Book Review: Alex & Me (Book 83 of 100)

'm not much of a scientist as people that read this column regularly know but I am a pet owner and books about people and their pets appeal to me. Alex, a 31 yr old gray parrot at the time of his death was not Dr. Irene Pepperberg's pet he was her research animal. But don't get alarmed Alex was spoiled in the laboratory not tortured he got more attention and a better quality of life than many so called pet parrots. Pet parrots often over groom themselves to the point of pulling out feathers because they are feeling neglected. And I thought Richard was bad, he just pees on things, doesn't injure himself.

The story of Alex is in large part also the story of Dr. Irene Pepperburg who went to MIT and later Harvard in an era when women didn't do that. She got her Doctorate in chemistry and married another scientist then she switched career paths and focused on the interesting world of human and animal inter communication. She taught Alex to add, count numbers up to 7, and even spell and compare object sizes. No bird is supposed to be able to do this. She also gave up a lot of money and spent a lot of money to continue her work with no funding. At one point she says that her entire protein input was tofu and then her house was set at 57 degrees during a Boston winter just so she could provide for her birds and keep her research going. I live near Boston and having your heat set at 57 degrees is insane during winter especially a typical New England one. It just shows how devoted she was to her work.

Of course most people know Alex died, but his work and that of Dr. Pepperburg continue. While I'm sure this bird had made many a convert he's made this non-scientist actually want to read the hardcore science studies that work compiled about him. Dr. Pepperburg published such a book called The Alex Studies and I am going to order it from inter library alone. I don't know if I have a science back round to comprehend all the hard data but I'm going to try because I am interested. Something no other than any other science experiment I've ever heard about can claim to have made me. That being said, I don't think I would be as interested in science if I hadn't read the memoir first.

I rate this book a 9.2. Get it in either audio book or traditional print for all the pet lovers in your life. It's a read you won't forget

Book Review: All Creatures Great and Small (Book 49 of 100)

I'd heard of All Creatures Great and Small before. I don't an animal loving bibliophile who hasn't. The now famous bibliography by the English veterinarian has been on my "Read before I Die" list since about the age of 10.

It was a wonderful treat. The story of the young career and marriage (spoiler alert!) is charming, funny, and at times eye dampening, buy for the most part absolutely joyful. The stories of animals and their people will gladden the heart of anyone. I wouldn't like to meet the soul who didn't get a chuckle out of Trippy the dog and his pig roommate. You'll suffer with James through his first days on the job, his various love malfunctions, and his somewhat erratic boss and bosses brother to name a few.

This book covers the high and lows of the new (at the time) field of veterinary medicine. The triumphs and the hardships, which were at times heartbreaking will give you an honest, I believe, view of one English life in the 30's... the animals are a bonus!

I rate this book an 8.5 out 10. It had it's slow moments, but they were brief. It's a good cross generational read. There's love, but no graphic sex (as one might find in '90's biographies). There are work stories, but nearly everyone can relate to them, even if you are a cubicle rat. In my opinion, read it, you'll probably like it.