From Publishers Weekly

Who knew that chickens and humans find the same faces beautiful? Or that fish choose reliable partners for dangerous predator inspection missions? Referencing such intriguing studies, Balcombe (Pleasurable Kingdom) builds a compelling case for blurring the line between animal and human perception, thereby questioning the prevailing scientific orthodoxy that humans alone possess the ability to reason. Over the years, studies have shown that animals have intelligence (dolphins have been known to teach themselves to delay gratification to get extra treats), emotions (like humans, baboon mothers show elevated levels of glucocorticoids after losing an infant), cunning (gorillas divert the attention of rivals from food, often by grooming); that they can communicate (nuthatches can translate chickadee chirps), can be altruistic (chimps who know how to unlatch a door help those who can't). Yet philosophers have routinely dismissed animals as unthinking, unfeeling beasts—Descartes grouped non-human animals with machines, a line of logic that has been used to justify callous treatment of laboratory animals. Balcombe's brief, marred only slightly by sermonizing, builds to a passionate and persuasive argument for vegetarianism on both humanitarian and environmental grounds. (Mar.)

Jonathan Balcombe was born in England, raised in New Zealand and Canada, and has lived in the United States since 1987. He has written many scientific papers and lay-articles on animal behavior, humane education, and animal research (see Jonathan's Writings). A popular speaker, he has given invited presentations on six continents.

In 2000, the Humane Society Press released his book The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives and Recommendations. His second book, Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good (Macmillan), was released in May 2006. His third book, Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals, is being hailed as his best work to date.

Jonathan has blogged for First Science and has been invited to blog for New Scientist once its blog is set up. Jonathan also wrote an online column titled, Beyond Animal Research for the PCRM website between 2004 and 2006.

Formerly Senior Research Scientist with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, in Washington, D.C., Jonathan is now an independent consultant based in Germantown, Maryland.

For more info, see http://jonathanbalcombe.com