Review by Choice Review
The title of this book points to its argument with a question: to what extent is numeracy inherent throughout the animal kingdom. Surprises abound. The first three chapters focus on humans, including Neanderthals, exploring the broad spectrum of innate number sense, counting ability, size comparison, and simple computation acumen exhibited by infants and toddlers. They also consider cultures that do not formalize arithmetic as such. Ties to archaeological findings are especially well presented. Cognitive neuropsychologist Butterworth (emer., University College London) then considers the various classes of vertebrates, including easily understood descriptions of experiments assessing the numerical abilities of each animal. Some research focuses on the natural abilities of animals; other studies provide insights into extended and sometimes impressive capabilities resulting from specialized training. The descriptions are accessible thanks to the author's clarity in writing, and diagrams interspersed throughout the text are quite useful in illustrating many of the experimental scenarios. Brief considerations of individual invertebrates and social insects, such as ants and bees, are also included. Even the question of whether some specialized plants possess a primitive number sense is addressed. Anyone interested in mathematics, animal behavior, or the scientific investigation of nature will find much to enjoy and ponder in this book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Ned W. Schillow, emeritus, Lehigh Carbon Community College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Butterworth, a cognitive psychologist, shares an assortment of studies conveying the numerical abilities of a variety of creatures. He doesn't merely convey what we know about animals and counting, he shares detailed examples of the studies that led to that knowledge, including lengthy quotes from works cited and personal correspondence. Being able to count offers a significant adaptive advantage. These abilities help the individual animal find the source with more food, avoid death, and reproduce. Chapters focus on specific groups of animals including apes and monkeys, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and fish. Investigations across animal types have shown that animals working in pairs or larger groups do better and/or are more accurate than animals working alone. Bees, despite their tiny brains, count landmarks, and ants count steps. The text is dense at times, and the many examples of scientific studies will be most accessible to those with some foundational knowledge in the subject. An informative read, full of thought-provoking studies and animal observations, that will especially appeal to those with an interest in mathematics.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Counting is far more complex than it may seem, according to this savvy survey from cognitive neuropsychology professor Butterworth (Dyscalculia). He begins by positing that humans have "an innate capacity to count," even though some cultures don't make use of actual counting words, and backs up the claim with research he and his colleagues have performed to study children's relationship to counting. He also offers data indicating that Stone Age humans used counting words and that Neanderthals and Homo erectus "recorded counts on bones, stones and cave walls." Butterworth then moves on to explore the abilities of an array of animals to use math: some chimps have "solved the travelling salesman problem," while birds have proven to be as mathematically astute as a seven-year-old child, female Túngara frogs count male call notes, and fish have demonstrated an ability to identify and pick larger numbers, especially when they calculate in pairs. In the end, Butterworth writes, the ability to perform mathematical calculations extends very far back in the evolution of life, and a basic sense of numeracy is an evolutionary advantage leading to enhanced reproduction, food gathering, and predator avoidance. Though occasionally the writing can be long-winded and jargony, the plentiful real-world examples are always enlightening and entertaining. Math-minded readers will find this a fun ride. (Apr.)
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