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Jonathan Balcombe, author portrait

Jonathan Balcombe

British
Jonathan Balcombe is an ethologist and author. He is formerly director of animal sentience with the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy, and department chair for animal studies with Humane Society University, in Washington, DC. He lectures internationally on animal behavior and the human-animal relationship. He also served as associate editor of the journal Animal Sentience from 2015 to 2019.
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed What a Fish Knows.
1
Books Reviewed

Ask LuvemBooks about Jonathan Balcombe

Jonathan Balcombe is a British ethologist who examines the cognitive and emotional lives of animals, particularly those we know least about. In What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins, he combines scientific research with accessible storytelling to challenge assumptions about fish intelligence and sentience, making a case that aquatic life deserves serious ethical consideration.
Where should I start?
Start with What a Fish Knows, Balcombe's most widely read work. It's the natural entry point: accessible to general readers, scientifically grounded, and a perfect demonstration of how he combines behavioral research with compelling narrative. Readers have rated it 4.6/5 on Amazon across 863 reviews.
What's their writing style?
Balcombe writes with a measured, conversational tone that builds arguments methodically from observation and evidence. He avoids melodrama but makes his case persuasively, often using vivid examples of fish behavior to make abstract concepts about animal consciousness tangible. His style reflects his training as a scientist while remaining warm and engaging for non-specialists.
Books we've reviewed
We've reviewed one book by Jonathan Balcombe so far. What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins (Science & Nature, 4.6/5 reader rating) uses scientific research to demonstrate that fish have personalities, emotions, and problem-solving abilities that challenge their reputation as simple creatures.
What genre does he write in?
Balcombe writes science and nature writing—specifically popular science focused on animal behavior and ethics. His work sits at the intersection of ethology (the study of animal behavior), cognitive science, and philosophical questions about how we should treat non-human animals.
What should I read after Balcombe?
If you finish What a Fish Knows and want more, look for popular science on animal cognition—authors like Frans de Waal (on primate behavior) or Temple Grandin (on animal minds) cover similar ground with the same blend of science and accessible writing.
Who is Jonathan Balcombe?

Who is Jonathan Balcombe?

Jonathan Balcombe is a British ethologist—a scientist who studies animal behavior—known for his work investigating the inner lives and cognitive abilities of animals, especially those typically overlooked in popular science. He writes at the intersection of rigorous biology and ethical philosophy, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of animal consciousness and welfare.

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What's his background in animal science?
Why does he focus on animals?

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What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins by Jonathan Balcombe
What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins by Jonathan Balcombe

4.6/5

Jonathan Balcombe's What a Fish Knows, a New York Times bestseller published by Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, is a science-driven popular nonfiction work that systematically dismantles the idea that fishes are unfeeling, cognitively simple creatures, marshaling the latest ethological research to reveal their capacity for perception, feeling, thought, social bonds, and even tool use.

Reviewed Mar 21, 2026

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