The best 50 Animals books

Eating Animals (2009) offers a comprehensive view of the modern meat industry and demonstrates how the entire production process has been so completely perverted that it is unrecognizable as farming anymore.

The book explains the moral and environmental costs incurred to achieve today‘s incredibly low meat prices.

• Anyone interested in how meat is produced today and what the consequences are for people, animals and the environment.
• Anyone who thinks of food as an important part of their lives, from full-blooded meat-eaters to vegetarians and vegans.

The World Without Us (2007) outlines the fictional scenario where, all of a sudden, the whole of mankind disappears. With humanity missing, the process by which nature claims back what was once hers is described. Although most of the footprints left by humanity would be gone after a relatively short period, some would remain. Among these remnants would be some of the many toxic substances released by mankind, meaning that, even after we’ve gone, the damaging effects of human civilization would linger.

• Anyone who wonders what damage humans have already done to nature
• Anyone who wants to know if nature can recover from human interference
• Anyone who wonders what will survive of our human culture

Oxygen (2002) is a guide to the element that is so essential to our very existence that we sometimes forget it even exists. These blinks explain how oxygen enables and boosts life on earth while simultaneously threatening it.

• Anybody fascinated by the evolution of life on Earth
• Anyone interested in biology, chemistry or physics

The Genius of Dogs (2013) uncovers the remarkable intelligence of man’s best four-legged friend. By first examining human intelligence, the authors go on to explain exactly what makes dogs so smart, which talents they have in common with humans and other animals, and what sets them apart.

• Dog owners or anyone considering adopting a dog
• People interested in animal behavior and cognition
• Veterinarians or anyone who cares for or works with dogs

Project Animal Farm (2015) is all about one of the most harmful industries of our time: the modern mass production of meat, eggs and milk. It delves into the horrible conditions farm animals are kept in and the dangerous effects of factory farming on humans, animals and the environment.

• Meat eaters
• Animal rights or environmentalist activists
• Anyone who wants to know where their food comes from

Comfortably Unaware (2012) is about the impact our food choices are having on the planet. It explains how the animals that are raised for us to eat end up polluting our waters, soil and air, and why our natural resources are poorly managed.

• Meat and fish eaters
• People who want to become environmentally conscious
• Anyone who wants to understand the impact of our daily choices

Beyond Words (2015) is an explanation of the animal world’s propensity for thought and feeling. These blinks walk you through the complex societies of the natural world and explain how animals think, experience real emotion and learn.

• Anyone interested in animals
• Pet owners
• People who think humans are unique in nature

Farmageddon (2014) is an in-depth guide to the dark reality of cheap meat. These blinks explain how industrial farming has replaced traditional methods and how it’s draining our resources, poisoning the environment and making us unhealthy.

• Anybody interested in how we can sustainably meet the world’s food needs
• People curious about how exactly our meat is produced
• Anyone who wants to make healthier dietary choices

A Sky Full of Birds (2016) is a celebration of birdlife in Britain. These blinks offer fascinating insights into mating rituals and migration patterns and explain the cultural significance of murmurations, murders, swan songs, and more.

• British birdwatchers keen to know more about their local wildlife
• Avian enthusiasts interested in what the United Kingdom has to offer
• Readers curious about the role of birds in British culture

To simply explain the fascinating animal known as the fox in biological terms wouldn’t do it justice. This mysterious animal has long been the subject of countless stories and myths and cultures around the world have developed their own unique perception of the animal. Fox (2006) dives into these many myths and stories, and also shows how the fox continues to influence our language and culture.

• Linguists who wonder why we say “foxy”
• Sociologists curious about how stories change the way we think about a species
• Animal-rights activists who wonder why the fox has gotten a bad rap

Lesser Beasts (2015) relates the long and fascinating history of the pig. Often considered an inferior creature, the pig is actually the sole animal that has stayed connected to us since the beginning of our existence. The pig’s reputation has taken plenty of blows over the years – and today, due to modern farming practices, its welfare may be suffering more than ever.

