Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (A Harvest Book) in Science and Inquiry

Dec 20, 2009 Mag rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: autism

A unique and fascinating book. Grandin makes a thesis that autistic people have a lot in common with animals in their way of processing information, thinking and experiencing pain and emotions. Well developed frontal lobes are characteristic of a normal human brain. They are also responsible for a global and coherent image of the world, and a generalized way of thinking. The outcome of healthy frontal lobes is more verbal expression and controlled behaviour (e.g. people have much more control ov A unique and fascinating book. Grandin makes a thesis that autistic people have a lot in common with animals in their way of processing information, thinking and experiencing pain and emotions. Well developed frontal lobes are characteristic of a normal human brain. They are also responsible for a global and coherent image of the world, and a generalized way of thinking. The outcome of healthy frontal lobes is more verbal expression and controlled behaviour (e.g. people have much more control over their emotions and fears than animals; they can filter them out, and animals can’t) Grandin claims that since both autistic people and animals have smaller or underdeveloped frontal lobes, they share characteristics connected to this fact. They perceive the world in a series of sensory strings : sounds and images which record an amazing number of details, but do not get immediately interconnected into a meaningful whole. They have a lot of problems generalizing information (e.g. when an autistic child learns to butter a toast, we cannot take it for granted that he or she has learned how to spread peanut butter on it as well) and filtering unnecessary details or distractions. They also have a big problem coping with fears and negative emotions.
Grandin also makes some revolutionary statements. She argues that animals have consciousness, and the fact that they don’t have the language to express it does not preclude that. She herself does not think in words. She also says that animals show certain behaviours that have been so far attributed to humans only. Animals, she says, can kill for a pleasure of killing and gives examples of violent male gangs of adolescent dolphins, killer whales and chimpanzees.
Animals can communicate and manipulate verbal language too, and the prairie dogs’ language is thought to be most advanced and is most comprehensively described.
On the whole, Grandin tries to argue, convincingly in my opinion, that animals are very close to humans in many ways. She herself is an avid advocate of animal rights, and is a consultant on safe and humanitarian slaughter houses for cattle.
Very impressive and recommended. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 07, 2009 Tippy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: animalia, alex

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Jun 01, 2017 Kathleen (itpdx) rated it really liked it

Shelves: lwv-suggest, non-fiction

This book contains so much interesting information! Temple Grandin looks at brains, intelligence, emotions and behaviors of domestic animals (mostly) and examines how that compares to autistic and normal humans. Grandin writes in a very understandable style and the book is liberally sprinkled with anecdotes that bring to life the science.
I also think that her section on performance audits should be read by managers and regulators in all fields--not just those in the meatpacking industry.
I do e ...more

Like · see review