What Sheep Think About the Weather

Amelia Thomas is the author of The Zoo on the Road to Nablus, the true story of the last Palestinian zoo, a Daily Mail and Washington Post Critic’s Choice. She has authored and contributed to over a dozen books for Lonely Planet, and her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Sunday Times, Christian Science Monitor, Middle East Times and CNN Traveler. She was the host of a documentary about Israel and the West Bank in National Geographic Channel’s “Roads Less Travelled” series. Thomas practices equine bodywork for several charitable organizations, and in addition to Cambridge University, she holds a diploma in Equine Psychology. Based in Canada, Amelia is British and has extensively travelled and lived around the world with her family.

‘A refreshingly open-minded and wide-ranging book that seeks to bridge the gulf that all too often separates us from our fellow creatures. It movingly reveals how much they have to tell us – if only we are willing to slow down and listen to them properly.’ David Barrie, author of Incredible Journeys ‘A warm and thought-provoking read, filled with plenty of charm and wit. You'll never look at animals the same way.’ Jules Howard, author of Wonderdog ‘Compelling, original and surprisingly introspective, it simultaneously uncovers the animal in us and the human in animals.’ Hannah Bourne-Taylor, author of Nature Needs You ‘Blend the lively, buoyant writing of an award-winning non-scientist with a boat-load of direct experiences with animals, and you have this book. I found it both illuminating and entertaining from start to finish.’ Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows ‘Based on the latest science, fascinating stories, and personal reflections, this easy-to-read, fact-filled and fun-filled book will open all of your senses including your sense of awe and get you to wonder what it is like to be one of them in their worlds, not ours.’ Marc Bekoff, PhD., University of Colorado, Boulder; author of The Emotional Lives of Animals  ‘Every single page of this marvelous book will challenge you, even enchant you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.’ Jeffrey Masson, author of When Elephants Weep ‘Amelia Thomas is a powerful storyteller and has hit it out of the park in this contemporary anthology of our relationship with animals. From cuttlefish to cows, this brilliantly written and emotionally charged page turner is a masterpiece and masterclass for all animals – human and nonhuman.’ Pilley Bianchi, author of For the Love of Dog ‘Thomas’s passion and concern for animals comes through in vivid scenes and poignant prose that reveals the importance of understanding animals on their own terms . . . an inspiring display of empathy.’ Publisher’s Weekly ‘A sweet and sometimes sad journey into the natural world beyond humanity. This is for naturalists, birders, pet owners, and anyone who interacts with animals or would like to.’ Library Journal ‘A comprehensive yet conversational book that effortlessly illuminates the possibilities of human-animal communication . . . Full of fascinating facts wittily conveyed, it elucidates science and nurtures empathy. Thomas's genial tone will make readers feel they know each of the pets and wild animals described.’ Shelf Awareness‘A thought-provoking and very readable book … while we may never be able to actually converse with our pets, if we spent less time talking at them and more time listening to them and observing them, we could communicate far more effectively with the animals who share our lives.’ The Mail on Sunday‘It's a tale that is fascinating, inspiring and entertaining — and also a little sad, as in the case of one of Amelia's beloved pets who communicated with her as he reached the end of his life. Learning to listen to animals, it turns out, can mean hearing things that you won't always like … a fascinating read.’ CountryLife.co.uk‘When an outraged hummingbird buzzed her and her pampered piglets hightailed it from her Canadian farm, journalist Thomas was moved to explore the inner lives of creatures great and small, talking to a who’s zoo of experts around the world. Revelatory, at times deeply sad, occasionally hilarious (if your parrot calls you ‘weirdo’ or ‘featherhead’, you bet he knows of what he speaks!)’ Saga‘An exploration of animal communication, drawing on the expertise of scientists and trainers to psychologists.’ Horse and Rider‘A breezily written yet wise and complex book on what animals think, feel and know, which just might make its readers better listeners … What Sheep Think About the Weather is a handbook for humility, full of lessons that we must quickly learn before our kind burns it all down.’ Sy Montgomery, Times Literary Supplement