The best books on animal intelligence – from aliens to octopuses

I begin my recommendations with a science fiction novel that first got me thinking about the difficulty of understanding other minds when I was a teenager.

Among many other profound philosophical and psychological questions, it’s about the exploration of an intelligent alien mind (and the alien trying to comprehend our minds) and the many things that can go disastrously wrong in the process.

In trying to explore what is going on the cockpit of an insect, I probably continue to make similar errors, though my research is unlikely to result in the doom of spaceship crews, as in this novel. 

This captivating book dismantles the prevalent notion that various facets of human intelligence are exclusive to our species.

Through a compelling array of examples spanning the animal kingdom, the author illuminates how skills like crafting tools, understanding mental perspectives, recognizing oneself, and even exhibiting cultural practices are not confined to humans and their nearest kin. Instead, these abilities have independently emerged in a diverse array of other creatures.

Consequently, the book serves as a stimulating challenge to the idea of human superiority, offering numerous indications that when an animal's environment demands it, evolution is inclined to yield intelligent behavior in a myriad of manifestations.

Cephalopods, which encompass creatures like squids, cuttlefish, and octopuses, stand as some of nature's most peculiar inhabitants.

Without bones or outer shells, they possess the remarkable ability to alter their shape, almost resembling characters from Gary Larson's extraterrestrial sketches. What sets them apart further is their exceptional intelligence, a trait not commonly associated with their mollusk cousins like snails and oysters.

Godfrey-Smith puts forth a compelling argument suggesting that intelligent life may have independently evolved multiple times right here on our home planet. He contemplates whether consciousness, once believed to be a solely human attribute, emerged early in the animal kingdom's evolutionary journey, serving as a vital mechanism for interpreting sensory information, evading predators, and sourcing sustenance.

This book is a captivating journey through the diverse minds that inhabit our planet, blending beauty, deep contemplation, and a touch of humor.

Justin Gregg astutely observes that while many facets of human intelligence echo in various forms across the animal kingdom, from insects to narwhals, humans undeniably possess a unique brilliance. However, this intelligence is shaped by our evolutionary past, and it's a double-edged sword. We may wield great intelligence, yet we often struggle to use it in the best interests of our planet, lacking a sufficiently long-term perspective.

Gregg's remarkable work serves as a poignant reminder that if we don't step up our efforts quickly, we might once again find ourselves surrendering Earth to the dominion of creatures we consider less intelligent, like insects.

In contrast to the other books that delve into a wide array of questions surrounding animal cognition, this book hones in on a specific mental capacity: the number sense.

The numerical system we're taught in school often stands as a symbol of human intellectual achievement. However, Can Fish Count? takes us on a captivating journey, exploring counting practices across various cultures, from the Incas and Mayans to the Warlpiri, then delving deep into prehistory to Neanderthals, and even examining a diverse range of creatures including primates, insects, and yes, fish.

Brian Butterworth's riveting research unveils a surprising truth: counting is a universal phenomenon, ingrained in our existence since the times of our Cambrian ancestors. It's highly probable that this holds true for other facets of animal intelligence as well; their origins may stretch back over an astounding 500 million years.