beelzebean's review
2.0
Orlean is an excellent author.
However, I did not love On Animals as much as The Orchid Thief or The Library Book. I think this is partially due to some of the articles that comprise the book having been written in the 90's, so they are a little outdated. There were definitely some interesting stories, but I found myself skipping through many that didn't interest me much.
However, I did not love On Animals as much as The Orchid Thief or The Library Book. I think this is partially due to some of the articles that comprise the book having been written in the 90's, so they are a little outdated. There were definitely some interesting stories, but I found myself skipping through many that didn't interest me much.
ela_lee_'s review
3.0
3 stars, tempted to round down to 2.5. This book seems to be written by someone who doesn’t, in fact, truly love animals. It should be titled “How Humans Interact With Animals” as it’s not at all about the beauty of animals or learning much about them as a species. These essays range in discussions on show dogs, breeding tigers as pets, carrier pigeons, animal rights in film, encapsulated whales, farm oxen, taxidermy, baby lion breeding, rabbit RHD outbreaks, pandas, missing dogs, and Moroccan donkeys.
Orlean comes across as someone who looks at animals as material possessions of humans. She seems so distant from actually understanding animals; I found many comments in this book to be ignorant and disheartening. This lady has purchased pure breds over shelter dogs her entire life, wanted all of her pets to have red hair for the aesthetic, thought it was endearing to have a lion cub rented for her birthday, and seems to base her “love” of animals off whatever is being marketed at the time (ie: impulsively purchasing chickens and guinea fowl because Martha Stewart or an article suggested them.) Her descriptions of animals were unprofessional and unscientific. She also brags several times about still eating poultry, but of course not her OWN. (Actually, eating your own would make way more sense than supporting mass chicken/turkey manufacturing that prevent animals from living the free range life you provide yours.)
Towards the end, I was so happy for it to be over. I’m assuming this book was supposed to be positive and interesting, but I only learned a couple things and pretty much hated it. Plus her voice on the audiobook completely irked me. Definitely would not recommend this book to an animal lover.
Orlean comes across as someone who looks at animals as material possessions of humans. She seems so distant from actually understanding animals; I found many comments in this book to be ignorant and disheartening. This lady has purchased pure breds over shelter dogs her entire life, wanted all of her pets to have red hair for the aesthetic, thought it was endearing to have a lion cub rented for her birthday, and seems to base her “love” of animals off whatever is being marketed at the time (ie: impulsively purchasing chickens and guinea fowl because Martha Stewart or an article suggested them.) Her descriptions of animals were unprofessional and unscientific. She also brags several times about still eating poultry, but of course not her OWN. (Actually, eating your own would make way more sense than supporting mass chicken/turkey manufacturing that prevent animals from living the free range life you provide yours.)
Towards the end, I was so happy for it to be over. I’m assuming this book was supposed to be positive and interesting, but I only learned a couple things and pretty much hated it. Plus her voice on the audiobook completely irked me. Definitely would not recommend this book to an animal lover.
katsherms's review
4.0
Basically a collection of essays on different animals. I think if you know you like Orlean's writing, you'll enjoy this
bookbrig's review
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
There are some fun anecdotes here, but it's not particularly cohesive and a number of the stories were written long enough ago that newer developments aren't captured in their telling. The audiobook was a nice listen, but I think I prefer something like a Mary Roach collection of essays than this particular outing.