Please do not use this book as a guide to understanding your dog. Dr. Grandin does not appear to know anything about dogs or even like them very much.

This is the most fascinating book I have ever read. The amazing Temple Grandin takes two subjects: autism and animal behavior,and draws comparisons with remarkable insight. She brings the world of animal behavior into sharp focus with examples and explanations and makes it easy for the lay reader to understand. She and coauthor, Catherine Johnson, write with a conversational prose that makes even the most difficult concepts easy to grasp. Every chapter elicits a "Wow".

Although the dry title may put some people off because it sounds clinical and cerebral, this absolutely exciting book holds a plethora of facts and wonders about the animals we come into contact with on a daily basis. A real eye-opener!

- C.A. Wulff, author of Born Without a Tail

This is a terrific book. I learned about animal behavior and autism. I am a science teacher and I gained understanding of my autistic students and my pets and insight to share with students regarding animal behavior.

With all the force of revelation, an autistic scientist offers the rest of us revolutionary insights into the animal mind. It is written in clear, deceptively simple prose. There's so much here that it is hard to keep it in the bounds of a short review:

The first section is about Temple Grandin and her autism, how she has coped with it and used her unique perception to help animals and the people who work with them. This is an inspiring story.

The second section talks about how animals perceive the immediate environment and how people do not. This was literally an eye-opener! Since then, I have become a better observer of my own animals. My horse trusts me more because I can respond to his alerts. My dog has an ability to detect the approach of dangerous weather.

The third section discusses animal feelings in a scientific manner and challenges some modern methods of animal breeding, care or confinement that produce abnormal behaviors. This is a fascinating chapter that covers many aspects of animal behavior and altered my own. After reading this chapter, I started buying only eggs that were labeled "cage-free".

The chapter on animal aggression had a lot of information about dogs and cats, animals of prey that have become our closest companions. A fundamental difference exists between a dog happily killing a squirrel and a dog angrily biting a human.

She makes an equally fundamental point in the following chapter about animals masking pain that suddenly explained why a horse I once had who had just broken a bone suddenly put his head down and started to eat grass as if everything was fine. In following chapters there was food for thought in how animals think and about animal genius.

In short, if you like animals, this is an invaluable book made more useful and effective by its wide-ranging focus on a variety of species.

Every so often a book enters one's life in such a way that thoughts that were once unformed crystalize and become clear. This book had that effect on me.

I had the great honor of listening to Dr. Grandin speak once and I remain profoundly grateful for her works, both in these pages of illumination and in the practical world of reducing animal suffering.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly!

she has several positive points to make about her own autism which is a change form other books i have read,

Temple Grandin, PhD, has done something extraordinary: combined her experiences as an animal scientist and an autistic person to give us new insights into the amazing inner world of animals. In her irresistably fun, anecdotal style, Grandin describes the most recent research on the senses, the brain, and emotions, ultimately explaining our own feelings and actions as well as those of animals. Entertainment Weekly says it best: "At once hilarious, fascinating, and just plain weird, Animals is one of those rare books that elicit a `wow' on almost every page."

Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)

Temple Grandin, PhD, has done something extraordinary: combined her experiences as an animal scientist and an autistic person to give us new insights into the amazing inner world of animals. In her irresistably fun, anecdotal style, Grandin describes the most recent research on the senses, the brain, and emotions, ultimately explaining our own feelings and actions as well as those of animals. Entertainment Weekly says it best: "At once hilarious, fascinating, and just plain weird, Animals is one of those rare books that elicit a `wow' on almost every page."

Fantastic read! Have recommended to everyone since devouring this book! After hearing Grandin deliver a very interesting lecture at my university I decided to buy her book and check it out. I couldn't put it down! The book is not only an asset to anyone wanting to work with animals but also gives great insight into one's own mind and actions. I bought 2 other copies for friends in animal training and handling the same week! It should be a requirement for anyone working hands on with animals because her methods make sense, are simple to execute, and really do work. From the position of someone who has worked with wild, captive, and domestic animals, I feel Grandin's knowledge will greatly enhance the success of my career.

