Alex & Me (Reprint) (Paperback) by Irene M. Pepperberg

About the Book

"Alex & Me" tells the story of a delightful and mischievous parrot that rocked the scientific establishment. Yet his real story can't be found in any science journal--chronicling a relationship, with its affection, jealousy, and lifelong rewards. 8-page photo insert.

Book Synopsis

Alex & Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas. A New York Times bestseller and selected as one of the paper's Top Ten Books of the Year, Alex & Me is much more that the story of an incredible scientific breakthrough. It's a poignant love story and an affectionate remembrance of Pepperberg's irascible, unforgettable, and always surprising best friend.

From the Back Cover

You be good. I love you, were Alex's final words to his owner, research scientist Irene Pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirty-one on September 6, 2007. An African Grey parrot, Alex had a brain the size of a shelled walnut, yet he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none, and he disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Alex & Me is the remarkable true account of an amazing, irascible parrot and his best friend who stayed together through thick and thin for thirty years--the astonishing, moving, and unforgettable story of a landmark scientific achievement and a beautiful relationship.

Review Quotes

"A moving tribute that beautifully evokes 'the struggles, the initial triumphs, the setbacks, the unexpected and often stunning achievements' during a grounbreaking scientific endeavor..."--Publishers Weekly

"Highly readable..."--Booklist

"A fascinating look at animal intelligence, Pepperberg's tale is also a love story between beings who sometimes 'squabble like an old married couple' but whose bond broke only with Alex's death at 31 in '07. Irresistible."--People

"To anyone who's dreamed of talking with the animals, Dr. Doolittle style, Alex was a revelation...This ornery reviewer tried to resist Alex's charms on principle. But his achievements got the better of me...Alex was a celebrity, and this book will surely please his legions of fans."--New York Times Book Review

"[Pepperberg's] book movingly combines the scientific detail of a researcher...with the affectionate understanding that children instinctively possess...."--Michiko Kakutani, New York Times