How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved. A scientist and a parrot discover a world of animal intelligence duration. Pepperberg was married for more than twenty years to david pepperberg, a neuroscientist. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alex s case, headline news. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process irene pepperberg, 2008 harpercollins 240 pp. On september 6, 2007, an african grey parrot named alex died prematurely at age thirtyone. Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist irene m.
How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process by irene m. She is an adjunct professor of psychology at brandeis university and a lecturer at harvard university. Jun 23, 2018 flickr irene pepperberg with alex the parrot. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alexs case, headl. The first label that she began to teach alex was paper and she began to teach him to link the label word with the object. In 1977, animal psychologist adopted alex, a one year old african grey parrot. Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots by irene maxine pepperberg.
What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alexs case, headline news. Pepperberg mourning the loss of alex, who passed away at age 30 in 2007. The book picks up steam, thankfully, when she moves on to talk about alex, the african grey parrot the book is written about. At the time, pepperberg was a researcher at purdue university who was studying animal cognition, particularly in the areas of language and communication. Effects of social interaction on learning in avian species. The name alex was an acronym for avian language experiment, or avian learning experiment. Alex may 1976 6 september 2007 was a grey parrot and the subject of a thirtyyear experiment by animal psychologist irene pepperberg, initially at the university of arizona and later at harvard university and brandeis university. On 6 september 2007, an african grey parrot named alex died prematurely at 31. Aug 31, 2009 when alex died in september 2007, his last words to pepperberg were you be good. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who pro. 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. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process irene pepperberg. Irene maxine pepperberg is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots.
Dec 24, 2008 the third chapter of alex and me is where we start learning about dr. The clever hans effect did not apply, she argued, as alex would talk to anyone, not just to her. Irene pepperberg was challenging much of the scientific orthodoxy in animal behavioural studies when she began testing alex, and had a lot of trou this was a superinteresting short read. Pepperberg countered critics claims that alex had been taught a script by explaining that the controls and tests she used made it impossible for him simply to recite words when she asked questions. During his 31 years with pepperberg, alex learned the words for more than 50 objects. Irene maxine pepperberg born april 1, 1949 is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots. While this book inevitably covers some of the same ground, it is a moving tribute that beautifully evokes the struggles, the initial triumphs, the setbacks, the unexpected and often stunning achievements.
The text is written for the layperson though and is easy to understand, telling irene pepperbergs story as well as alexs. Pepperberg, who teaches animal cognition, has previously documented the results of her 30year relationship with alex in the alex studies. Her book, alex and me, a new york times bestseller, describes life with her most famous subject. Proceedings from 1985 symposium, animal behavior society, the inevitable bond, h. Pepperbergs book movingly combines the scientific detail of a. See all 21 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Why alex the parrot may have been the worlds smartest bird. She has been a professor, researcher andor lecturer at multiple universities, and she is currently a research associate and lecturer at harvard university. Pepperbergs training method and get a glimpse into the very beginning of alexs path to stardom. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alex s case, headl.
Jun 17, 2010 in this program from the massachusetts school of laws educational forum. This book has been on my reading list for years, since i first read a couple of temple grandins books that mentioned pepperbergs work with alex. Jun 28, 2019 alex and me irene pepperberg pdf june 28, 2019 by admin this item. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal. Massachusetts school of law at andover 85,771 views 1. Its a poignant love story and an affectionate remembrance of pepperbergs irascible, unforgettable, and always surprising best friend. Over the thirty years they had worked together, alex and irene had become famoustwo pioneers who opened an unprecedented. Pick up the key ideas in the book with this quick summary. Nov 09, 2008 pepperberg has published dozens of scientific papers about alex s verbal, mathematical and cognitive abilities, noted david chandler, and the two have appeared on a wide variety of television. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process kindle edition by pepperberg, irene.
What she and alex accomplished together was fascinating, and its tragic he died a couple decades earlier than he should have. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process paperback september 1, 2009 by irene pepperberg author 4. He understood concepts like bigger or smaller, same or. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process by dr irene pepperberg. Their work has forever changed the way we think about animals, as well as how we understand human nature. When alex was about one year old, pepperberg bought him at a pet shop. The beginning is a bit morose, but dont let that stop you. There are relatively few precious scenes about their relationship. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Alex me is 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 a new york times bestseller and selected as one of the paper s critic stop ten books of the year, alex me is.
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