A review of Frans de Waal's book on animal cognition, discussing its insights into animal intelligence, scientific methodology, and the evolutionary basis of cognition. Longer summary

This review of 'Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?' by Frans de Waal explores the field of animal cognition and its broader implications. The book discusses the history of ethology, challenges in studying animal intelligence, and the evolutionary continuity of cognition across species. The reviewer highlights key takeaways about scientific methodology, interdisciplinary communication, and the joy of learning about animal intelligence. The review also compares the book to other works on related topics. Shorter summary