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Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin
chamomiledaydreams's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
I know of Temple Grandin as a famous autistic woman, and, after seeing a picture book at the library featuring her hug machine, I was interested in getting a more substantial taste of her work. "Animals in Translation" was definitely worth the read. I learned a lot about both Temple Grandin and the subject of animal behavior, from farm animals such as cows, horses, and pigs to more common household pets such as dogs and cats.
My biggest gripe with this book is likely an issue of datedness. "Animals in Translation" is nearly twenty years old now, and I'm not quite sure when the word "allistic" became popular. Still, it irked me to hear non-autistic people constantly referred to as "normal people." I was also disgruntled when Temple Grandin made generalizations about autistic people, taking her own experiences and presenting them as "the" autistic way of being. I enjoyed hearing about how she thinks in pictures, for example, but I don't think it's fair to say that all autistic people think in pictures, while all allistic people think in words and fully-formed sentences. I'm sure that more people's experiences with autism have been shared in the past couple of decades, so the idea of what traits are autistic or not has likely been expanded in the years since this book's publication. I'm not mad at Temple Grandin; I'm just put off by what I hope are outdated ways of discussing autism (calling allistic people "normal" and clumping autistic experiences beneath a single monolith).
Regardless, I enjoyed Temple Grandin's observations on what makes autistic people and animals similar. I stand by the fact that humans are animals, too, but I relate to what Grandin experienced: feeling more at ease around non-human animals than around other humans, especially at a young age, and being able to understand why our pets are unsettled better than my family members. One of my favorite lines in the book comes from the very end: "People were animals too once, and when we turned into human beings, we gave something up. Being close to animals brings some of it back." Again, I would argue that human beings are animals, but the sentiment expressed here still resonates with me.
My other gripe with this book is a topic upon which Temple Grandin touches only briefly: albinism. She talks about the issues that arise in animals with white skin and blue eyes then clarifies that this does not apply to white humans. Having light skin or light eyes is not the same as having albinism; some pigment is better than none. But there are humans with albinism, too, and I want to know how Temple Grandin's statements apply to us.
If she's referring to the physical problems associated with albinism (increased risk of skin cancer, photosensitivty, vision issues), then I suppose I can't argue: You probably shouldn't breed a dog specifically for these traits. Even if the appearance is appealing, you should not prioritize your aesthetics over a living creature's well-being. But it sounded as though Grandin were critiquing the personality of animals with albinism, and this puts me on the defensive. I'd need to hear more about her thoughts on the subject before I could properly critique it, but this section left a bad taste in my mouth.
Even so, I like this book. It addresses many topics that I've never thought to learn more about: the dangers of single-trait selection in livestock, for example, as well as the correlation between fear, curiosity, and intelligence. I'm taking some of Grandin's observations with a grain of salt, but I still appreciate her work and am glad for the opportunity to expand my horizons. Now I know more about a person who's intrigued me for years, as well as the animals that I love so dearly.
My biggest gripe with this book is likely an issue of datedness. "Animals in Translation" is nearly twenty years old now, and I'm not quite sure when the word "allistic" became popular. Still, it irked me to hear non-autistic people constantly referred to as "normal people." I was also disgruntled when Temple Grandin made generalizations about autistic people, taking her own experiences and presenting them as "the" autistic way of being. I enjoyed hearing about how she thinks in pictures, for example, but I don't think it's fair to say that all autistic people think in pictures, while all allistic people think in words and fully-formed sentences. I'm sure that more people's experiences with autism have been shared in the past couple of decades, so the idea of what traits are autistic or not has likely been expanded in the years since this book's publication. I'm not mad at Temple Grandin; I'm just put off by what I hope are outdated ways of discussing autism (calling allistic people "normal" and clumping autistic experiences beneath a single monolith).
Regardless, I enjoyed Temple Grandin's observations on what makes autistic people and animals similar. I stand by the fact that humans are animals, too, but I relate to what Grandin experienced: feeling more at ease around non-human animals than around other humans, especially at a young age, and being able to understand why our pets are unsettled better than my family members. One of my favorite lines in the book comes from the very end: "People were animals too once, and when we turned into human beings, we gave something up. Being close to animals brings some of it back." Again, I would argue that human beings are animals, but the sentiment expressed here still resonates with me.
My other gripe with this book is a topic upon which Temple Grandin touches only briefly: albinism. She talks about the issues that arise in animals with white skin and blue eyes then clarifies that this does not apply to white humans. Having light skin or light eyes is not the same as having albinism; some pigment is better than none. But there are humans with albinism, too, and I want to know how Temple Grandin's statements apply to us.
If she's referring to the physical problems associated with albinism (increased risk of skin cancer, photosensitivty, vision issues), then I suppose I can't argue: You probably shouldn't breed a dog specifically for these traits. Even if the appearance is appealing, you should not prioritize your aesthetics over a living creature's well-being. But it sounded as though Grandin were critiquing the personality of animals with albinism, and this puts me on the defensive. I'd need to hear more about her thoughts on the subject before I could properly critique it, but this section left a bad taste in my mouth.
Even so, I like this book. It addresses many topics that I've never thought to learn more about: the dangers of single-trait selection in livestock, for example, as well as the correlation between fear, curiosity, and intelligence. I'm taking some of Grandin's observations with a grain of salt, but I still appreciate her work and am glad for the opportunity to expand my horizons. Now I know more about a person who's intrigued me for years, as well as the animals that I love so dearly.
llhensel's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
kcrouth's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book i've read by Dr. Temple Grandin. I enjoy her insights and wisdom, coming from the perspective of living with autism and from working with animals all her life. But i especially love her compassion and humanity towards all animals. We can learn so much by allowing her to share her view of the world with us. This is not a scientific text, nor is it non-scientific. The author mixes academic research and knowledge with many personal anecdotes which help illustrate her views and message. I enjoyed this book very much, and learned a lot about animals and about myself. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Dr. Grandin.
kssntigger's review against another edition
4.0
I love everything Temple Grandin has written. This book helped explain why my cat goes from normal to psycho kitty at the blink of an eye.
hufflepuffbiologybuff's review against another edition
5.0
A prospective and and insightful read. Lines up with much of what I read in other books but learned a lot from this book.
Grandin makes everything interesting and understandable.
Grandin makes everything interesting and understandable.
margyly's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, though weird, both about autistic people and animals.
lisaortiz1221's review against another edition
4.0
every human being who has/will come in contact with animals should read this book. grandin takes complex concepts such as human and animal psychology, physiology and neurology and translates them into well constructed anecdotes. at times funny, and at times eye opening, this book is the one guidebook i would recommend to living peacefully with animals.
if you've ever wondered why animals behave the way they do, or if you've ever wanted to consider how much animals can tell us about ourselves, run to the bookstore now and get this book!
if you've ever wondered why animals behave the way they do, or if you've ever wanted to consider how much animals can tell us about ourselves, run to the bookstore now and get this book!