When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Susan McCarthy ISBN 0385314280 amazon.com   USD $10.47 amazon.ca  CDN $19.51 amazon.co.uk  £5.59 Scientists refuse to see what ordinary people intuitively know. Animals have emotions. ORDER YOUR COPY FROM AMAZON.CA OR AMAZN.CO.UK Click on your country of choice and add the book to your shopping cart.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Gredley

When Elephants Weep is a serious book that clearly makes the case that animals have emotions. Masson cites research and anecdotal evidence from well-known scientists to show there's no reason beyond human arrogance to think that animals don't share emotional lives, despite the contrary conclusions of many of those scientists.

Masson draws on the work and observations of scientists doing both field and laboratory research as well as animal trainers. His findings not only show that animals appear to feel the same range of positive emotions as humans, but also the negative ones. It seems, for example, man is not the only animal to make war any more than man is the only animal to show altruism. Just as people, animals can show love at one time and cruelty at another.

In report after report, researchers seemingly refuse to accept what is obvious to a lay person. The conclusions they draw about the causes of animal behaviour make no sense in light of the evidence. I found myself marvelling at the intellectual blindness of otherwise intelligent people.  

In the end, when we wonder whether to ascribe an emotion to an animal, the question to ask is not, "Can we prove that another being feels this or any emotions?" but rather, "Is there any reason to suppose that this species of animal does not feel this emotion?"...

Scientific humility suggests that complete understanding of other animals may be impossible. But we will come far closer if we do not begin by insisting that we already know more than we do about what characteristics they do not have. To learn about other animals, they must be taken on their own terms, and these terms include their feelings. (p. 225)

If like most pet owners, you already believe that animals feel emotions, you'll find this book makes you think a little further than dogs and cats. If you come from a scientific background where anthropomorphism is a sin, perhaps Masson's arguments will raise some flags for you. In any case, this is worthwhile reading for anyone interested in the nonhuman world.

Chapter Titles

Prologue: Searching the Heart of the Other
In Defense of Emotions
Unfeeling Brutes
Fear, Hope, and the Terrors of Dreams
Love and Friendship
Grief, Sadness, and the Bones of Elephants
A Capacity for Joy
Rage, Dominance, and Cruelty in Peace and War
Compassion, Rescue, and the Altruism Debate
Shame, Blushing, and Hidden Secrets
Beauty, the Bears, and the Setting Sun
The Religious Impulse, Justice, and the Inexpressible
Conclusion: Sharing the World with Feeling Creatures