The Souls of Animals

Why do elephants bury their dead? What makes birds sing and cranes dance? Do animals appreciate art? Do they know the difference between right and wrong? Do they experience awe and wonder? First published a quarter-century ago, The Souls of Animals has been revised and updated to remain a classic in its field. Harvard educated theologian Reverend Gary Kowalski awoke to the inwardness of other species when he heard the story of Koko, the lowland gorilla who had mastered sign language and tried to explain her feelings on learning of the death of her pet kitten. "How do gorillas feel when they die: happy, sad, afraid?" the animal was asked. Koko responded with the the sign for "Sleep." For the author, it launched the beginning of a life-changing exploration, inquiring into the extent to which other creatures share in the joys, sorrows, and travail that make us human. The Souls of Animals combines heartwarming stories with solid science to show that other creatures are not insensitive objects devoid of feeling and intellect but thinking, sentient beings with emotions and spirits similar to our own.