The Thinking Animal

A dazzling journey into the minds of animals - and what they can tell us about our own brains

Why do dogs say hello, but never goodbye?

What makes baby penguins think the first animal they see is their mother?

Why are bonobos impulsive while chimpanzees show restraint?

And what does all this tell us about how humans think?

In The Thinking Animal, Nichola Raihani takes us on a journey into the minds of other species, revealing the extraordinary intelligence at work in the animal world. Drawing on her expertise as a Professor of Evolution and Behaviour, she explores how animals navigate in space and time, how they communicate, manipulate and collaborate. She reveals how they bond with one another - and with us - and how they are being forced to adapt to a changing world.

From elephants keeping vigil over their dead to ants using an internal pedometer to map their journeys, the inner lives of animals are rich with ingenuity and complexity. But just because an animal's behaviour looks familiar, doesn't mean it is being driven by the same thoughts or emotions as humans. By uncovering these differences, The Thinking Animal challenges us to rethink what intelligence is and how it is shaped by evolution. In doing so, it offers a fresh perspective on the many thinking animals we share our planet with - and the responsibility that comes with understanding them.

Praise for The Social Instinct:

'Surprising, thoughtful and endlessly entertaining' WILL STORR

'Phenomenally important... Nichola Raihani will change the way we think about ourselves' LEWIS DARTNELL

'A superb book about how important cooperation is' ALICE ROBERTS

'A pleasing juxtaposition of insightful scientific theory with illuminating anecdotes' RICHARD DAWKINS