Alex and Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence

And guess who wrote the book? Hint: Alex wants a keyboard. Seriously, this book is a joy to read for both animal lovers and the scientifically curious. It details a thirty year relationship between Irene Pepperberg and an African gray parrot who learned not only a hundred words but concepts such as size, color, and even the idea of zero which apparently humans did not really get until the 16th century. Although Alex is the hero of this book, you can't help but admire scientist Pepperberg who with little training in biology and after just completing a PhD in chemistry was swayed by a PBS show on ape language to enter a brand new field. And through years with almost no money, no jobs, and negative recognition, she persevered and did quality research that proved that even birds can communicate. For such a small creature, Alex had tons of personality. He loved dancing and NUTS, NUTS, NUTS. He would not suffer fools, and when new students joined the program, he had them run from room to room feeding him, taking him to the gym or the lobby where he'd perch near his favorite tree and wolf-whistle at passing young men. When younger parrots tackled language acquisition, Alex often rebuked their poor technique, "Talk Better,' "Pay Attention," "Bad parrot," he commanded. Alex's last words to Irene the night before he died were, "You be good. I love you. You'll be in tomorrow?" What more could one ask from man or friend?