Best Books on Animal Cognition?
November 4, 2015 7:09 AM Subscribe
My 14yo is curious about how his cat's brain works. Book recommendations?
My 14yo has questions like:
"How do cats experience time?"
"How do cats see humans?"
"What are cats' memories like?"
&c
He's a reader, and I'd love to find him a good book or two on the subject. Popular-science level stuff would be great; anything written specifically for young people will likely not have the detail he would want and be annoying in its language style.
My 14yo has questions like:
"How do cats experience time?"
"How do cats see humans?"
"What are cats' memories like?"
&c
He's a reader, and I'd love to find him a good book or two on the subject. Popular-science level stuff would be great; anything written specifically for young people will likely not have the detail he would want and be annoying in its language style.
I think this will lead him into a realization of the subjectivity of consciousness. We can study things like how cats’ eyes work (i.e., less emphasis on colours than ours have, mid-range plane of focus, good response in low light) and how they taste food (they don't perceive sweet) by testing their responses to stimuli, but as for knowing what their inner experience is like, that will remain a mystery.
posted by zadcat at 7:15 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by zadcat at 7:15 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
To follow up on what zadcat just said, and depending on how philosophically adept your 14yo is, you may also want to recommend he read 'What is it like to be a bat?' by Thomas Nagel. It discusses that fundamental unknowableness of subjective experience, and even if it's difficult for him it's like 10 pages and worth reading.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:17 AM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:17 AM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Only slightly related, but something I enjoy now and would have enjoyed at 14 is an episode of NOVA called Dogs Decoded. It's more about how dogs have evolved and how much they understand us. It does appear to be up for free on their website but there is a transcript.
posted by beowulf573 at 7:30 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by beowulf573 at 7:30 AM on November 4, 2015
Response by poster: I think this will lead him into a realization of the subjectivity of consciousness. We can study things like how cats’ eyes work (i.e., less emphasis on colours than ours have, mid-range plane of focus, good response in low light) and how they taste food (they don't perceive sweet) by testing their responses to stimuli, but as for knowing what their inner experience is like, that will remain a mystery.
This is OK! He'll be interested in questions about what it is and isn't possible to know about another's inner state, how scientists have tried to design experiments to get at this question, and what the limitations of those experiments have been.
Video also OK, beowulf573, and has the added benefit of possibly being of interest to my other kids as well.
posted by not that girl at 7:44 AM on November 4, 2015
This is OK! He'll be interested in questions about what it is and isn't possible to know about another's inner state, how scientists have tried to design experiments to get at this question, and what the limitations of those experiments have been.
Video also OK, beowulf573, and has the added benefit of possibly being of interest to my other kids as well.
posted by not that girl at 7:44 AM on November 4, 2015
I highly recommend Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good, by Jonathan Balcombe. I read it a few years ago, and I intend to read it again. Since emotions are part of cognition, this book is relevant to your son's interests, as long as he is interested in other animals besides just cats.
Also, this next reference is not a book, but I'd recommend "The Secret Life of Moody Cows", which is an article that ran in the Sunday Times about ten years ago.
posted by alex1965 at 8:12 AM on November 4, 2015
Also, this next reference is not a book, but I'd recommend "The Secret Life of Moody Cows", which is an article that ran in the Sunday Times about ten years ago.
posted by alex1965 at 8:12 AM on November 4, 2015
I recommend, too, the documentary A Murder of Crows. It's not cat-focused, but if the topic's of interest this one asks a lot of really neat questions.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 8:14 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 8:14 AM on November 4, 2015
I love Becoming a tiger, it's all about animal cognition, with tons of fascinating studies and examples from very different species.
posted by lorimt at 9:09 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by lorimt at 9:09 AM on November 4, 2015
Not a cat, but a parrot: Alex the African Grey might be interesting to your son. There are a few books about Alex: one geared towards little children, one very technical tome, and Alex & Me, which might be just right for your son.
The best thing is to see Alex in action. (There are lots more videos out there, easily findable on Google -- e.g., this one and this one.)
posted by merejane at 11:11 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
The best thing is to see Alex in action. (There are lots more videos out there, easily findable on Google -- e.g., this one and this one.)
posted by merejane at 11:11 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Beyond Words addresses cognition, memory, and concept of self/other in animals- mainly elephants, orcas, and wolves. It also details the many ways humans have persecuted and killed intelligent animals, so although totally accessible to a bright 14-year old, parts of it are heartbreaking.
posted by scrubjay at 12:40 PM on November 4, 2015
posted by scrubjay at 12:40 PM on November 4, 2015
I am currently reading Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin. Were I not posting by phone, I would link both book and name.
It may be tough sledding for a 14 year old, but not too tough for a bright one. And it's a twofer in that it explains her views on animal cognition and Autism. It is well worth the reading.
posted by y2karl at 4:35 PM on November 4, 2015
It may be tough sledding for a 14 year old, but not too tough for a bright one. And it's a twofer in that it explains her views on animal cognition and Autism. It is well worth the reading.
posted by y2karl at 4:35 PM on November 4, 2015
Desmond "The Naked Ape" Morris's cat books may be worth checking out.
posted by Sophont at 7:49 PM on November 4, 2015
posted by Sophont at 7:49 PM on November 4, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:14 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]