"I have come to believe.....that the conceptual depth of technical and general writing should not differ, lest we disrespect the interest and intelligence of millions of potential readers who lack advanced technical training in science, but who remain just as fascinated as any professional, and just as well aware of the importance of science to our human and earthly existence."
Stephen Jay Gould
When you pick up a book devoted to bioacoustics you probably don't expect a literary type of narrative, with touches of whimsy and wry humour that at times will make you laugh out loud. But that's exactly what you get with this entertaining and informative account by Nicolas Mathevon. The language flows easily and important scientific concepts, often complex in nature, are seamlessly woven into an entertaining story.
A good deal of attention has been paid in recent years to the different ways by which animals communicate, with a shift away from a visual, anthropocentric perspective. Vocalization, hearing and the way that sounds are created and processed by different organisms are fully examined in this exciting new work. From insects to birds, from Elephant Seals to fishes, from hyenas to monkeys - and on and on - the different abilities of Mathevon's subjects are explored. Individual calls and songs are examined, their meaning revealed, the ability to network explained.
Throughout it all, one is charmed by the author's unbridled enthusiasm for his research, and the respect and affection in which he holds his fellow scientists.
The accounts originate in every corner of the Earth and one is left wondering at times, "Does Mathevon ever see his family?" Even on family vacations he is easily sidetracked by a potential new discovery!
The illustrations in the book are provided by Mathevon's father, Bernard Mathevon, a unique collaboration between father and son, with impressive results. The black-and-white drawings are very well done and in some cases quite evocative. I would be happy to have them framed on the walls of my office!
The emerging field of Ecoacoustics holds the potential for measuring biodiversity in non-intrusive ways, and revealing the environmental health of many parts of the biosphere - coral reefs, for example. Strap yourself in for more, plants may be next!
If you have even the slightest interest in the natural world, this is an important book for you. You will enjoy it, you will learn from it, and I venture to say that you will be infected by the ebullience of a scientist who recharges our enthusiasm for science, for evidence-based truth, so critical to humankind in an age of deception, fear-mongering and denial.
Bravo Nicolas Mathevon for a job well done!
The Voices of Nature: How and Why Animals Communicate - Princeton University Press
Nicolas Mathevon
Hardcover - US$32.00 - ISBN: 9780691236759
392 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)
32 black-and-white illustrations
Publication date: 27 June, 2023
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It seems an interesting book, considering that its language is easy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
I love watching and listening to birds. I hope the writer of this book included our Texas mockingbirds. Some days we hear them at all hours of the day and night. Each has a different collection of calls and sounds.
ReplyDeleteNo mockingbirds, Carol, but he is a French scientist and most of his studies involved animals other than birds.
Deletesound really interesting! we can hear the birds communicate, and some of them we can tell what they are saying. I think all animals commuicate with their own kind and with others sometimes.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIn many respects, Bill, it is exquisite.
DeleteThis sounds good. Truth is a rare commodity these days, so many just use fear to their own ends and probably don't even know how the word truth is written. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie xxx
ReplyDeleteEs de mucho interés, todo los que nos cuenta sobre ese libro.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
As always you found another intresting book, David. I'm sure it 's a great book.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
Yet again you have excited my bookie lust. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBookie lust is an honourable emotion!
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteDefinitely adding this one to the wishlist! YAM xx
Reading material for lonely nights in the new van.
DeleteThis book from Nicolas Mathevon sounds excellent.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing it here.
All the best Jan
...I know that many think that plants communicate, I'm sceptical.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Suzanne Simard’s “Finding the Mother Tree”?
DeleteSounds an interesting book, often fascinated by how the animals talk to each other.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting book because of its rare subject, David. Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a good book to me.
ReplyDeleteI like birds.
Greetings Irma
Excelente reseña para aprender el canto de los pájaros y la comunicación entre animales.
ReplyDeleteMuchos besos.
Available in English and French... I'm really interested in this topic.
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing the book, dear David.
Many greetings to you with the wishes for a wonderful weekend... here with us the dream. Your new photo too... thank you pure joy.
hug
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteThanks for another great review, the book and topic sounds interesting. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Linguists (writing at the blog Language Log) often criticize writers and journalists who claim that animals can speak human languages. From your review, it sounds like this is not one of the writers who make fallacious claims about animals learning French or English, but a look that tries to capture what is really happening in the animal’s consciousness. Good review, sounds very intriguing.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
You get some interesting books to review, and this one sounds great. I love it when nature speaks. I enjoy hearing it, even if it may not be spoken for me. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Erika, it is not spoken for you, but with careful attention you can interpret some of it, and that is very satisfying.
DeleteSounds interesting and a book I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMaybe your local library will add it to their shelves. Even the DeSantis morality squads might approve of this one.
DeleteI'm fascinated with how animals communicate. I remember seeing docs on elephants and whales, etc. and absolutely believe they can communicate in ways we can't comprehend. I remember reading a book about mushrooms communicating and also trees.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
If you have not read “Finding the Mother Tree” go and get it right now!
