When Elephants Weep
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
What is this book?
Why was this book written?
The book's stated purpose is simple: to show that animals have feelings. Though most sensitive people have no trouble with this idea, scientists, Mr. Masson says, do: "they freely discuss animal aggression but not animal anger, dominance hierarchies but not snobbery, bonds but not love, altruism but not compassion, mating displays but not esthetic sensibility."
Summary
From dancing squirrels to bashful gorillas to spiteful killer whales, Masson brings forth fascinating anecdotes and illuminating insights that offer powerful proof of the existence of animal emotion. Chapters on love, joy, anger, fear, shame, compassion, and loneliness are framed by a provocative re-evaluation of how we treat animals, from hunting and eating them to scientific experimentation. When Elephants Weep assures that we will never think about animals the same.