Carnivore Minds: Who These Fearsome Animals Really Are

Myth and media typically cast animals we consider predators or carnivores as unthinking killers—dangerous, unpredictable, and devoid of emotion. But is this portrait valid? By exploring their inner lives, this pioneering book refutes the many misperceptions that hide the true nature of these animals. We discover that great white sharks express tender maternal feelings, rattlesnakes make friends, orcas abide by an ancient moral code, and much more.

Using the combined lenses of natural history, neuroscience, and psychology, G. A. Bradshaw describes how predators share the rainbow of emotions that humans experience, including psychological trauma. Renowned for leading research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in elephants and other species, Bradshaw decries the irrational thinking behind wildlife policies that equate killing carnivores with "conservation." In its place, she proposes a new, ethical approach to coexistence with the planet's fiercest animals.

"An excellent book. The descriptions of animal behaviour are rich and vibrant. . . .important and entertaining." —Mark Rowlands, Times Literary Supplement

"A pure delight and a magnificent achievement. Think of it as Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals for the twenty-first century. Every page reveals a new idea for looking deeply into animal souls." —Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of Beasts: What Animals Can Teach Us About the Origins of Good and Evil

"A powerful argument." — Natural History

"Well-researched . . . Readers will find descriptions of coming eye-to-eye with white sharks and up-close-and-personal encounters with grizzly bears and other large carnivores particularly compelling." — Choice