• Farmers who want to learn more about hog history
• Anthropologists interested in our relationship with food over the ages
• Foodies curious about the development of human dietary habits

Cod (1997) charts the rise and fall of the codfish. A major commodity in the European market during the discovery of the New World, cod went on to cause national conflicts and, due to overfishing, eventually became vulnerable to extinction. Find out how this fish changed the world only to end up on the verge of oblivion.

• Foodies interested in the history of seafood
• Conservationists curious about the dangers of overfishing
• Students of marine biology

The Genius of Birds (2016) is all about the incredible intellect of these winged creatures. These blinks explain the many ways birds display their intelligence, from tool making and navigation to memory and song.

• People who want to know why birds chirp outside their window every morning
• Anyone curious about neurological research in animals

Dazzled and Deceived (2009) explores the fascinating phenomenon of camouflage and mimicry in nature, where animals act like leaves and harmless prey look like ferocious predators. These blinks examine how the science of camouflage has influenced not only artistic expression but also how humans fight and win wars.

• Biology lovers
• Artists looking for inspiration
• Fans of military history

Cat (2006) offers a lovingly detailed look at the biological, historical and cultural history of our furry feline friends. Each blink looks at a different stage of development, chronicling how the relationship between humans and cats has evolved from horrific superstitious misunderstandings to domesticated bliss. Meow!

• Cat lovers
• Those curious about the symbolic meaning of cats
• Readers interested in cultural history

Feathers (2011) is all about the evolution and significance of our quilled comrades, the birds. These blinks explain how feathers originated, why they’re unique and how they have affected everything from human culture to technology.

• Nature enthusiasts
• Biologists and zoologists
• Pilots, flight attendants and anyone interested in flying

In The Inner Life of Animals (2017) Peter Wohlleben discusses the latest research on animal feelings and emotion. He draws insights from multiple studies as well as from his personal experiences of the woodland where he has lived and worked for decades. The book argues that animals’ inner lives are really not so different from our own.

• Everyone who owns a pet
• Anyone interested in psychology and neurology
• Animal rights activists who could use some new arguments

The Origin Of Species (1859) is Charles Darwin’s magnum opus. These blinks outline a theory of how traits are selected by nature, where the tremendous diversity of life on earth came from and how animals and plants came to be distributed across the planet.

• Anyone interested in science or natural history
• Nature lovers

Cannibalism (2017) offers a scientific, historical and cultural approach to the understanding of, well, cannibalism. These blinks explain why animals eat their own, why it’s become so taboo among humans, and why it could come back.

• Scientists, biologists and sociologists
• Students interested in evolution and cultural taboos
• People who love sci-fi and dystopian fiction

In a Sunburned Country (2000) is Bill Bryson’s personal account of his time traveling around Australia. With stopovers in major cities, out-of-the-way mining towns and treks through the vast wilderness, it’s a travelogue packed with insights into the history, culture and wildlife of this unique nation.

• Globetrotters
• Historians
• Lovers of nature and wildlife

Other Minds (2016) is an exploration of the evolution of the octopus. Once a limpet-like creature that crawled along the bottom of the ocean, the octopus is now an intelligent and unique predator. Peter Godfrey-Smith guides the reader through billions of years of evolutionary history to explain the development of complex life, while shedding light on one of the world’s most intriguing animals.

• Students of biology and zoology
• Readers interested in evolutionary science
• Animal lovers

Alex & Me (2008) is the heartfelt memoir of Dr. Irene Pepperberg, who reveals the amazing story of how she, along with her parrot Alex, smashed scientific boundaries with their experiments and research on avian learning, speech and cognition. Their work has forever changed the way we think about animals, as well as how we understand human nature.

• Animal lovers
• Students of linguistics, neuroscience and speech
• Readers who like a good scientific breakthrough

Feral (2013) is both an analysis and a manifesto. Author George Monbiot addresses what people are lacking in their day-to-day lives: nature and true wilderness. The book argues that certain areas should be left to nature and rewilded, and that the benefits of doing so – to both the planet and people – will soon follow.

• Environmentalists looking for different perspectives
• Anyone interested in human interactions with nature
• Land and property administrators looking to broaden their horizons

Power, Sex, Suicide (2005) reveals the incredible role that mitochondria play in the evolution of complex life forms. The book looks at various functions of multicellular organisms, including energy generation, cellular relationships and life cycles, and demonstrates the influence of mitochondria in each of these areas.

