Book SummaryAn Immense World, by Ed Yong

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of An Immense World

In his New York Times best-selling book An Immense World, Ed Yong asserts that every species of animal—humans included—perceives the world differently. While humans tend to think that our way of perceiving the environment is the best and most accurate, many animals have senses that we don’t have, and some have supercharged versions of human senses. In describing the many unique ways animals view the world, Yong contends that the world is far richer and more nuanced than humans’ five senses are capable of perceiving.

Yong argues that because it can be hard for humans to...

An Immense World Summary Part 1: Animals Perceive the World Differently Than Humans

Yong shows that animals perceive the world in myriad ways that humans can’t. Not only do animals use the primary senses—smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch—in novel ways, they also possess senses that humans don’t have, such as echolocation, electrolocation, and magnetoreception. Animals also experience pain differently than humans.

In addition, Yong says, we all perceive a different slice of the world—no single species can perceive everything in its environment. As a general rule, animals have evolved to perceive only what they most need to function optimally. For example, humans don’t have great night vision because we tend to sleep at night, whereas foxes, which are predominantly nocturnal, have excellent night vision.

In this section, we’ll explore how animals perceive the world through each of their senses.

(Shortform note: Yong uses the concept of umwelt, introduced by German biologist Jakob von Uexküll, to describe how every species perceives the world differently based on its physiology and environment. An umwelt is a creature’s unique perceptual world. From a philosophical standpoint, one of the implications of this concept is that there is no single,...

An Immense World Summary Part 2: Sensory Pollution Is Fatal to Animals—But We Can Change That

Yong argues that because it can be hard for humans to imagine how other animals perceive the world, we often contribute to sensory pollution, which causes significant damage to all kinds of animals. It forces animals to adapt to attacks on their senses or perish—and for many species, adaptation in a short time frame isn’t possible. Human-caused sensory pollution of animals’ environment is one of the factors contributing to a mass extinction crisis. By understanding how animals sense the world, however, we can help save animals and their environment.

(Shortform note: As outlined in journalist Elizabeth Kolbert’s book The Sixth Extinction, scientists believe we’re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event. Unlike previous, prehistoric extinctions, the sixth extinction is the result of human activity, including human-caused climate change and ocean acidification, habitat destruction, and the spread of invasive species around the world. In the 50 years from 1970 to 2020 alone, the [average size of world wildlife populations has shrunk by...

Shortform Exercise: Consider How Your Activities Affect Animals’ Senses

Yong argues that understanding how animals perceive the world can help us reduce sensory pollution and save threatened animals. While some solutions to sensory pollution require systemic changes to law and policy, individuals can also make a difference. Consider how you could alter your own activities to decrease sensory pollution.

Identify the animals that live in your area. If you live in the city, are there urban wildlife nearby such as squirrels, coyotes, crows, or rats? If you live in the country, are there animals like foxes, bobcats, wild turkeys, or hawks?