Sunday, October 02, 2022

Book Review - The Sounds of Life - Princeton University Press

 


     It would not be an exaggeration to state that over the course of history, through ignorance or arrogance, humans have concluded that other animals experience the world only in ways familiar to us, involving, principally, vision. There is now, however, an increasing recognition that other organisms, even  sentient plants, are able to organize their lives by responding to sound, in ways equally sophisticated as vision, and for many animals in superior fashion.
     This is a rare book that is both emotionally moving and scientifically stimulating, and explores in great detail the way that sound is the principal sense by which many creatures respond to the various stimuli that are the constants in their environment.
     "Listening is both a scientific practice and a form of witnessing that acknowledges our presence as guests on this planet and embraces our kinship with other species across the Tree of Life" - p. 9.
     Increasingly mind-blowing technological advances, especially in the fields of artificial intelligence and algorithms, have made it possible to explore the umwelt of non-human species in ways hitherto undreamed of. Bioacousticians are able to analyze ultrasound to interpret the life styles of myriad creatures, solving ancient mysteries in the process.
     Ironically, increasing recognition is paid to the ancestral knowledge of indigenous people who, despite being dismissed as uncivilized and primitive, have demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the natural world and the forces that influence it. Thankfully, scientists have shown themselves willing (at last) to take these holistic, respect-based values  into account to inform and influence decisions.
     Bio-acoustics is an important tool for conservation and can be a force for good in the protection of diversity. It is critical, however, that science be used in ethical ways - "Will we use biohybrid robots to advance interspecies understanding......Or will we use our newfound ability to further domesticate nonhumans and bend them to our will?" - p. 174
     The frontiers of science facilitate the expansion of knowledge, with a concomitant responsibility to use that knowledge wisely. Approached with an open mind and an ethical consciousness, a world of wonders await, providing the means to regulate anthropogenic sound for the betterment of all the ecosystems on the planet.
     Karen Bakker has done a fabulous job in bringing complex science to a wide audience. She writes with style, backed by impressive academic credentials, to communicate with all who are concerned with our future on this planet, and of the other creatures with whom we share it.
     I hope that every public library in the country will place it on their shelves and that in record time it will be dog-eared from use. It really is an important book.

The Sounds of Life - Princeton University Press
Karen Bakker
Price US$33.00, £25  ISBN 9780691206288
368 pages, 6.13 x 9.25 inches (15.325 x 23.125 cm)
Publishing date: 18 October, 2022    
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

43 comments:

  1. Hello David,
    Sounds like another interesting book to read. Thanks for sharing the review. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy new week ! PS, thanks for leaving me a comment.

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  2. Responding to sounds not only as a way of "seeing" the world, I would imagine, but also as a means of communicating with each other. Funny how this era of humankind is more and more communicating technologically, typing words without speaking a word or making a sound to one another.

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  3. Thanks for this review and for bringing this book to our attention.

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    1. I am quite sure you would both enjoy it and learn a great deal from it, Dorothy.

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  4. This does indeed sound like a valuable and important book. And how I hope it is read not just by the converted but by a much, much wider audience.

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  5. ...it's good that digital technology has some plus.

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  6. Thank you for this wonderful review.

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  7. Many thanks for bringing this book to our attention, always interesting to read your thoughts and reviews.

    All the best Jan

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  8. Man has been so egocentric over the years they don't believe animals and plants can even come close to emotion, intelligence or communication. (And a few other things too.) It is amazing what they are now learning. This is another great sounding book. Thanks for sharing David. Happy start to the new week. hugs-Erika

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  9. It looks like a very interesting book!...Abrazotes, Marcela

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  10. Looks fascinating. Will pass this on to my goddaughter who teaches environmental biology. Know she would enjoy it.

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  11. Sounds like a good book. If it were not for the internet I personally wouldn't have access to so many birds.

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  12. I think this is a very interesting book.
    Greetings Irma

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  13. Thank you David for the review. I'm sure it's a very interesting book.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  14. You always bring such interesting things to our attention. Thanks for expanding our world views!

