just cultural genocide, but the murder of entire populations and racial groups, including children.” In a seemingly innocuous but telling contemporary example, Gregg notes how Americans “love their lawns,” investing countless hours and natural resources to maintain them. At the same time, most people fully understand the dangers of burning fossil fuels and the effects of climate change. The author labels this cognitive dissonance “prognostic myopia,” which “makes it difficult for us to make good decisions about our future because we’re heavily influenced by our problems in the here and now.” Additionally, the further the problem seems to lie in the future, the less we care. Gregg argues convincingly that this is a major reason why both government and corporations are slow to act on available information, which can lead to disastrous consequences. With frightening clarity, the author shows how prognostic myopia could even lead to human extinction. Nietzsche believed that nonhuman animals’ inability to understand time or the concept of the future gave them an edge over humans. This insightful book provides food for thought and lends credence to that notion.
A fascinating take on human intelligence.