Even if you have no intention of working with animals personally, this book is fun, light-hearted, and plainly explained in lay-man's terms. Grandin not only made her book scientifically accurate, but fresh and enjoyable. No wonder it's on the National Best Sellers List! Once you've read her book, you can't help but try to see more detail in everyday life. Though I don't have kids myself, the understanding of early brain development in how a child thinks and visualizes the world as described by Grandin (especially one with autism) also seems very useful for parents and teachers.

For those who don't have the time to commune with animals, "Animals in Translation" provides plenty of helpful insights. Though, when she's not writing books, Temple Grandin is a superstar in the world of slaughterhouse design, so while reading I couldn't keep lines from Monty Python's "Architects Sketch" from nagging my conscience.

Temple Grandin is fascinating. She is clearly brilliant, and clearly very different from everyone else.

Grandin purports to understand animal behavior well because her own autistic thought processes are similar in some ways to the thought processes of various animals. Through a range of examples and anecdotes, Grandin makes very good arguments for her interpretations of animals' motives for various behaviors.

Grandin has improved conditions for farm animals by creating pragmatic strategies for farming, based on observation and insight.

I finished the book convinced that she is brilliant and has done a great deal of good. I waver on what role her autism plays in her effectiveness. I understand her argument, but it could be that she's been effective because she's so smart, so creative, such a keen observer and loves animals so much.

As a sidelight, I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy Richard Feynman's memoirs. Again, informal writing by a brilliant scientist with tremendous observational skill.

This book, as well as Temple Grandin's earlier books, provide an incredible wealth of information and insight. It should be required reading for all educators! Extraordinarily valuable.

For anyone who is interested in not only developing better understandings of animals and the way they 'think' and view the world, but also in developing better understandings of we humans - how we think and view the world - the similarities and differences. This is a fascinating insight into the world of those whose brains function differently to most of ours, and the amazing benefits and the great difficulties that this brings them. I found this book enlightening and challenging. It helped me understand my animals better and adjust some of my interactions and expectations of them. It is also a really useful personal development tool for anyone interested in understanding themselves better and developing an awareness and understanding of those with brain function differences - whether that be autism, ADHD, or other. The brain is an amazing place!

Grandin and Johnson's personal and accessible writing style makes this book the equivalent of sitting down with Grandin for a cup of coffee as she explains some of her thoughts on parallels between animal perception and thinking and autism. This is a personal view, not an academic view, but it is the personal view of someone who is well informed on both topics. Grandin is herself autistic and an animal lover who has been working with animals for entire life. She explains how she comes to those views and offers academic evidence where relevant. I saw broader applications for a number of the points that she makes, especially the tendency of non-autistic people to perceive abstract representations of reality rather than the details that make up reality. I received this book as a present from an evolutionary biologist and have in turn recommended it to others; I look forward to reading more from this author.

I have a loaned out print copy of this, but mostly have experience with the audio version. (Someone who has heard her says that it may be a blessing that she is not reading this herself.)

But I'm finding myself thinking "Temple Grandin says" two or three times a day. When what I've done right with my dogs works. When I wonder why ritalin works with ADHD, how anti-anxiety drugs work. When I consider how a friend interacts with her wolf hybrids--Grandin thinks that wolves socialized us as much as we created domestic dogs. When I have have a moment of, what is it, inattentional blindness--where I can't see what I'm not expecting. And when I realize why the horse I had as a kid was such a disaster for us--broken bones for both my parents, for instance.

I'd class it as a book to browse, not read straight through. Even though I was delighted to have it running every time I got in the car. Twice.

Was very taken with this book. A whole new world of understanding opened up for a layperson like me. So much more understanding of animals. Lent it to my own vet - people that work with animals probably had that knowledge but for me it was an eye opener and I tried to find everything else Temple had written. Very grateful to have read it.

Anyone who lives with animals needs this book. Anyone involved with special needs children needs this book. Anyone with a curious bone needs this book. I learned more about autism and animal behavior in the first 20 pages than I did in 25 years of teaching special ed and 46 years with horses and other critters. Temple Grandin has a tremendous talent for making the obscure clear as a bell. Her theories are easily tested at home with fascinating results. Love it!

