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Well with the GM Plant that I work now shut down, I have a lot of time to spend reading. I put Dr. Pepperburg's new book "Alex and Me" on my Christmas list!

With five children I figured that one of them would be able to find the book, but like all fathers I have learned not to expect things from my children. None of them could find it. I thought to myself, what the heck! So I went to Borders Books and found it right on the "New Books" table right in front of the door! Go figure... hun? If they walked into the place and bumped into it they couldn't find it!

I'd be interested in others who have read the book and what they have to say about it!

I'll pony up the 24.00 myself if none of my kids "bump into it!" ... lol

I figure the local library will have it by.... let's say.... the year 2015?

Book Review: “Alex and Me” by Dr. Irene M. Pepperburg Harper Collins Publishers 2008 $23.95 Hard Cover

Well first off I would like to say that this book was on the top of my Christmas Gift (wish) list and my youngest son saved up his allowance money and found it for me. It was like a mad dash around Christmas when she released it and he went all over trying to find it. I believe he found it at Borders right when he walked in, on the newly published table.

Ok, now you know I got this book at Christmas and you’re saying to yourself wow this guy takes a long time to read a book, right?

Well between the text books “I have to read,” the required reading I have in my job, the web, all the list servers I belong too this was not a tiresome read. In fact I approached each and every chapter on a high note. This is definitely a book with which you’ll want to get in the mood to read. It’s a snuggle up to the roaring fire, get a glass of wine, put on some soft music, and take each word she writes one by one. Put yourself there in her story. She’s such an accomplished person and so highly educated but this work is definitely not one of her scientific oratories. I have read everything I could get my hands on from Irene and this is her best work hands down, and such a great read!

In my opinion this book is not just about Alex and all of the things she did with him, this is more like a celebration of life from a woman who worked her tail off to make a difference. We are taken through Irene’s journey as a young woman growing up and making her way through school, her accomplishments, her trials, her failures, love of her life (human) and generally a heartwarming story of an accomplished woman in her own right! Sure you are introduced to Alex and all of his own miseries, mysteries and breakthroughs but the underlining achievement is right where it belongs, and it comes out loud and clear, I am woman hear me roar!

I am the father of two very beautiful and intelligent women so I have firsthand knowledge in “man’s academic world” and what it takes for a woman to be understood as a “serious scientist.” Dr Pepperburg takes us chapter by chapter in her fight to be creditable in her achievements not only with Alex but with the stereotypical conception of a woman who “dares to make a statement” about her chosen profession. If you have any daughters please (even they don’t own a bird or any pet for that matter) get this book for them.

I know I’m going to throw out some awful clichés’ but really…. I laughed, I cried, I was so happy, at times laughed so hard I…, but then I know how this story ends so in the back of my mind I was always preparing for it… but then I still cried like a baby. This book brings back so much emotion and of course my own observations with African Greys, I didn’t want it to end. And that is the great back story, it is not over, Alex lives on, the foundation still exists and their work will go on. Alex was just the beginning and who knows when this story will truly end?

Don’t wait till it comes out in paperback, you’ll want this now!

Our library has it, but I haven't read it b/c I have heard that it does not have very much about husbandry in it - that could be errant though. You can check with your library if they can get it on loan from another library. Her in California we have Inter Library Loan and I have found every parrot book I have wanted to read through there. The librarians know me and they know I am always ordering another parrot book. I've also found several parrot books at the bookstore next to my library (a fund raising donation based bookstore for the library).