Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior | 
| Authors: Temple Grandin, Catherine Johnson
Publisher: Harvest Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $1.70
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Avg. Customer Rating:  150 reviews
Sales Rank: 5077
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 372
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0156031442
Dewey Decimal Number: 591.5
EAN: 9780156031448
ASIN: 0156031442
Publication Date: January 2, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Trade paperback in great shape. One crease on cover. No notes or highlighting.
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Product Description
I don't know if people will ever be able to talk to animals the way Doctor Doolittle could, or whether animals will be able to talk back. Maybe science will have something to say about that. But I do know people can learn to "talk" to animals, and to hear what animals have to say, better than they do now. --From Animals in Translation
Why would a cow lick a tractor? Why are collies getting dumber? Why do dolphins sometimes kill for fun? How can a parrot learn to spell? How did wolves teach man to evolve? Temple Grandin draws upon a long, distinguished career as an animal scientist and her own experiences with autism to deliver an extraordinary message about how animals act, think, and feel. She has a perspective like that of no other expert in the field, which allows her to offer unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas.
People with autism can often think the way animals think, putting them in the perfect position to translate "animal talk." Grandin is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. The sweep of Animals in Translation is immense and will forever change the way we think about animals.
*includes a Behavior and Training Troubleshooting Guide Among its provocative ideas, the book:
- argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness--and that animals do have consciousness
- applies the autism theory of "hyper-specificity" to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they "can't see the forest for the trees"--a talent as well as a "deficit"
- explores the "interpreter" in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much of the reality that surrounds them--a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearly
- explains how animals have "superhuman" skills: animals have animal genius
- compares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even see
- examines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future
- reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals
- maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid
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| Customer Reviews: Read 145 more reviews...
 A Page-Turner... on Science! April 23, 2008
Temple Grandin, PhD, has done something extraordinary: combined her experiences as an animal scientist and an autistic person to give us new insights into the amazing inner world of animals. In her irresistably fun, anecdotal style, Grandin describes the most recent research on the senses, the brain, and emotions, ultimately explaining our own feelings and actions as well as those of animals. Entertainment Weekly says it best: "At once hilarious, fascinating, and just plain weird, Animals is one of those rare books that elicit a `wow' on almost every page."
Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)
It's a must... April 21, 2008
Fantastic read! Have recommended to everyone since devouring this book! After hearing Grandin deliver a very interesting lecture at my university I decided to buy her book and check it out. I couldn't put it down! The book is not only an asset to anyone wanting to work with animals but also gives great insight into one's own mind and actions. I bought 2 other copies for friends in animal training and handling the same week! It should be a requirement for anyone working hands on with animals because her methods make sense, are simple to execute, and really do work. From the position of someone who has worked with wild, captive, and domestic animals, I feel Grandin's knowledge will greatly enhance the success of my career.
Even if you have no intention of working with animals personally, this book is fun, light-hearted, and plainly explained in lay-man's terms. Grandin not only made her book scientifically accurate, but fresh and enjoyable. No wonder it's on the National Best Sellers List! Once you've read her book, you can't help but try to see more detail in everyday life. Though I don't have kids myself, the understanding of early brain development in how a child thinks and visualizes the world as described by Grandin (especially one with autism) also seems very useful for parents and teachers.
 'Dogs make us human' April 11, 2008
For those who don't have the time to commune with animals, "Animals in Translation" provides plenty of helpful insights. Though, when she's not writing books, Temple Grandin is a superstar in the world of slaughterhouse design, so while reading I couldn't keep lines from Monty Python's "Architects Sketch" from nagging my conscience.
Insight into both animals and the author April 6, 2008
Temple Grandin is fascinating. She is clearly brilliant, and clearly very different from everyone else.
Grandin purports to understand animal behavior well because her own autistic thought processes are similar in some ways to the thought processes of various animals. Through a range of examples and anecdotes, Grandin makes very good arguments for her interpretations of animals' motives for various behaviors.
Grandin has improved conditions for farm animals by creating pragmatic strategies for farming, based on observation and insight.
I finished the book convinced that she is brilliant and has done a great deal of good. I waver on what role her autism plays in her effectiveness. I understand her argument, but it could be that she's been effective because she's so smart, so creative, such a keen observer and loves animals so much.
As a sidelight, I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy Richard Feynman's memoirs. Again, informal writing by a brilliant scientist with tremendous observational skill.
A must read for educators and parents February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book, as well as Temple Grandin's earlier books, provide an incredible wealth of information and insight. It should be required reading for all educators! Extraordinarily valuable.
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