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Title: The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats : A Journey Into the Feline Heart by JEFFREY MOUSSAIEFF MASSON ISBN: 0-345-44882-0 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 29 October, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.84 (25 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: a decent book about the author's cats
Comment: I cannot remember where I heard of this book, but it seemed like an interesting enough topic to read about, so I decided to pick it up from the library. Some reviewers have commented on the lack of hard science involved in this book. I wasn't expecting any. This is a book on the observable emotions of cats and the examples used are the 5 young cats of the author. As would be expected, the book contains the author's prejudices regarding his cats and how they should live and behave. As such, this is a fairly interesting book.
The book deals with nine emotions: Narcissism, Love, Contentment, Attachment, Jealousy, Fear, Anger, Curiosity, and Playfulness. Each of these are granted a chapter (or to be more accurate, a section) in the book. I do own a cat (he is 10 months at the time I write this), but I am not familiar with a lot of the feline emotions. The insight provided in this book can be obtained simply be observing cats for extended periods of time, but it is interesting to have it all in one place. It must be stressed, however, the Masson does not do extensive research (though he is well read). Most of the information provided comes from the author's observance of his 5 cats.
Masson stresses that cats cannot be happy unless they have the opportunity to freely wander outside. This may or may not be true, but for most people not living on a beach in New Zealand in a very safe neighborhood, this just is not an option. We provide the best life possible for our cats, but sometimes the cat can only be an indoors cat and I do not feel that my cat is living a horrible life.
The author is well-intentioned in writing this book, but we should not assume that everything he says is exactly correct. Our own observations will give us the truth of Masson's statements.
Rating: 3
Summary: For anyone who loves cats...
Comment: I have "been owned" by cats for as long as I can remember. Currently, I am sharing my house with three of them. All of them have very distinct personalities and enjoy different things. I would love nothing more then to spend a year of my life observing them and all their little quirks. That is what Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson has done in "The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats". I am not familiar with his other works, but as a cat lover, I just couldn't resist this book.
Basically, I would say this is just what I expected. The author noting the behaviors of his five cats. I was a little disappointed about the small world he lives in but applies to anyone who owns a cat. Not all of us are fortunate enough to live in New Zealand, in a quiet neighborhood that is safe to let cats roam free. And I reject the idea that cats cannot be happy unless they are allowed to roam free. Masson's words almost made feel like I was giving my cats a miserable life.
However, there are very good points. He has pointed out traits that I recognize in my own cats that never fail to make me smile. He gives great historical facts on the domestication of cats, and in doing so, explains why they can never become truly domesticated. I would say this, despite its flaws, is a good read for anyone being owned by a cat, or anyone who loves them in general.
Rating: 5
Summary: Finding your own answers
Comment: This book was written in an interesting, almost philosophical way, asking more questions and not giving a whole lot of answers. That isn't a criticism, just an observation. The author will give an example of an emotion in cats, tell a story, then give his own opinion of what it means. Then he'll question it, and say, well, maybe it could also mean this. It's an interesting style because he doesn't just feed you information, rather he forces you to think about it on your own. It's quite enjoyable.
Plus the anecdotes are hilarious, and any cat owner can relate to them. Yossie with the strategically-placed sponges, Minna and her banana leaf prey... a book any cat-fancier will enjoy.
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Title: Dogs Never Lie About Love : Reflections on the Emotional World of Dogs by JEFFREY MOUSSAIEFF MASSON ISBN: 0609802011 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 08 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat by Claire Bessant ISBN: 0764121650 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: 30 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: When Elephants Weep : The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Susan McCarthy ISBN: 0385314280 Publisher: Delta Pub. Date: 02 May, 1996 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Pig Who Sang to the Moon : The Emotional World of Farm Animals by JEFFREY MOUSSAIEFF MASSON ISBN: 034545281X Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 04 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats by Clea Simon ISBN: 0312316100 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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