My edition of this book is subtitled "The Art and Science of Interspecies Communication." I have to say that there is more art than science here, although not because the author hasn't given some thought as to how to carry out his work scientifically. The problem is that his view of how to carry out interspecies communication studies is innovative and not yet generally accepted by the scientific community. There are only a handful of people carrying out such work, which makes for anecdotal rather than statistically valid results.

Nollman's approach differs from the old style of teaching language to chimps, parrots, and dolphins in that it is not human-centered. He writes: "....all...the formalized experiments in interspecies communication share one serious flaw. Every one of them starts by asking the question: Can an animal be taught to communicate with a human being? The animal is the subject, held in a captive situation, and then carefully programmed to learn to give and receive information 'the way that humans do it'.....all we have accomplished is to learn that a chimpanzee, or a dolphin, or whatever animal, can act just a little more like a human being than we had prviously believed possible...."

Nollman's alternative is based on mutual respect. Go among the animals in their own environments, participate rather than observe, and find a medium of communication that transcends the human sphere. For Nollman, this medium is music. Using rhythm, tone, chord progressions, and sound textures, he establishes contact with various species, and draws them into musical "dialogs." Sometimes he strikes out, and things don't work out as planned (he's very honest). Other times the results are amazing and yes, awe-inspiring.

This book will probably most appeal to those who already have a sense of connection to other living things. I imagine that most reductionists would not make it very far into the book. It's too bad, because although Nollman is an artist and a very open-hearted, empathic human being, he is also good at using logic and science to bolster his point of view. Perhaps the entire crux of his argument against the "animals as machines" school of thought is summed up in what he terms the "Bambi Syndrome." This is the mode of thinking used by skeptics who "cannot accept the reality of animal consciousness until an animal possessed of human consciousness appears on the scene."


Imaginative, intelligent, and inspiring   October 9, 2000
 0 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book comprises a series of meditative essays on author Nollman's experiences using music as a medium of communication between humans and various species, particularly cetaceans. He also provides some very sober observations on how technological culture has exploited other species, what we have lost in so doing, and how to begin repairing the damage to ourselves and other creatures. Overall the book inspires hope as well as a greater sense of connection to the beings we share the planet with.

My edition of this book is subtitled "The Art and Science of Interspecies Communication." I have to say that there is more art than science here, although not because the author hasn't given some thought as to how to carry out his work scientifically. The problem is that his view of how to carry out interspecies communication studies is innovative and not yet generally accepted by the scientific community. There are only a handful of people carrying out such work, which makes for anecdotal rather than statistically valid results.

Nollman's approach differs from the old style of teaching language to chimps, parrots, and dolphins in that it is not human-centered. He writes: "....all...the formalized experiments in interspecies communication share one serious flaw. Every one of them starts by asking the question: Can an animal be taught to communicate with a human being? The animal is the subject, held in a captive situation, and then carefully programmed to learn to give and receive information 'the way that humans do it'.....all we have accomplished is to learn that a chimpanzee, or a dolphin, or whatever animal, can act just a little more like a human being than we had prviously believed possible...."

Nollman's alternative is based on mutual respect. Go among the animals in their own environments, participate rather than observe, and find a medium of communication that transcends the human sphere. For Nollman, this medium is music. Using rhythm, tone, chord progressions, and sound textures, he establishes contact with various species, and draws them into musical "dialogs." Sometimes he strikes out, and things don't work out as planned (he's very honest). Other times the results are amazing and yes, awe-inspiring.

This book will probably most appeal to those who already have a sense of connection to other living things. I imagine that most reductionists would not make it very far into the book. It's too bad, because although Nollman is an artist and a very open-hearted, empathic human being, he is also good at using logic and science to bolster his point of view. Perhaps the entire crux of his argument against the "animals as machines" school of thought is summed up in what he terms the "Bambi Syndrome." This is the mode of thinking used by skeptics who "cannot accept the reality of animal consciousness until an animal possessed of human consciousness appears on the scene."