What Sheep Think About the Weather

‘Compelling, original and surprisingly introspective‘ Hannah Bourne-Taylor, author of Nature Needs You What are animals trying to say to us - and how we can learn to listen? Science has shown us that animals communicate constantly and elaborately amongst themselves: bees exchange directions via ‘waggle dances‘; dolphins have a ‘signature whistle‘ that functions like a human name; and fruit flies even have local dialects. But are they talking to us too? And could we ever learn to listen and understand what they‘re trying to say? With the doggedness of a journalist, the soul of an animal lover, and the wonder of a curious intellect, Amelia Thomas pursues the answer, determined to better listen to her own menagerie (a horse, pony, chickens, dogs, cat, mice, goat and pigs). Taking us on her journey of discovery through the scientific, practical, and spiritual ways people today are trying to listen to animals, she meets with animal behaviourists, anthrozoologists, pet psychics, animal trainers, AI experts, indigenous trackers and psychologists - all of whom are listening in vastly different ways to vastly different species. Filled with warm wit, fascinating stories, and surprising science, What Do Sheep Think About the Weather is an illuminating, playful, and personal quest to understand animals on their own terms, rather than through a human lens. ‘Illuminating and entertaining from start to finish‘ Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows ‘This easy-to-read, fact-filled and fun-filled book will open all of your senses‘ Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals ‘A masterpiece and masterclass for all animals - human and nonhuman‘ Pilley Bianchi, author of For the Love of Dog ‘Every single page of this marvellous book will challenge you, even enchant you ... I cannot recommend it highly enough‘ Jeffrey Masson, author of When Elephants Weep