Humanish: What Talking to Your Cat or Naming Your Car Reveals about the Uniquely Human Need to Humanize -- Justin Gregg, Hardcover

Anthropomorphism is the human tendency to attribute human-like thoughts, feelings, and intentions to non-human things. It's a cognitive bias baked into the human mind that distorts our view of the world. But it doesn't just affect our understanding of animals. Anthropomorphism impacts our relationship to all living things, as well as inanimate objects (like AI), and natural phenomena (like hurricanes). It's perhaps one of the most powerful cognitive biases influencing our thoughts, but it's rarely talked about. It's time to change that.

In this groundbreaking book, bestselling science writer Justin Gregg takes readers on a journey through the science behind our peculiar tendency to humanize the nonhuman. Prepare to be amazed as Gregg unveils a world filled with emotional support alligators, a woman who married her briefcase, and Soviet super babies that drink dolphin milk. With a delightful mix of scientific insight and humor, this comprehensive exploration delves into the bizarre ways we engage in anthropomorphism. Each chapter is a treasure-trove of quirky stories and fascinating research, unraveling the reasons behind our instinct to see ourselves in the creatures around us.

Gregg explores why we treat pets like people, how anthropomorphism drives consumerism, and the inverse process, dehumanization. Readers will come away with a better understanding of the biological benefits to anthropomorhism, how our lives are enriched by it, and how to harness it to create healthier relationships.

Humanish is a crash course in anthropomorphism and an engaging exploration of the human experience, told through a comedic lens that will resonate with anyone who has ever whispered sweet nothings to their dog or imagined their cat plotting world domination.

Author: Justin Gregg
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Published: 09/23/2025
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316577588

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/23/2025

About the Author
Justin Gregg is a Senior Research Associate with the Dolphin Communication Project and an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis Xavier University, where he lectures on animal behavior and cognition. He is author of the bestselling book If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal. Originally from Vermont, Gregg studied the echolocation abilities of wild dolphins in Japan and The Bahamas. He currently lives in rural Nova Scotia, where he writes about science and contemplates the inner lives of the crows that live near his home.