Pleasurable Kingdom
Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good
by Jonathan Balcombe
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Reviews
“A touching look at the complex and at times playful lives of the animals with which we share this planet. Fascinating and often moving, this book emphasizes that animals – like us – truly have personalities, minds and emotions.” Jane Goodall
“Marvelous - as the first book in this field, scholarly or popular, we also have one that sets a high bar.“ Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science
“A lively, shrewd and well-argued book — an admirable contribution.” Mary Midgely in the Times Higher Educational Supplement
“His arguments may change your opinion of the next lobster that arrives steaming on your plate.” Wired News
“Superb — has set an agenda for future research. This book will change how we interact with other animal beings.” Marc Bekoff in Trends in Evolution and Ecology
“a joy to read — a carefully balanced book — which also includes some humorous, enlightening and intriguing animal tales.” www.scienceagogo.com
“reviews a vast body of scientific literature — full of examples both anecdotal and from refereed journals, and a copious bibliography.” Booklist
“this well-reasoned, engaging book argues that critters share our capacities for humor, empathy and aesthetic pleasure” People Magazine
‘This book is one in which all campaigners for good animal welfare should invest.’ The Ark
“This entertaining and thought-provoking book is recommended for popular science collections.” Library Journal
“A warm and enjoyable book — anyone with an interest in animal welfare (or just in animals) ought to read it.” www.popularscience.co.uk
‘entertaining examples of animal bliss — from drunken parrots to the caresses of fiddler crabs — bring a pleasure all their own’ Psychology Today
‘This genial scientist’s accounts of enjoyment in the other-than-human world will irritate strict behaviorists and profoundly delight animal lovers’. Orion Magazine
“Brisk, erudite and enormously entertaining — an excellent, approachable introduction to the basic issues in animal behaviour.” Publishers Weekly
"Dr. Balcombe convincingly argues that animals are individual beings with a wide range of emotions and feeling. If he is correct - and I believe he is - it follows that we must grapple with the ethical consequences of his important insights." Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United States
'Pleasurable Kingdom is a love affair with our fellow beings. Balcombe tempts us to consider, more open-mindedly than ever before, the experiences of animals in more ways than traditional science has yet acknowledged, perhaps even imagined.' Professor Jaak Panksepp, author of Affective Neuroscience
"I predicted, in When Elephants Weep, that in ten years better scientists would write better books about the depth of feelings in animals. Well, that time has come, and here is that book." Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Author, When Elephants Weep
"This impressive book takes the reader on a journey of scientific knowledge and understanding into the inner lives of others, from mice to monkeys and fish to fowl - even insects and worms - that inspires respect and appreciation for all creatures great and small. Dr. Balcombe's book should be a standard text for students of biology and behaviour. All who care for animals will be informed and inspired".
Dr Michael W. Fox, Veterinarian, columnist, author
"For centuries humanity has justified our extermination of fishes with the myth that they do not have feelings or intelligence. Jonathan Balcombe exposes this myth and presents fishes, with other animals, as sensitive, social, feeling, marvelous sentient beings."
Captain Paul Watson, founder of Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
'In Pleasurable Kingdom, Balcombe draws together an extraordinary amount of information to help us to appreciate that we are not the only species that can, if all goes well, live joyful lives.' - Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University, USA
Interview with Jonathan Balcombe on the Animal Voices radio show
Interview with Jonathan Balcombe on the Living on Earth radio show
Description
Pleasurable Kingdom is the first trade book to focus on new evidence that animals, like humans, enjoy themselves. It debunks the popular perception that life for most is a continuous, grim struggle for survival. Instead it suggests that creatures from birds to bats to baboons may feel good thanks to play, sex, touch, food, anticipation, comfort, aesthetics and more.
Combining rigorous evidence, elegant argument and amusing anecdote, leading animal behaviour researcher, Dr Jonathan Balcombe proposes that evolution favours sensory rewards because they drive living things to stay alive and reproduce.
Animal pain and stress, once controversial, are now acknowledged by legislation in many countries. Likewise the possibility of positive feelings in creatures other than humans has important ramifications for science and society and is thus ripe for informed debate, Balcombe concludes.
Author Biographies
JONATHAN BALCOMBE is Animal Behaviour Research Scientist for the Washington DC-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He has published numerous scientific papers and magazine articles on, among other things, bat communication, turtle nesting and bird breeding. His first book, The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives and Recommendations was published by Humane Society Press in 2000. See also www.pleasurablekingdom.com
