A tour-de-force of many astute observations on animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects) displaying pleasure in the form of play, discovery, anticipation, feasting, sharing, grooming, sex and love.

The core argument is that having an experiential interpretation of animal behaviour does not conflict with an evolutionary interpretation, but rather, complements it. We may understand an evolutionary interpretation as concerning genetic changes in a population over time (an increase in group fitness), and an experiential interpretation as concerning the lifeworld of individuals (desires, affects, pleasures and pains). Jonathan Balcombe argues that an overemphasis on evolution as an abstract calculation of utility blinds us to experience as the living embodiment of evolutionary adaptations. An animal doesn't calculate the utility of fucking prior to the act, it fucks because it feels good. Pleasure is one of the great motivators utilised by evolution to develop adaptations that stick.

There is also the further argument that many animals are sentient; having a flexible mind is, evolutionarily, far less wasteful than having a rigid mind preprogrammed for the totality of all life's encounters. Though animals do display mechanistic behaviours (like us), many also develop personalities which change over time. They remember faces, painful experiences, friends and family; they have culture, create interspecies bonds, play pranks and engage in useless behaviours (like repeatedly sliding down snow hills, because it's hella fun).

Anyway, I'm too sleepy to write anything more. It's a really good book. Here's my original review after reading the chapter on sex:

Ahahahha, nature invented gay interspecies orgies, oral sex and autoeroticism. Move the fuck over fascists! Your family values were already genderfucked by mommy earth! AhahahAHA!

some very important new areas of awareness about the lives of the other animals we share this planet with..

Abandoned on page 40. Author is Douche.

I heard this gentleman speak at a Cornell Vet School occasion. He seemed so nice, I wanted to read his book. The premise is that the pleasure animals experience in the natural world can be as great as their suffering, and interrupting their ability to pursue pleasure is a form of cruelty. He cites some interesting studies, but the contents of the book weren't overly surprising. I think that he may be preaching to the choir in regards to those most likely to pick up this book. If only the people that needed to read this book would.

Pleasurable Kingdom was published in 2006 and it seems that at that time, a mere 8 years ago, it was still rare to think of animals as having emotions or being able to experience pleasure. Balcombe relates anecdotes of animals that would seem to indicate that many/most animals are also emotional beings, more similar to humankind than many of us would like to admit. Balcombe also approaches this subject from a scientific angle (not merely anecdotal) as well arguing that it makes sense for animals to take pleasure in many of the activities that serve us/them from an evolutionary viewpoint.

I think this book would be an excellent read for someone just starting to contemplate such questions as "Do animals have emotions?" or "Can animals experience emotion?" For me, this book kind of dragged on but mostly because I'd been contemplating such things for a while now and was already convinced of the things the author argues for in Pleasurable Kingdom.

Not without its flaws (sometimes the speculative emotional reasoning overtakes the scientific rigor, it refers to the questionable Koko studies at a few places, and it might feel too preachy at times), but the good here offsets the bad so much that I just had to give out a full score. Think of any sober argument for the "humanity", "soulfulness" or "intelligence" in animals, and you will probably find it elaborated on and academically supported within these 220 something tightly packed pages with biologistic nuance and reasonable deduction. If there is one subject that the pop-sci format is ideal for, it's this. One of the most optimistic and life-affirming reads I've ever picked up.

Jonathon Balcombe, an ethologist, presents us with so many studies and anecdotes exploring animal pleasure - something which often gets overlooked when exploring animals’ experiences. Much of the time the conversation is about whether animals experience pain and suffering, we hardly ever ask ourselves about animals’ experiences of joy and pleasure. There is so much to learn in this book, a must read for anyone interested in animal behaviour.

There is a lot of speculation and inference in this book, although I guess that until we figure out a way to clearly communicate with animals that's pretty much what we have to go on. Plus, I am one of those who firmly falls on the side of animals being able to experience pleasure (the look of bliss on my cat's face when I scratch his belly is unmistakable). I enjoyed the anecdotes, and some of the research is fascinating.

An enjoyable overview of research on animal behaviour showing that our fellow creatures have emotions like us, play, and enjoy themselves. Clearly written and well argued.

I would love to have the courage to change my diet to vegetarian and books like this definetly help. though every one can benefit from reading this book vegetarian or not. if you love animals and want to know more get reading.

Amazing book that will make you reconsider that it's in your plate

Wonderful cover art, and the book starts out well. But it starts to drag pretty early on, with Master of the Obvious stuff, one example after another. I stalled on my first afternoon of trying it, came back a second time, and stalled out for good at about 1/3 in. Another book I wanted to like, but it just wasn't working for me. 2 stars might be a little harsh, so you may still want to try it. Your mileage may vary!