Smartest Animals

Which animal can find its way through a maze and even learn shortcuts? And which animal is so smart it lets cars do the hard work of cracking open its food?

A New York Times bestseller: "A passionate and convincing case for the sophistication of nonhuman minds." —Alison Gopnik, The Atlantic Hailed as a classic, Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition—in crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and bonobos—to reveal how smart animals really are, and how we’ve underestimated their abilities for too long. Did you know that octopuses use coconut shells as tools, that elephants classify humans by gender and language, and that there is a young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame? Fascinating, entertaining, and deeply informed, de Waal’s landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal—and human—intelligence.

Which animal can find its way through a maze and even learn shortcuts? And which animal is so smart it lets cars do the hard work of cracking open its food?

An expert on mind considers how animals and smart machines measure up to human intelligence. Octopuses can open jars to get food, and chimpanzees can plan for the future. An IBM computer named Watson won on Jeopardy! and Alexa knows our favorite songs. But do animals and smart machines really have intelligence comparable to that of humans? In Bots and Beasts, Paul Thagard looks at how computers ("bots") and animals measure up to the minds of people, offering the first systematic comparison of intelligence across machines, animals, and humans. Thagard explains that human intelligence is more than IQ and encompasses such features as problem solving, decision making, and creativity. He uses a checklist of twenty characteristics of human intelligence to evaluate the smartest machines--including Watson, AlphaZero, virtual assistants, and self-driving cars--and the most intelligent animals--including octopuses, dogs, dolphins, bees, and chimpanzees. Neither a romantic enthusiast for nonhuman intelligence nor a skeptical killjoy, Thagard offers a clear assessment. He discusses hotly debated issues about animal intelligence concerning bacterial consciousness, fish pain, and dog jealousy. He evaluates the plausibility of achieving human-level artificial intelligence and considers ethical and policy issues. A full appreciation of human minds reveals that current bots and beasts fall far short of human capabilities.

Oversized books written in the popular top-ten countdown format.

Rats are cute critters and popular pets. They are also among the world’s smartest animals! Using engaging text and vibrant photos, this informative title explores what makes rats intelligent, from their excellent memories to their great social skills. Added features, including a brain comparison chart, a skills graphic, a profile, and a scientific study, offer even more information about brainiac rats!

Dolphins are some of the world’s smartest animals! This fact-filled title explores the intelligence of these smart swimmers through leveled text and engaging photos. Readers will discover why dolphins are smart, how they use their intelligence, and how humans study them. Along the way, special features such as a brain comparison chart, a skills graphic, a profile, and a scientific study offer even more information.

This book, written by one of the world's authorities in this field, brings together the most recent and remarkable global research relating to almost every 'smart' species.