As I first dipped into this book I was intrigued. Temple's ideas on animal behaviour and her own views of the world were woven together to make an interesting story. However, as the book wore on I became a little more neutral about the book.

The writing style let much to be desired. It is hard to know whether this is because of Temple's narrative style or because the co-author thought it would be interesting to set things down as Temple speaks\writes, but I felt it was too clunky and left too many questions.

There were many times when I felt unsatisfied with the reasoning behind Temple's assertions. As a Phd, autistic or not, she knows how to provide scientific arguments and also how opinions or research need to be presented so that an audience can understand where the argument is coming from. In this book, I felt this got very wishy-washy. Some of it felt like personal opinion with no basis e.g. all the talk about white skin on animals and albinism. There were also sections where I thought she lost the plot entirely, and others which simply repeated messages from ealier on in the book.

I found it interesting but didn't really come away with much that I hadn't already considered. There was certainly a sense from the book that Temple considers (or perhaps she only meets) 'normal' people to have inferior understanding of animals than she. From the examples she provides I can't say that I necessarily agree - she just has contact with people who are having problems (are more stupid\less observant) and doesn't seem to be able to understand that she is meeting a 'skewed' sample of people.

Overall - an interesting read, some new but a little spoiled by the writing style. Buy if you don't mind and interesting but slightly 'non-wowing' experience.

If you are fascinated as I am by animal behavior because of how enlightening it is about human behavior, this book is a must have. Animals In Translation was like crack or chocolate--utterly compulsive reading, with page after page of incredible experiences & insight by the author.

What more can I say? Once again Temple Grandin captures my attention both as a parent of a child with austism and as an animal rescuer.

As a Veterinarian, this book was recommended to me by many people. Since I have read other Temple Grandin books, I knew the style would be easy to read and understand. What I didn't know is that is contains so much useful information and insight that helped me to live my life better and understand people as well as animals at a much deeper level. Since I have read this book I have gone on to read other books about Asperger's Syndrome and High functioning Autisics. Are these people the X-men of the future? Fascinating - absolutely compelling. I suggest The Glass Wall next.

okay i havent read the book yet, but i just wanted to say i just listened to the author lecture at my university and she is brilliant! im buying this book right now...

I am a one-to-one teacher for a teenager with Aspergers and my husband and I are also farmers. I have learned more about how it must feel to live with Aspergers from this book than any text book I have previously read. This book has had a profound impact on my understanding and empathy as a teacher and friend.

I have also been fascinated with the reasoning behind animal behaviors within their own environment. This book has given me concrete information that I can use and helped to explain why my gut feeling in certain instances with animals actually has a factual basis.

The "light-bulb" moments in this book have been continual from cover to cover. This book will stay in my personal library permanently.

I started reading this book out of curiosity, but it turned out to be serendipitous. Our older dog had recently died at 14, and we didn't realize that our younger dog had concluded that she was now the alpha dog until I started seeing her newly problematic behaviors (including lots of growling at people, which she never did before) on the pages of this book. I used the theories I read about to demonstrate to her that I was the dominant one, and within a few weeks, the problem was gone.

Aside from this practical use, I found the book extremely interesting and often funny.

Animals in Translation is an amazing book. This book states that by looking at human autism, we can better under animals, the way they think, the way they behave, and how they see the world. The author is an animal scientist who works primarily with slaughter houses. She is also autistic.

Before reading this book, I had very little comprehension about the way that autistic people see the world. I simply had no idea that seeing the world in a visual way was that much different than the way that I think. I now see that this different way of thinking has a lot of really interesting benefits, particularly when it comes to understanding other visual thinkers like the animals around us. As I read this book, I started to comprehend how much detail in life we normally ignore. So much of what we need to understand animals is simply looking at life from their perspective, both literally and figuratively speaking.

I picked up this book for two reasons: I am a health care professional who deals extensively with children on the autistic spectrum, and at the same time a boggled owner of a very fearful pekingese mix whom I had adopted from a rescue shelter. Who would've known there was a great overlap in understanding both populations? This was a wonderful, enlightening book that I couldn't put down once I started reading. It was thoroughly engrossing, understanding animals and sensory-processing challenged children from the view who has intimate knowledge of their plight. This is an informative, intuitive book that analyzes behaviors in animals and people with autism, gives meaning to them, and makes them understandable to us.

