What Sheep Think about the Weather - by Amelia Thomas (Paperback)

About the Book

"Are animals telling us something? Amelia Thomas couldn't stop wondering what the animals around her were trying to say-whether it was the bee that wouldn't stop flying around her head, the cows in the random pasture that would walk right up to greet her, the sheep that seems peeved by the weather, or her own puppy yipping and whining even after her every need has seemingly been met. Soon enough, she set out to answer the question: What are animals truly seeking to communicate, not to each other, but to us humans? Her quest will introduce readers to a myriad scientists, experts, and practitioners-from animal behaviorists to anthrozoologists; pet psychics to animal trainers; A.I. experts to indigenous trackers; animal mindfulness gurus to psychologists-all who are listening to vastly different species in vastly different ways. Because listening has never been so important, and if we can learn to do it better, we might find out that the animals have been talking to us all along"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Are animals trying to tell us something--and have we been too distracted to notice?

It started with a hummingbird dive-bombing Amelia Thomas over her morning coffee, and a pair of piglets who just wouldn't stay put. Soon Amelia, journalist and new farmer, begins to question the communications of the creatures all around her: her pigs, her dogs, the pheasant family inhabiting her wood, her 'difficult' big red horse: even the earwigs in the farm's dark, damp corners. Are they all just animals reacting instinctually to the world around them--or are they trying to communicate something deeper?

Driven by lifelong curiosity, Amelia embarks on a journey to uncover what animals truly seek to say to humans. On the way, along with ground-breaking chimps and circumspect octopuses, she'll meet an extraordinary cast of experts, from animal behaviorists and anthrozoologists to trackers and psychologists, and even explore the surprising insights of pet psychics, A.I. researchers, and animal mindfulness practitioners. Each perspective offers a new layer of understanding about the subtle, complex ways animals connect with us--and will deepen our appreciation for every creature with whom we share our planet.

In What Sheep Think About the Weather, Amelia chronicles her sometimes difficult discoveries with humor, heart, and awe. More than just a memoir, this book is a call to listen--not only to the animals we love but to the untamed world around us. What if the answers to some of humanity's greatest questions have been whispered to us all along?

Review Quotes

"A sweet and sometimes sad journey into the natural world beyond humanity. This is for naturalists, birders, pet owners, and anyone who interacts with animals or would like to." -- Genevieve Williams, Library Journal

"Blend the lively, buoyant writing of an award-winning non-scientist with a boat-load of direct experiences with animals, and you have this book. I found it both illuminating and entertaining from start to finish." -- Jonathan Balcombe, NYT bestselling author of Super Fly and What a Fish Knows

"A must-read. Thomas steers us from our human-centric view of other animals--domestic and wild, big and small--helping open our senses to what they are telling us. Awe-inspiring, important, and timely." -- Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals

"Every single page of this marvelous book will challenge you, even enchant you. With intellectual thrills in spades paired with Amelia's conversational style, it's a delight to read. I cannot recommend it enough!" -- Jeffrey Masson, author of When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals