Many of us who are interested in reading about the natural world are often also interested in reading books about animals. I have always been an extreme animal lover. I believe animals are thinking and feeling organisms, and I arrived at that idea after reading many of the books on this list. The best books about animals look at animals in unique ways and will likely bring you closer to them. You’ll come away having a deeper connection and appreciation for our animal kin. Just a quick reminder that if you click on one of the links, I may make a commission at no additional charge to you. The links below will take you to Amazon. If you prefer to support independent bookstores, check out my curated lists on Bookshop.com.
An Immense World by Ed Yong
I could write a huge list of superlatives about An Immense World. It’s stunning, fascinating, remarkable, unique, and completely engaging. Ed Yong is a writer for the Atlantic and man is he brilliant. His writing is superb. In this book, he takes us inside the umwelt of numerous animals to help us understand what it might be like to sense the world as that animal. Every chapter will teach you things you likely have never even pondered about animals. The chapter about bats and echolocation is absolutely mind blowing. If you love animals and want to understand them better, this book is a must-read.
Beyond Words: What Animals Think & Feel by Carl Safina
Alfie & Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe by Carl Safina
What an Owl Knows: The New Science of Nature’s Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
All of the above links will take you to Amazon. If you prefer to browse or shop at Barnes & Noble, click on one of the book cover images below. Reminder, if you click on a link and purchase an item within 24 hours, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.