• Biologists and biology students
• People interested in the origin and evolution of life
• Those who want to know more about life, sex and death from a biological perspective

In The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs (2018), leading young paleontologist Steve Brusatte takes us on a journey through time and space, detailing the history of the different dinosaurs and the worlds in which they lived. He is guided by his deep knowledge of fossils and geological evidence, and is thus able to bring the fascinating stories of dinosaurs into clear focus.

• Anyone looking to take their knowledge of dinosaurs beyond Jurassic Park
• Adults who loved playing with dinosaurs when they were kids
• People interested in geology and fossils

The Elephant in the Brain (2018) explores the selfish motives that drive much of human behavior but which we’d much rather remain unaware of.

• Students of psychology and anthropology
• People interested in evolutionary theory
• Anyone curious about the dynamics of human behavior

The Mosquito (2019) provides a sweeping tour of human history with a novel twist. As it follows the course of the pivotal events that shaped the world in which we live today, it draws attention to some of the most important but under-appreciated factors that have influenced those events: the mosquito and the deadly diseases it carries.

• World history buffs seeking a new perspective on pivotal events in the past 
• People interested in how diseases have shaped our species 
• Anyone looking for even more reasons to hate the mosquito 

Underbug (2018) explores the fascinating world of a bug so unloved it might just beat cockroaches in an unpopularity contest – the termite. The result of years of research and interviews with biologists, entomologists, and geneticists, Lisa Margonelli’s study sets out to rescue the reputation of this underappreciated creature. Along the way she explores termites’ remarkable architectural powers, unpacks their strange relationship with a 250 million-year-old fungus, and shows how the microbes in their guts might just help us create a more sustainable future. 

• Scientists  
• Nature-lovers 
• Amateur entomologists

A Life on Our Planet (2020) is celebrated naturalist David Attenborough’s account of the incredible wonders he’s seen in his 94 years on Earth – and a vivid warning of what will happen if we continue on our current path. It’s accompanied by a Netflix documentary of the same name.

• Anyone who loves nature television
• Those concerned about global warming
• People who want to take action to save our planet before it’s too late

The Book of Humans (2018) is an accessible tour of evolutionary history. It illuminates both the many qualities we share with animals and the many others that set us apart. Incorporating the latest scientific discoveries from genetics and archaeology, it provides a thrilling compendium of the rich variety of life on Earth.

• People seeking a primer on evolutionary biology
• Darwin enthusiasts
• Animal lovers

The Bird Way (2020) is a study of birds that harnesses both the expertise of the scientist and the joy of the birdwatcher. A celebration of the mind-boggling diversity of birds and their behavior, it explores the globe in pursuit of the inner workings of the avian mind. From Costa Rica’s teeming rainforests to the magpie-menaced suburbs of Australian cities, it explores how birds as different as ant followers, parrots, raptors, and ravens play, parent, and hunt.

• Birdwatchers 
• Scientists 
• Nature lovers

Honeybee Democracy (2010) traces the fascinating story of how bees decide where to build their new hive. Using highly evolved skills, like independent research and community debate, the bees’ deeply democratic decision-making process is a model we can all learn from. 

• Popular science enthusiasts with a fondness for insects
• Politics buffs who want to learn about democratic systems
• Anyone and everyone who thinks bees are cool

The Book of Eels (2020) takes the reader on a zoological odyssey spanning thousands of years. It’s the story of the eel – a creature that has enthralled humanity with its strange and complex life cycle. Countless scientists have dedicated their careers to the enigma of this fish, which has evolved to undergo several metamorphoses over the course of its life and to endure a grueling migration across the Atlantic to breed. But the eel has proven to be an elusive creature, and there are still many secrets about its life that it seems intent on keeping to itself.

• Nature lovers who are fascinated by strange stories from the great outdoors
• Fans of mysteries that stubbornly resist explanation 
• Environmentalists concerned about humans’ effect on the future of the eel

The Eight Master Lessons of Nature (2019) is a reflective treatise on what nature can teach us about living well. Carefully observing many forms of life, from forest mushrooms to mighty elephants, the guide reveals valuable lessons they may hold for us. In doing so, it invites us to look again at the wild world around us with a renewed sense of awe and wonder.