This is a great read for people who deal with persons with autism behaviors, for people who love animals, and for all who would like to delve deeper in to our human - and animal, and autistic-like - natures.

Lots of information about human and animal emotions and behavior. Easy to read.

I found this book fascinating, but it brought many questions to mind and I'm not sure I found the answers. I'm curios about the abilities of someone who was diagnosed as autistic. Was the author, Temple Grandin wrongly diagnosed, or are the abilities of autistic people misunderstood? Just a couple of the questions this book brought to mind.

As an animal lover, I found this book difficult to read. It brings to the forefront the cruelty of which humans are capable and it bothers me greatly that so many are so capable of mistreating our furred, feathered and scaled friends. It troubles me what animals must go through to appease humans for sometimes inessential purposes.

Could Grandin better use her gift of being able to decode animal behavior by championing vegetarianism or to stop animal cruelty in the broad spectrum, or are her talents essential to the better treatment of animals heading for the slaughter house? More questions that came to mind as I read this book.

The book is worth reading, but can be difficult to read in spots if you are a softy when it comes to animals. Trying to match ethical slaughtering methods with fighting animal cruelty is a hard leap to make, but if animals are to be slaughtered, I guess it is a worthy cause.

This book really assisted me in understanding my dog's perceptions of the world. It has helped me to understand how to deal with some of the unusual fears-- for example, my dog will not go out its "doggie door" at night, and I discovered that it was because he would have to go from a light room to a dark room. I can now floodlight his doggie door exit and solve the problem.

This book is engagingly written. It is, however, quite full of factual inacurracies. This is the first book in nearly a decade I declined to finish because of the level of inaccuracies. There are the minor ones (for example, she refers to insects as not animals - she meant they were not mammals, I think) that show sloppy editorial review. There are also substantial ones (for example, she refers to the collie breed as being stupid because poor genetics have morphed their brain case; this is a theory first put forth around 1900 and conclusively disproved numerous times, and is now considered entirely discredited). Even her description of cattle behavior, a topic on which she has substantial traction, is apparently dangerously inaccurate according to 2 friends who grew up on dairy farms.
While the book is engagingly written the number of substantive factual errors suggest the best thing you can do with this book is discard it. Ms. Grandin is well respected in the field of autisim research, I hope she is a lot more careful talking about autisim.

I picked up a copy of Animals in Translation at Equine Affaire in California after it was recommended by Julie Goodnight. I have started to reread it because I was so thrilled with it the first time. I am amazed at Ms. Grandin's ability to communicate her view of the world and the connections she makes with animals from the perspective of her autism.

Thank you, Ms. Grandin, for a unique view into animals' minds, and our own. It is so amazing how much people overlook and how much they ignore everyday things that affect the comfort and well-being of animals.

I agree wholeheartedly with her assessment of animals and how they fit into the "human" world. I am excited that Ms Grandin has done, and found, research that shows how intelligent and resourceful animals are and describes their true abilities and limitations.

As a long-time horse and pet owner, as well as a horse/pet sitter, I have spent most of my life wondering why people did not understand how to treat their pets as they should. It seems that many people do not understand our cats', dogs', and horses' roles in this world and how their natural/native/inborn roles play a part in our relationships with them. Ms. Grandin, in a very easy-to-read style, explains the bases for behavior that many people have missed.

As stewards of domestic animals, those we have removed from their natural environment and changed to suit our needs and wants, our responsibility is clear.

As stewards of the earth, a responsibility and burden granted us because of our ability to change it and our role in it so completely, I agree with Ms. Grandin that we have an obligation to ensure that other living creatures are taken care of and live and die as painlessly and fear-free as possible. Just because we eat some animals does not mean that they should suffer during their life, or at the end of it.

Ms. Grandin's education and experiences are very impressive and she writes with a matter-of-fact and down-to-earth voice. I am recommending this book to all of my friends, whether they have animals or not. It is a fascinating view into the lives that our animal friends experience every day.

Ms. Grandin, thank you for your book.