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  15. What a thoughtful review, David. It sounds intriguing and it's wonderful to find a writer who can bring more complex topics to life in a very understandable way.

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  16. Another very interesting book.
    Greetings:)

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  17. Definitely want a copy of this for my reference library! Thanks for the heads up.

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  18. It's good that some scientists and just people in general are starting to recognize that humans are just one part of a whole and that we are all interdependent, that other life is conscious and sentient, that there are more ways of being than the human way instead of the prevailing view that only humans have value and the the rest is here for us to use.

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  19. Buen libro, para tener en cuenta. Veo muy interesante su lectura.

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  20. Parece interesante. Besos y abrazos.

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  21. It seems that however much humans think they know, there is always something beyond, and more layers to uncover in our world. A good review of a book with an interesting idea.

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  22. Thank you David for bringing this interesting book to our attention. It sounds like an amazing journey into the hidden realms of nature's sounds.

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  23. Escuchar es tanto una práctica científica como una forma de presenciar.. Que cierto es amigo. Gracias por la recomendación.
    Buena semana David.
    Un abrazo.

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  24. A little analyzed field. The book is welcome.

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  25. Thank you for this review, David. A fascinating, and important, subject which, hopefully, might lead to a more sympathetic view by mankind of the 'wildlife' that share their planet with us.

    Sorry for the late visit - just back from the Isles of Scilly!

    Hoping that all is well with you and Miriam - - - Richard

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  26. A wonderful review of this book. You always find books that make a difference. I really like that. Have a great day today.

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  27. Hello David :=)
    Thank you for your very interesting review. If it widens our knowledge of the creatures with whom we share our planet I'm all for it.

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  28. Thank you for this review David, I added to my list. I have been privileged to know aboriginal (First Nations) peoples and have learned so very much from them. More need to listen and adapt the seven generations philosophy for our fragile planet.
    XO
    WWW

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    1. You are fortunate to have experienced this connection to First Nations people and to have benefitted from their knowledge, an opportunity denied most of us.

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  29. Muchas gracias, amigo David, por esta reseña tan fabulosa. La humanidad ha perdido el contacto con ciertos sonidos que antes nos rodeaban y formaban parte de nuestra esencia como humanos. No cabe duda que es un libro importante de consulta y para ocupar un espacio reservado en nuestra biblioteca.
    Gracias por darlo a conocer.
    Recibe un afectuoso abrazo querido amigo, profesor y compadre.

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  30. Interesting topic, not sure it's one I would enjoy reading about though. Things that aren't tangible are hard for me to relate to.

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  31. I have always been a bit shy to try read books like this because I sometimes do feel challenged by science and notice how I drift away from too much scientific explanation. However, you wrote that she can bring complex science to a wide audience and I hope this would include me since this book sounds both fascinating and interesting. I was surprised to read the word "Umwelt" in your post - is that a common expression in scientific circles? I, of course, have only heard it as a "regular" German word and wasn't aware that it was used in the English speaking world as well.

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    1. Indeed, Carola, "umwelt" is commonly used in scientific circles to indicate the total scope of the animal's surroundings.

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  32. I have misophonia, so for me, sound is a blessing and a curse. Sound is also the inspiration for my upcoming novel. But the why and how is a secret.

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    1. Hi Sharon: Thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks also for introducing me to a new term, misophonia. Understanding now what this condition entails I don't envy you; it must at times be difficult to deal with.

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  33. Hi David - how fascinating ... I've sent your post and her name to another blogger in the USA ... and I will use some of her thoughts for a post I need to write for a pre-publication of another American's pre-historic novel - early November.

    This is brilliant - and I'll definitely try and get it from the library to read ... she sounds such an amazing scientific author ... cheers Hilary

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  34. Thank you for sharing Karen Bakker's book :-)

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  35. Hello David, :=)
    I was having the same problem. I was making a new post last night, and my picture would not load, no matter how I tried. The same this morning, but after lunch I tried again, and it was back to normal. Just another Google Glitch.

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We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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