Cowpuppy

An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist’s Journey into the Secret World of Cows

By: Gregory Berns

Narrated by: Derek Dysart

From the author of the bestselling How Dogs Love Us, a fascinating glimpse into the cognitive and emotional lives of cows.

"Hilarious, humble, and heartwarming—get ready for the best true story you will read this year." —Dr. Brian Hare, author of New York Times bestseller The Genius of Dogs

"I am a farmer, but Cowpuppy made me feel like a neuroscientist too. It is heartfelt, absorbing, and vivid."? —Rosamund Young, bestselling author of The Secret Life of Cows

When Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his wife decided to venture into sustainable farming in rural Georgia, they knew that cows were a key part of a successful operation. But that was where his knowledge of cattle ended.

As Berns and his small herd of three miniature zebus acclimated to each other and Berns received a crash course in being a cattleman, he turned his powers of scientific observation and innovation on his new charges. This wasn’t the first time he’d studied animals through the lens of neuroscience; years earlier, Berns had applied his knowledge to man’s best friend, resulting in two books and important advances in how we understand dogs’ thoughts and emotions. Now it was time to see what he—and all of us—could discover about the interior worlds of cows.

In this moving and captivating memoir, Berns weaves together his hands-on experiences with his growing herd, accessible scientific explanations of animal behavior, and evocative portraits of the animals at the center of his study: the original bull, Ricky Bobby; the two mamas, Lucy and Ethel; and their sweet and spirited calves: BB, Cricket, Princess Xena, Luna, Walker, and Texas Ranger.

Whether cows are a familiar part of your experience or you’re a city dweller longing for life in the country, Cowpuppy offers a deeper understanding of these complex creatures and what we humans can learn from them.

The warmth of the story. Quality of narration delivery. Depth of scientific detail and historical background.

Dialogue, content, narration, and scientific content. However, there is no link or instructions on how to download the pics for the audio edition. HELP!

Informative and charming!

This has been my favorite book in recent history! You’ll learn some interesting facts you didn’t know you were missing out on, you’ll be charmed by the author’s journey, and see the natural world with a new appreciation. The performance is exceptional too.

Poor narration, story ok

Unfortunately, the narrator chosen for this book not only sounds like a comedian looking for a laugh after each sentence, but he mispronounces many words. I know an author who has books on audible and he not only auditions readers, but works with the ones he chooses to properly pronounce words that the narrator is unfamiliar with. That seems to have been lacking in this case.

The book itself is written with a "scientific" bent and combined, strangely, with juvenile word choices and slang. It feels forced in both respects. Some statements are presented as facts and absolutes, which is the antithesis of the scientific method.

It seems that the author is a kind person, and the book does not spend much time on the negative aspects of life for most livestock.