Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

By Frans de Waal

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? is an extremely fascinating book taking a look into the intelligence of animals and how their minds are more complex than what we originally thought. The question of, “How intelligent are animals really?”, has been debated for quite a while. All while experts in their respective fields have battled restlessly to prove that their hypothesizes are correct and others are not.

Waal takes an excellent and calm approach to present his theories to the reader/listener. Waal even splashes quite a bit of humor throughout the entire book to keep the reader actively engaged. Throughout Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Waal gives incredible examples of studies that either he himself has done or solid experiments that his fellow scientists have done in order to prove his point. And boy does he drive his point home at 200 miles per hour!

This is my first time listening to the narrator, Sean Runnette and damn was I impressed. Runnette’s voice is that of your favorite teacher or professor. Very calm and yet very exciting at the same time. There was never a time during the entire book that I felt bored or falling asleep and that was in large part due to Runnette’s excellent narration.

In conclusion, if you consider yourself an “animal person” or even a fan of the animal kingdom, get this book! If you ever have seen an animal doing something amazing that you’ve never seen done before, get this book! Even if you are skeptical of the intelligence of animals, get this book! I guarantee that your opinion will change by the end of Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?.

You can purchase this title from Blackstone Audio’s digital site, downpour.com and the great thing is that it is DRM free!

Story: 5/5

Narration: 5/5

Overall: 5/5