What a Fish Knows
by Jonathan Balcombe
4.2/5
1 book reviewed · 4.2 avg
A scientifically rigorous exploration of fish consciousness that challenges assumptions about underwater intelligence, though occasionally dense with research citations.
What works
• Extensive research base with hundreds of scientific studies cited
• Challenges anthropocentric views of intelligence and consciousness
• Practical applications for ethics, conservation, and animal welfare
• Accessible writing that doesn't oversimplify complex concepts
• Covers diverse fish species and behaviors across various ecosystems
What doesn't
• Occasionally repetitive presentation of research findings
• Some speculative leaps beyond what the evidence clearly supports
• Dense with scientific terminology that may challenge general readers
• Organization sometimes feels more like literature review than narrative