Not So Different

Reviews / Votes

Not So Different lucidly and entertainingly reminds us just how much of us there is in other mammals and vertebrates-and how much of them there is in us. You may never think of yourself in quite the same way again. -- Ian Tattersall, American Museum of Natural History In a beautifully written and very readable book, Nathan H. Lents provides compelling evidence that animals are not that different from us, making it difficult to argue that there is a vast gulf between us and the rest of the animals. As Lents artfully shows, that gulf just does not exist. -- Con Slobodchikoff, author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals As someone who has studied animal behavior and cognitive ethology and animal emotions for many decades, I have always been fascinated by the similarities and differences between humans and other animals. In Not So Different, Nathan H. Lents focuses on the similarities, and readers will discover that humans and nonhumans share numerous traits, some of which might seem rather surprising, but the existence of which can be readily explained by well-accepted evolutionary arguments and considerations of the social worlds of the animals involved, something Lents does very well. -- Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Rewilding our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence Nathan H. Lents has put together a comprehensive look at animal counterparts of human emotions and thoughts. The scope and quantity of his examples make a compelling argument for zoological precursors to nearly all human sentiments and many cognitive capabilities. His book is a charming read for general audiences that will also find value in the biology courses of high school and university curricula. -- Joan Roughgarden, author of Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People Thoroughly enjoyable and accessible... Whether Lents is discussing love, grief, greed, or envy, he provides ample evidence that animals have a rich inner life. Publishers Weekly (starred review)