Aesop's Animals: The Science Behind the Fables

Aesop's Fables are still passed on from parent to child, but are they accurate? Zoologist Jo Wimpenny investigates the latest findings in ethological research to discover whether there is any scientific truth to Aesop's portrayal of the animal kingdom. She interrogates classic fables and different topics, concluding with a verdict on the veracity of each fable's portrayal from a scientific perspective.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Aesops Fables, written over two and a half thousand years ago, continue to be passed down from parent to child and are deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. These timeless tales have taught us valuable morals and continue to influence our judgments. However, have they also shaped our perception of the animal protagonists in these stories? Are wolves truly deceptive villains, or are crows truly insightful geniuses? And could a tortoise really beat a hare in a race? In Aesops Animals, zoologist Jo Wimpenny takes a critical look at these fables to uncover the scientific truth behind Aesops portrayal of the animal kingdom. She brings the fables into the twenty-first century, incorporating the latest findings in ethological research, the study of why animals do the things they do. In each chapter, Wimpenny examines a classic fable and a different topic, such as future planning, tool use, self-recognition, cooperation, and deception, and provides a verdict on the veracity of each fable's portrayal from a scientific perspective. By separating fact from fiction in one of our culture's most beloved texts, Aesops Animals explores and challenges our preconceived notions about animals, their behavior, and our role in our shared world.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 134 x 216 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472966926