Name: Grace Mekkes-Nyboer's review of The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke
Item: The Truth About Animals
Rating: 5
Author: Grace Mekkes-Nyboer

Lucy Cooke

Mary Roach meets Bill Bryson in this "surefire summer winner" (Janet Maslin, New York Times), an uproarious tour of the basest instincts and biggest mysteries of the animal world Humans have gone to the Moon and discovered the Higgs boson, but when it comes to understanding animals, we've still got a long way to go. Whether we're seeing a viral video of romping baby pandas or a picture of penguins "holding hands," it's hard for us not to project our own values -- innocence, fidelity, temperance, hard work -- onto animals. So you've probably never considered if moose get drunk, penguins cheat on their mates, or worker ants lay about. They do -- and that's just for starters. In The Truth About Animals, Lucy Cooke takes us on a worldwide journey to meet everyone from a Colombian hippo castrator to a Chinese panda porn peddler, all to lay bare the secret -- and often hilarious -- habits of the animal kingdom. Charming and at times downright weird, this modern bestiary is perfect for anyone who has ever suspected that virtue might be unnatural.

Stoned Sloths, Lovelorn Hippos, and Other Tales from the Wild Side of Wildlife

The Truth About Animals

Melike Oran

This book was endlessly interesting, a must-read for any animal-lover. Interesting is an understatement, actually. From old history to recent, there are stories and explanations about animals that had me laughing out loud while reading, and then needing to share with others. Each chapter (total: 13) goes over the peculiarities of a different animal. Whether it’s through the science or the stories, the reader is always entertained, not to mention the excellent word choice throughout the book that often made me chuckle more. I wish there were more books about animals like this and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to learn. Even one chapter here or there, read in order or not, would be enjoyed by anyone.

Grace Mekkes-Nyboer

Mary Roach meets Sam Kean and Bill Bryson in this uproarious tour of the basest instincts and biggest mysteries of the animal world Humans have gone to the Moon and discovered the Higgs boson, but when it comes to understanding animals, we've still got a long way to go. Whether we're seeing a viral video of romping baby pandas or a picture of penguins "holding hands," it's hard for us not to project our own values--innocence, fidelity, temperance, hard work--onto animals. So you've probably never considered if moose get drunk, penguins cheat on their mates, or worker ants lay about. They do--and that's just for starters. In The Truth About Animals, Lucy Cooke takes us on a worldwide journey to meet everyone from a Colombian hippo castrator to a Chinese panda porn peddler, all to lay bare the secret--and often hilarious--habits of the animal kingdom. Charming and at times downright weird, this modern bestiary is perfect for anyone who has ever suspected that virtue might be unnatural.

Melike Oran &
The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke

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Melike Oran &The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke

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Join the club

Melike Oran &
The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke