Review by Booklist Review
Tackling the topic of intelligence is no small feat. Science writer and researcher Gregg seems up for the challenge, though, relying on a combination of cognitive science, philosophy, and behavioral studies. Acknowledging the exceptionalism of the human mind, he nonetheless wavers on the value of "complex thought," suggesting that it's frequently a liability from an evolutionary viewpoint. Pointing out that our species is too frequently set on destruction, he often refers to the gloomy philosopher Nietzsche and his musings on suffering, human nature, and truth. Gregg mulls over humans' unique cognitive skills, norms, death wisdom (knowledge that death is inevitable for us and everyone else), and deceptive behavior. He spotlights the ways other animals are superior to people, and makes a passionate, plausible case for consciousness in other species, writing with empathy for all creatures (except mosquitoes). The science here can be surprising. For example, clock genes exist in DNA that track time on a cellular level, while our prowess at mental time travel and foresight are remarkable. Gregg's sometimes dense consideration of intelligence is informative and thought-provoking.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Gregg (Are Dolphins Really Smart), a senior research associate with the Dolphin Communication Project, examines the "puzzling gulf between the way humans understand and experience the world, and the way all other animals do" in this entertaining work of pop science. He begins with a brief account of Friedrich Nietzsche's mental health decline, arguing that superior intelligence might not always be a good thing, because if the philosopher's mind had been more like that of a narwhal's, he wouldn't have suffered such despair. It's a lighthearted conceit, and it leads to an enlightening tour of animal behavior: a chapter on deception contrasts the human tendency to lie with the "tactical deception" of the male cuttlefish, which disguises itself as a female when rivals are nearby. Meanwhile, Gregg's experience as a beekeeper leads him to consider questions about whether bugs experience something similar to consciousness (they very well may, he posits), and a look at alcohol's effects on the brain gives way to the revelation that elephants can get drunk. Wonderfully accessible and charmingly narrated, this is a fascinating investigation of intellect and cognition. Budding animal scientists--or those just looking to better understand what makes humans' wild companions tick--are in for a treat. Agent: Lisa DiMona, Writers House. (Aug.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A science writer examines various aspects of human intelligence. While many of us believe that possessing a higher degree of intelligence is inherently good, Gregg shows how increased cognitive skills do not necessarily equate to success. In fact, human intelligence has frequently resulted in tragic consequences, and "evolution is still deciding what to make of the human capacity for causal reasoning." Humans are keenly aware of their own mortality, and knowledge of the inevitability of death has resulted in ongoing holy wars among competing ideologies. Similarly, so-called moral reasoning has been used to justify innumerable "unbelievably repugnant and horrifying" actions. The author closely examines "the dark reality of the human moral capacity: We, as a species, can justify--on moral grounds--genocide. Not just cultural genocide, but the murder of entire populations and racial groups, including children." In a seemingly innocuous but telling contemporary example, Gregg notes how Americans "love their lawns," investing countless hours and natural resources to maintain them. At the same time, most people fully understand the dangers of burning fossil fuels and the effects of climate change. The author labels this cognitive dissonance "prognostic myopia," which "makes it difficult for us to make good decisions about our future because we're heavily influenced by our problems in the here and now." Additionally, the further the problem seems to lie in the future, the less we care. Gregg argues convincingly that this is a major reason why both government and corporations are slow to act on available information, which can lead to disastrous consequences. With frightening clarity, the author shows how prognostic myopia could even lead to human extinction. Nietzsche believed that nonhuman animals' inability to understand time or the concept of the future gave them an edge over humans. This insightful book provides food for thought and lends credence to that notion. A fascinating take on human intelligence. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
