Science

Review: Carl Safina’s ‘Beyond Words’ Doesn’t Mince Any on Animal Abilities

Credit Patricia Wall/The New York Times

Given the subtitle of Carl Safina’s fascinating and expansive new book, “Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel,” it’s no surprise that Dr. Safina frequently discusses animal cognition.

The surprise is that he also talks about animal precognition. (Read an excerpt.)

“How do we explain certain remarkable stories about elephant communication?” he asks at one point, noting that a conservationist who has worked with the animals for decades flatly believes in pachyderm telepathy. The conservationist says she has seen free-living elephants in Kenya show up at a nearby reserve just before rescued orphans were scheduled to arrive, ready to meet and greet. Read more.