DeleteOnly a few days ago, David, Lindsay and I were discussing a conversation between two European Blackbirds. It seems that one of the two was some distance away, but there were clearly statements from one and replies from the other. It went on for maybe ten minutes. This was me, rather long-windedly, saying that this is a subject that piques my curiosity and this book will be put on my wish list as soon as I finish this note to you.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard
The more we take the time to listen, Richard, even without sophisticated equipment to codify the song, the more I am sure that we all realize that true communication is taking place. It somehow makes me very happy that you and Lindsay were listening to the blackbirds in this way. David
DeleteI am headed for Amazon as soon as I finish this comment. I love the idea of understanding the acoustics of natures communications. Being a lover of Owls, I have had a taste of the beauty and intentions of Owl communications especially those during mating season and I can only imagine what a delight it will be to find meaning in the music of the night that I hear each time I step outside. What a great find, David ...
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that when I tried to come to your post from Rain's most recent prompt I got a nasty message from Google saying that my privacy would be invaded if I came to your post ... really? You might want to check it out. If you don't get many comments that might be why ... or am I the only one who has been so treated :( Anyway, I came here through a different route and glad I did, because I am going to love this book. Thanks again, my friend ...
Andrea @ From the Sol
Let me check that out, Andrea. It has happened only once before as far as I know ( but there may be other instances I am unaware of). It’s probably as simple as changing a setting but I am mentally deficient when it comes to computers!
DeleteI can't imagine you being mentally deficient in anything, David ... but I do understand techy nescience as I am a victim of it myself.
DeleteYou get full marks for word of the day, Andrea. I had my pal, Linda, the Fairy Blogmother, check this through and she says that all my settings are okay, my site is safe and there is no reason for you to fear.
DeleteParece un libro interesante. Un abrazo amigo David.
ReplyDeleteMy booklist is growing constantly because of your book reviews, David! If only I could buy time to read in addition to getting the books. This one sounds like a must-have to me, it's a topic that I find highly interesting. And you also mentioned plants - I'm pretty sure they communicate with each other. So I'll close my laptop right after this comment and go back to reading. Have a lovely, hopefully smoke-free weekend. Un abrazo, Carola
ReplyDeleteLife can get busy, Carola, but the books will be there waiting for you whenever you have a quiet moment to yourself.
DeleteIt would be a sad day indeed if someone writing about communication in animals was unable to communicate his knowledge and enthusiasm to his fellow human beings. Having said that, it would not be a surprise, for despite its many great achievements scientists are not always great communicators. And they fail in both facets of communication, both talking and listening. I have not read this book but I'd guess that those who work with animals would already know a lot of what's contained within these pages.
ReplyDeleteI had a parallel experience working with non-verbal autistic children: every experienced care worker knew some of the capabilities of these children and used it every day in their work; however teachers and speech therapists constantly underestimated the communication skills of these children because they couldn't scientifically prove it - it's very difficult to pin down whether facial expressions, body language or noises other than words have any real meaning.
Incidentally, before that I worked on a farm and knew a man who could speak "Pig". Not only could he interpret all the squeaks and grunts, but he could also make sounds that put the animals at ease. I'm sure scientists would have dismissed it as all folklore and fairytales but when I needed to get access to the young ones of a grumpy sow I valued his skills greatly.
I'm sure that M. Mathevon has properly listened to many people and animals in coming to his conclusions and I look forward to reading his book.
Very interesting perspectives. Thanks for this detailed and informative comment. Mathevon has not only listened to many, he has used advanced scientific devices to verify his discoveries.
DeleteThe topic is very interesting. Yes, the animals talk and communicate. We must have more respect for them.
ReplyDeleteBuenas tardes, estimado amigo David, no cabe la menor duda de que los animales se conectan entre sí en sus variados y típicos lenguajes, máxime si también se comunican las plantas, como al parecer ha quedado demostrado con unos estudios últimamente realizados. Yo creo que cualquier ser de la naturaleza tiene su medio de comunicación, cosa distinta es que sepamos apreciar y entender su significado.
ReplyDeleteUn gran abrazo querido amigo y profesor David de este tu siempre amigo y compadre Juan.
It would be interesting if we can communicate with nature, especially with birds and plants.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteG'day, David...I've replied in the response section of my blog explaining the reason for my light-hearted story. :)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I can’t respond on my blogger so let me answer your Iceland questions before I forget. We rented a car- 4 wheel drive so we could head off the paved roads. We also took the extra insurance because of the gravel roads. We didn’t end up needing it, but all it would have taken is one rock kicked up to crack the windshield. It was fun driving, some gravel roads, most of them were narrow, some had some scary drop offs… etc. and we did see some bird cliffs. Unfortunately the big ones we wanted to see was on an island and the ferry was still in repair. We did not go to western fjords, but I did see a lot of cool birds. I’ll definitely share more! Hugs Erika
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating.
ReplyDeleteit's good that humans are finally understanding that nature is conscious, that life itself is sentient. all expressions of life are aware and communicate and cooperate in an infinite variety of ways. not just humans. perhaps this knowledge will lead to less destruction of other life and habitats.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting topic!
ReplyDeleteHi David - I don't know Mathevon, but Bernie Krause I've known of over the years. I imagine this is an excellent book - I've noted John's comment above ... and I'll get it out of the library in due course to read ... it sounds fascinating ... great review, thank you - Hilary
ReplyDeleteBernie Krause had that wonderful observation that “if a picture is worth a thousand words a sound is worth a thousand pictures.”
DeleteThis is a subject that I've long been curious about. It sounds like it would be an excellent reference.
ReplyDelete