I have a copy of the book, Alex and Me, to give to one lucky reader!
On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were “You be good. I love you.”
What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex’s case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together, Alex and Irene had become famous—two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Alex’s brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.The fame that resulted was extraordinary. Yet there was a side to their relationship that never made the papers. They were emotionally connected to one another. They shared a deep bond far beyond science. Alex missed Irene when she was away. He was jealous when she paid attention to other parrots, or even people. He liked to show her who was boss. He loved to dance. He sometimes became bored by the repetition of his tests, and played jokes on her. Sometimes they sniped at each other. Yet nearly every day, they each said, “I love you.”
Alex and Irene stayed together through thick and thin—despite sneers from experts, extraordinary financial sacrifices, and a nomadic existence from one university to another. The story of their thirty-year adventure is equally a landmark of scientific achievement and of an unforgettable human-animal bond.
Would you like a chance to win?
- Leave a comment on this post before 9:00pm (MST) on November 7th, 2008.
- You may leave a comment each day until the giveaway ends.
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Please come back and leave a comment for each of the extra entries that you participate in. Thanks and good luck
*this giveaway is now closed*
This is a great book.
I am so awed by this story. I would love to read this because it re-enforces what I believe, which is that animals are are little brothers on this planet. Thank you.
I love a restrained animal story. So many of them are maudlin lifetime movies of the week.
sounds like a great read
Would love to read this book.
This sounds like a wonderful book and I would love to win it. I love animals and am always so amazed at how so many people have a strange kind of arrogance where they don’t realize that we are ALL animals on this earth together!
This sounds great, please enter me.
Neat book
Looks like an interesting read. Please sign me up for your contest.
This sounds like a good read.
enter me
oh boy
I heard a good things about this book
I’d love to win!
I have her 1st book and also have 2 grays They are amazing, intelliegent and delightful birds My Oliver tells me every time I leave the house–Momma be back and says delightfully when I return–Mommas home He also tells me everyday that I (he) know everything,mama knows nothing–my son taught him that
I would love to win this book to learn more about Alex’s amazing life
Bonnie in FL
blday50@yahoo.com
I love Alex and cried when he died. I know the heartache of losing a beloved parrot too soon. I still have my baby, Calla, a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, htat my husband gave me as an engagement gift twelve years ago. She picked me and would quit eating as a baby to come to me.
what a nice story for children
want to win this
This sounds like a wonderful book
just to cool
enjoyed reading the positive reviews a plus for all the canine lovers in this household.
I love reading about Alex and this would be a great book to read to Clint [Eastwood], my 3 year old African Grey. I would have never believed I could be so attached to a bird, but he’s just like another child! Thanks for the great giveaway!
My youngest sons name is Alex, he would so enjoy reading along with me in a book with his name in the title!
This would make a nice holiday gift.
from what i heard its a great read
Parrots are some of my favor-iiite people… Would love the book!
Sounds like a really interesting story-I love books about animals!
This sounds like a very moving story. Just the first line brought tears to my eyes. I would love to win it.
I recently heard about this story and would absolutely love to read this book. I’m an animal lover and have always known that animals are far smarter than most people suspected. Count me in on this one!
I’m a cat lover!!!
Please enter me.
I am very interested in parents. A friend of mine has an African Grey parrot that is so smart! He knows what he is saying-not just “parroting”. I would love to read this book to learn more about Alex and Irene.
smchester at gmail dot com
a bird adventure
i want to win
Would love to have this also. I love animals especially dogs
i love animals and support/volunteer with local animal rescue groups. I must say dogs are my favorite.
I love animals. Have had one almost all of my life, dogs, cats, birds you name it. Would love to win this book.
It sounds like a good book.
my dad just rescently died and i miss having him there. I think this book would teach me a little about compainship. Even if i don’t win it ill buy it, but it would be nice to have a break..
Thnaks
I like to read.
i love critters
I have admired Dr. Pepperberg’s work for many years, and would love this book.
I’d like to read this.
nice gift for holidays
I followed Alex & Irene Pepperberg even before I was owned by a Grey. Thanks for the giveaway!
i would love this
I want to win this for my aunt
I started following Alex’s story a while ago while doing research on African Greys. His story inspired me to adopt my own Grey and I couldn’t be happier with any other companion bird.
I love to read.
Sounds great
This would be a great addition to my book collection. Thanks!
If I don’t win this, I plan to purchase this book. I’d love to read more.
I love my golden retrievers
As the mother to 2 African Grays I would love to won this book THey are amazing, intelligent, delightful parrots
Bonnie in FL
blday50@yahoo.com
Lab / Husky Mix
a great gift for my aunt
Oh I would absolutely LOVE to have this book. It sounds excellent and my family is thinking of getting a parrot right now actually….
Pick me, pick me!!
i am in
this would be a great gift for me
I would win this for me, thanks.
I think Alex’s story is a great one. African Greys are so smart. I’d love to win this because it probably has some good tips that might help me train my Grey more.
sounds like a good book
I love animals! Pick me!
My reading addiction is breaking the bank.
I love to read..
I love animals, and this sounds like a heartwarming AND quite informative book!
I would like to win this book because it’s a true story. I am touched by what I have read about the book.
i just love books about the special relationship between people and animals. i just read marley an me and cried and cried. i just know this book will be just as good
this would be a very good gift for my aunt
I hadtears in my eyes as I read your description. of this book. I would love to read it.
I’m not surprised by our connection to animals; after all if we can think/reason, WHY should’t they do so as well. NATURE hate a vacuum and tends to multiply a good/great formula.
I love all animals and Alex and Me sounds so interesting to read. I’d really enjoy winning this!
I have an African Gray named Sam.
This sounds like a wonderful story and I’d love to share it with my son and granddaughter. Thank you for the contest!
We love ornithology!
I would love this for my daughter. She has such an affinity for animals that sometimes I think she likes them more than people. Plus my son is studying zoology and he’d also get a kick out of this.
This should be an interesting read.
I love books and think they all are worth reaDING
I love my chickens.
This looks really interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
It seems like a good book.
I had never heard of Alex before. I would love to have this book and learn about him.
Please enter me
This would be such a wonderful book to read — which is why I would love to do so — because it’s an amazing story with a lot to teach us about animals.
vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu
I read about Alex years ago and I went out and bought an african grey. They are such intelligent birds…I would love to read this book.
We love books and my daughter’s dying to get a bird. I think we should be better educated before we take that step.
I want to win this book to give to my aunt.
Hope I win it’s my Mother’s birthday on the 23th of November and I cannot afford a gift so this would be ideal.
I like reading all types of books and this looks like a good one to read.
i.ll like to win this book
This book sounds great, I would love the chance to read it.
I would love to win because I would love to read this remarkeable story about the bond between the parrotand its owner.
i love animals
sounds like a good read count me in thanks for the chance
I would like to win the book because it sounds very interesting!
That book really sounds neat.
I’d like to win the book because I’ve seen it in stores and it sounds absolutely fascinating.
The book sounds like an enjoyable read.
I would love to win this because I love parrots and I had one a long time ago
that died.His name was Harpo and he was a member of our family.Sounds
like a great book.Thanks for the giveaway
Awww I am so sorry to hear Alex died. I remember reading a lot about Alex and Irene when I was younger. I found out about Alex when I was hand feeding greys, amazons and macaws. I’d love to win the book, please enter me..