Miriam Mustain

This book should be required reading for all college freshman. Ms. Grandin has taken us on a journey of enlightenment and awakening. One knows they have forever been transformed through her words.

She has effected through her genius and strict criteria that the meat packing industry treat animals humanely or loose corporate support of their facilities. Moreover, she has expanded our own perception of ourselves and the potential each of us possess regardless of our differences.

Ms. Temple Grandin's brilliance shines through her lifelong pursuit to understand her world. Awakening us to our own. Bravo!

Well, the book should just be read by everyone because it helps you understand not only autistic people, but see the science behind why people and may be different. While scientific, it is a compassionate way of being able to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. I have loved animals as a child and had the good fortune to work with animals and picked up the book from an "animal behavior" tool standpoint but cannot count the number of times I reflected on my relationship with my fiance, my parents, my friends while reading it. Easy to read and I consider it a MUST-Read for anyone socializes with others. =)

Very interesting and entertaining survey of animal intelligence and psychology. Relating the way they experience the world to that experienced by autistic children, with insights for understanding both.

Her observations will influence the way people deal with a number of species, from birds, to dogs, to chimps. Surprising learning and empathy capabilities. Not all of the insights are her own. This is a survey of many studies with her own intelligent speculations.

Of course, the reader doesn't have to fully agree with every interpretation and extrapolation she and others make, but it is all good stuff to think about. New, helpful perspectives for animals and autism.

Very interesting and entertaining survey of animal intelligence and psychology. Relating their experience of the world to that experienced by autistic children, with insights for understanding both.

Her observations will influence the way people deal with a number of species, from birds, to dogs, to chimps. Surprising learning and empathy capabilities. Not all of the insights are her own. This is a survey of many studies with her own intelligent speculations.

I, of course, don't fully agree with everything she has to say, or with anyone else in these fields for that matter, but it is all good stuff to think about. A new perspective.

Over the years, I've read countless books written about animal psychology, physiology, and behavior: some scientific and dry, others full of treacle and nonsense. So it is rare to find one that still manages to offer a unique viewpoint. More importantly here is a book that offers insights into not only "all creatures great and small," but also into who we are--both as animal and human. I still continue to work with my local humane society, volunteering my services, spaying and neutering. I've recommended this book to my co-workers at the shelter. I also recommend this book to anyone who has compassion for animals--whether large or small--and who wishes to delve deeper into the mystery of our role, relationship, and responsibility to those who share this globe--both human and animal.

This is a letter my son wrote to her:

"Daniel Hoshor
February 20, 2007
Dr. Temple Grandin
Associate Professor of Animal Science
Colorado State University

Dear Dr. Grandin:

I would like to express my appreciation of your book, Animals in Translation. It is one of the greatest books I have ever read. It is simply amazing. Your insights and discoveries tell me facts about animal behavior that I never even knew existed, such as hyper-specification. This is simply enlightening. It presents ideas that I never had even thought of, but now, seeing the evidence, I can really understand your ideas, and understand your book.

You have given me a whole new perspective of autism and animal emotion; A better one. I used to believe (please take no offence) that autistic people were mentally challenged people who sometimes had special talents. But you have shown me something quite different. I also thought that animals led simple lives with little need for memory. I was very wrong on that part. They are very smart in certain areas, but seem to flat out fail in others, like autistics. I never knew this.

Please, do write more. I love your books. They teach me something new at every turn of a page. And if you could I would appreciate it so much. You have no idea, Please, please, do.




Sincerely,

Daniel Hoshor"

As a veterinarian, I was very interested in Temple's view of animal behavior. During 20 years of practice I have often observed many of the behaviors that she describes but didn't have any references to back up my observations. I feel that many people could better understand how to work with animals, both prey and preditor species, by reading this book. And I would hope that "stupid" breeding practices could be decreased. I have since purchased all of her other books and I am enjoying those also. My understanding of autism, which was zero prior to reading this book, has also been enhanced.

This may sound strange to alot of people but I have never enjoyed reading before, but there was something about this book that kept me reading. Everything that I have read so far is interesting and explained well. I am a person that has struggled my entire life with Dislexia and didn't find out that I was until recently. When I started going to college I wanted to be a child thyripist for the autisic & when I saw this book in the book store I just knew I had to read it! I have always know there was something else to animals then meets the eye!

