Why Dogs Hump and Bees Get Depressed The Fascinating Science of Animal Intelligence, Emotions, Friendship, and Conservation

About this book

In 2009, Marc Bekoff was asked to write on animal emotions for Psychology Today. Since then, he has written 400 popular, jargon-free essays, and the field of "anthrozoology" – the study of human-animal interactions – has grown exponentially, as have the data showing how smart and emotional nonhuman animals are. Here Bekoff updates selected essays, showcasing animals' cognitive abilities as well as their empathy, grief, humor, and love.

Humpback whales protect gray whales from orca attacks, combat dogs suffer from PTSD, and bees reveal thrill-seeking tendencies. While the science prompts questions about biomedical research and industrial agriculture, Bekoff's handling of it offers what Good Morning America vet Dr. Marty Becker calls an "ethical compass." He reminds us that, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama put it in writing about Bekoff's work, "the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes."

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Biography

Marc Bekoff is a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The author of many books, including The Smile of a Dolphin and The Ten Trusts (with Jane Goodall), he lives in Boulder, Colorado, and lectures throughout the world.