Smart Animals

De Waal reviews the rise and fall of the mechanistic view of animals and opens our minds to the idea that animal minds are far more intricate and complex than we have assumed. De Waal's landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal - and human - intelligence.

This delightful narrative takes listeners on a powerful search to unlock the secrets of dog cognition, based on evidence from trainers, owners, behaviorists, and the animals themselves. With in-depth reporting and more than a few personal adventures, best-selling author Jennifer S. Holland digs into what intelligence really means.

Margaret Winslow met midlife agita not head-on, but ass-on, fulfilling a childhood curiosity about donkeys by answering a for-sale ad in the American Donkey and Mule Society's magazine, The Brayer. Hilarity ensues, alongside life-threatening injuries and spirit-enriching insight.... As listeners walk with Winslow and Caleb the donkey through training traumas, expert-baffling antics, and humiliating races, they also share in the author's gradual understanding of Caleb's true, undeniable gifts: a willingness to "speak truth to power", to trust, and to forgive.

Can a football game affect the outcome of an election? What about shark attacks? Or a drought? In a rational world the answer, of course, would be no. But as best-selling historian Rick Shenkman shows in Political Animals, our world is anything but rational. This isn't because we aren't smart. Instead, modern cues are setting off ancient, instinctive responses that worked to keep us safe in the Stone Age but lead us astray today.

Fiercely resilient and impeccably dressed, Veronica McCreedy has lived an incredible 87 years. Most of them alone, in her huge house by the sea. But Veronica has recently discovered a late-life love for family and friendship, adventure and wildlife. More specifically, a love for penguins! And so when she's invited to co-present a wildlife documentary, far away in the southern hemisphere, she jumps at the chance. Even though it will put her in the spotlight, just when she thought she would soon fade into the wings.

The three little pigs want to bake bread, but their windmill has no wind to grind the flour. Even though they built a wolf-proof house, the wolf won’t leave them alone. They’ve been trapped inside ever since and can’t get out to find a solution for the windmill. One day, they have a brilliant idea that might just solve both problems.

This is a full-cast performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis, enabling any student to fully understand and appreciate the novel. Orwell's political fable is told from the viewpoint of its key characters, the animals, who are quizzed and questioned about how "some animals are more equal than others" in this vibrant guided drama.

Our feline companions are much-loved but often mysterious. In The Inner Life of Cats, Thomas McNamee blends scientific reportage with engaging, illustrative anecdotes about his own beloved cat, Augusta, to explore and illuminate the secrets and enigmas of her kind. As it begins, The Inner Life of Cats follows the development of the young Augusta while simultaneously explaining the basics of a kitten's physiological and psychological development.

Children will love these four original stories of heroism and courage brought to life by four immense talents...Jack Lemmon, Burt Reynolds, Martin Short, and Jean Smart.

It is business as usual down at the Digby, Wisconsin fire house until the day that eight year old Matty, the fire dog, gives birth to seven beautiful puppies. Six of the puppies are perfect in every way, but the seventh has a bad leg. As the chief says, "That poor old dog. It looks like he's got a bad digit" And that's how Digit got his name.