04727cam a2200397 4500 234085655 TxAuBib 20140806120000.0 ||||||s2008||||||||||||||||||||||||und|u 9780061769344 0061769347 ae1b3c2e-3326-4dae-813c-ebd35298a4c8 OverDrive (Reserve ID) 191497 OverDrive (Product ID) TxAuBib Pepperberg, Irene. Alex & Me [Bridges Audiobook] : How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process. HarperCollins, 2008. Format: OverDrive OverDrive MP3 Audiobook, Filesize: 156MB. Format: OverDrive OverDrive Listen, Filesize: 156MB. birds. HTML:<p>On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were "You be good. I love you."</p> <p>What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex's case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together, Alex and Irene had become famous — two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Alex's brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.</p> <p>The fame that resulted was extraordinary. Yet there was a side to their relationship that never made the papers. They were emotionally connected to one another. They shared a deep bond far beyond science. Alex missed Irene when she was away. He was jealous when she paid attention to other parrots, or even people. He liked to show her who was boss. He loved to dance. He sometimes became bored by the repetition of his tests, and played jokes on her. Sometimes they sniped at each other. Yet nearly every day, they each said, "I love you."</p> <p>Alex and Irene stayed together through thick and thin — despite sneers from experts, extraordinary financial sacrifices, and a nomadic existence from one university to another. The story of their thirty-year adventure is equally a landmark of scientific achievement and of an unforgettable human-animal bond.</p>. After 30 years of language research using her pet parrot, Alex, as the principal subject, Dr. Pepperberg contends that her bird's level of comprehension equaled that of chimps and dolphins. Using a technique called "appropriate labeling," she came to believe that Alex's accomplishments proved he had cognitive function. Although her work and conclusions have not been widely accepted, she provides enough data from her records for listeners to evaluate her methods and decide for themselves. Narrator Julia Gibson chooses a diminutive voice as her rendition of the author speaking, maybe because she wants to emphasize the warm relationship of owner and pet more than the rigorous science of the story. Gibson makes no attempt to imitate Alex as he works on his lessons, missing a precious opportunity for characterization. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine. AudioFile Magazine. Nonfiction. Pets. Media Type: Audiobook. Importer Version: 2014-01-08.01 Import Date: 2015-08-06 14:05:02. Gibson, Julia. Publishers, ©2008 HarperCollins. ©2008 by Irene M. Pepperberg. http://bridges.lib.overdrive.com/ContentDetails.htm?ID=ae1b3c2e-3326-4dae-813c-ebd35298a4c8 http://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-25/0293-1/191497-AlexMe.wma Excerpt (OverDrive MP3 Audiobook) http://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-425/0293-1/191497-AlexMe.mp3 Excerpt (OverDrive MP3 Audiobook) http://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=AE1B3C2E-3326-4DAE-813C-EBD35298A4C8&.epub-sample.overdrive.com Excerpt (OverDrive MP3 Audiobook) http://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-25/0293-1/191497-AlexMe.wma Excerpt (OverDrive Listen) http://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-425/0293-1/191497-AlexMe.mp3 Excerpt (OverDrive Listen) http://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=AE1B3C2E-3326-4DAE-813C-EBD35298A4C8&.epub-sample.overdrive.com Excerpt (OverDrive Listen)