What an interesting approach... if you want to dive deeper into the issues addressed here I recommend "Adam's Task: Calling Animals by Name," by Vicki Hearne, which combines animal training with philosophy and literary criticism. If you are an animal trainer-- or even just an animal lover-- it's definitely worth checking out.

I understand that it might be the authors very very special autistic superpowers that are keeping her from writing a book that is coherent, factual, backed up by studies (even though she is a phd and has teaching credentials so youd think shed know better than to equate singular random anedotes into unsurmountable facts) but where are her editors and cowriters??? you cant put a book out there that says things like albinos/white animals with blue eyes and pink noses are sick defective and have emotional problems basically because my autistic superpowers tell me so. She also claims that one of her students used her dyslexic superpowers to hear a radio that wasn't on. She said ADHD people get sensory overload from all their amazing detail grabbing superpowers and she couldn't be more wrong. i have ADHD!

anyway, my biggest problem is the cover of the book is a DOG. the jacket doesnt say anything about cows and livestock. Most people who bougth the book and gave it low stars are annoyed because we were deceived into thinking this book would give us insight into our dogs and cats. the same way a mouse in a lab isnt living the same life a mouse in the wild does, you can't generalize about cows and chickens and apply it to Poofy and Rover.

btw your turkish angoras and your huskie dogs are most surely plotting your death, you better rub sunless tanners on their skins and get them some brown contact lenses ASAP!!! MY ADHD SUPERPOWERS TELL ME SO!!!

We watch animals and marvel at their antics. We see them in context and we also see their environment. What we cannot see is what they see and how they interpret and use the information. We look where their ears, nose, eyes are directed and the human sees the surroundings, the landscape. The animal is fine tuned to detail. And in fact that tiny tidbit of information the animal received but we missed is of ultimate importance.

Temple Grandin is amazing and her book a reference source I will refer back to for a long time. She shares with readers what she has learned about animals and how she knows about these insights in ways other people might not. I am also reading some of her references, presently "The Emotional Brain", LeDoux. And when I regard animals now I search for details, sound, sight, or smell, the fine points.

Thank-you Temple Grandin.

I really enjoyed this book and have recommended it to several others. A friend gave me a copy, and I was intrigued to read it because I love dogs and thought that was the sole focus. I did learn lots of interesting things about dog behavior, but I was also fascinated by what the book has to offer about other animals and how the brain works and about autism, about which I previously knew very little. I look at animals in an entirely different way after having read this book, and it has really enriched my appreciation of the human/animal relationship. Thanks, Temple Grandin.

This is a beautiful book and a fascinating read. We see and interact with so many animals in our daily lives, but never really understand what's going on inside their heads. Temple Grandin offers the best understanding of animal's minds I've ever read. She shows how animals aren't less intelligent than humans, they are *differently* intelligent and how their actions are direct responses to how they perceive their world. I'm already re-reading it!

I have owned, trained, bred and exhibited champion Doberman pinschers for 35 years. I have never read a more insightful, helpful, on-the-money guide to living with animals as Ms. Grandin's book. There's an "Aha!" on every page, and the only frustration is that she's not sitting across from you as you read to discuss or elaborate each point. This book should be required reading for everyone who lives with an animal - much less trains or breeds them.

Now, looking back for answers I have been seeking for when trying to understand my dogs' behavior, it all suddenly makes so much sense. They do think in pictures they remember pictures, yes, this is it!!!

If you are an animal lover or not, by being part of nature, this book is a must read.

Thank you, Temple, for the illumination.

Giora Liran

Temple Grandin is a brilliant author and despite her autism an unbelievable communicator to those whom have difficulty visualizing with her perceptiveness. She is able to open the eyes of those blind to an animal's point of view to see the world from a new perspective. This book is highly recommended for those whom want to understand that their view of the world is not the only one.

I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS SO GREAT I BOUGHT 5 MORE TO GIVE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

I'm half way through reading this book and already it is a huge wealth of information. Informative on the subject of all animals. If you know someone who loves animals,this makes a great gift.

This is an unusual book, and fascinating. I've given two copies as gifts