About this Book

On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died
prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene
Pepperberg, were ‘You be good. I love you.’

What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex’s
case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together,
Alex and Irene had become famous — two pioneers who opened an
unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds.
When Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any
potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable
to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He
could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger,
smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and
intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We
live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.

The fame that resulted was extraordinary. Yet there was a side to
their relationship that never made the papers. They were emotionally
connected to one another. They shared a deep bond far beyond science.
Alex missed Irene when she was away. He was jealous when she paid
attention to other parrots, or even people. He liked to show her who was
boss. He loved to dance. He sometimes became bored by the repetition of
his tests, and played jokes on her. Sometimes they sniped at each
other. Yet nearly every day, they each said, ‘I love you.’

Alex and Irene stayed together through thick and thin – despite
sneers from experts, extraordinary financial sacrifices, and a nomadic
existence from one university to another. The story of their thirty-year
adventure is a landmark of scientific achievement and of an
unforgettable human-animal bond.