The Penguin Podcast is back! Listen Now
Why Animals Talk

Why Animals Talk

The New Science of Animal Communication

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Why Animals Talk is an exhilarating journey through the untamed world of animal communication. Drawing on the author's extensive research and observations of animals in the wild, the book shatters conventional wisdom and invites you to experience communication through the eyes of animals themselves.

From the majestic howls of wolves and the enchanting chatter of parrots to the melodic clicks of dolphins and the spirited grunts of chimpanzees, these diverse and seemingly bizarre expressions are far from mere noise. In fact, they hold secrets that we are just beginning to decipher. For example, wolves - just like humans - possess unique accents that distinguish their howls, and not only do dolphins give themselves names, but they also respond excitedly to recordings of the whistles of long-lost companions.

Why Animals Talk unravels the mysteries of animal communication, and in doing so reveals profound insights into our own language and how it relates to the world around us.

©2024 Arik Kershenbaum (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Reviews

  • Wonderful . . . Endlessly interesting and beautifully written
    Daily Telegraph

About the author

Arik Kershenbaum

Intrepid zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum is the world-leading expert in animal vocal communication, and has roamed the wilds of Europe, North America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia for over a decade, working to decipher it. He is a college lecturer and fellow at Girton College, University of Cambridge, and has published more than thirty academic publications. His previous book, The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy, was a Times/Sunday Times Book of the Year and was published in eleven languages.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more