• City slickers seeking a greener life
• Nature lovers looking for a deeper connection
• Those searching for a more mellow approach to living

For thousands of years, we humans have been struggling against nature. Under a White Sky (2021) explores the problems that come about when we win that fight –⁠ and how scientists, engineers, and others are trying to fix them. From the quaint to the grandiose, from the quirky to the terrifying, it’s our responsibility to explore all available remedies for the deep damage we’ve wrought.

• Anyone concerned about the state of the natural world
• Plant and animal lovers
• Futurists curious about global changes

The Secret World of Weather (2021) teaches you how to speak the forgotten language of local climates. Clouds, winds, plants, and other features of our environment all give us clues about the weather as we actually experience it versus what we’ve heard on the daily forecast. With just a little practice, you’ll find it easy to tune into their secret messages and start making your own weather forecasts.

• Hikers, bikers, and wandering spirits
• City dwellers looking to reconnect with nature
• Anyone who doesn’t quite trust their weather app!

Our Wild Calling (2020) examines how humans and other animals can enjoy mutually beneficial relationships. It explores stories and philosophy from the ecological movement, and outlines how we can move toward a more hopeful future for all Earthlings. 

• Nature lovers looking for inspiration
• Office dwellers seeking ways to reconnect with nature
• Anyone looking for direct ways to respond to global climate change

The New Breed (2021) offers new insights into the ongoing debate surrounding robots and artificial intelligence. Instead of looking at robots as a human replacement or threat, the author sees a more accurate comparison in the long relationship we’ve had with autonomous animals, which have helped us feel better and get work done.

• Popular science enthusiasts
• Panicking futurists
• Technophobes

If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal (2022) takes a playful yet profoundly meaningful look at what makes humans so different from the other animals on the planet. In doing so, it makes a strong case for why the human mind may be dangerously unsuccessful from an evolutionary standpoint.

• Animal lovers and pet owners
• Science geeks
• People worried about the fate of humanity

An Immense World (2022) explores the sensory worlds of animals, highlighting how they differ from the human experience. Tracing sight, sound, touch, and more, it shares the various ways animals sense our world – and the extra information they glean with the help of their specialized senses.

• People interested in how animals make sense of their environment
• Animal lovers
• Anyone curious about the natural world

Moby Dick (1851) is an enduring classic of American literature. From the perspective of a boat hand named Ishmael, it tells the story of an ill-fated voyage aboard the Pequod, a whaling vessel. With humor and attention to the smallest detail, it explains how a crew came under the spell of the obsessed Captain Ahab, who had only one mission in life: to kill the giant white whale known as Moby Dick.

• Fans of classic literature
• Anyone who likes a good tale of adventure
• Landlubbers and salty sea dogs alike

Waking the Tiger (1997) offers an enlightening perspective on trauma by exploring the dynamics that make wild animals virtually immune to traumatic symptoms. Using this knowledge, it then provides a pathway to healing through exercises that focus on bodily sensations.

• Trauma survivors looking to understand and heal their symptoms
• Readers fascinated by animal behavior and human nature
• Anyone drawn to explore how awareness, instinct, and resilience can transform suffering

All Creatures Great and Small (1972) is a semi-autobiographical chronicle of the life and adventures of young veterinarian James Herriot during the 1930s and ’40s. Blending humor, warmth, and vivid storytelling, it beautifully captures the challenges and joys of veterinary practice in rural England. Ultimately, it offers a delightful and heartfelt portrayal of the bond between humans and animals as well as the enduring spirit of community.

• Veterinarians and veterinary students
• Animal lovers and nature enthusiasts
• Anyone interested in a cozy, nostalgic story

Every Living Thing (2024) explores the bitter rivalry between Carl Linnaeus and Georges-Louis de Buffon to catalog every living thing, a competition that gave birth to modern biological science while also planting the seeds of scientific racism. It reveals how historical accidents and political forces ensured that the wrong man’s ideas triumphed, leaving us with Linnaeus’s rigid classification system even though Buffon was right about evolution, extinction, and the interconnected nature of life.

• Science fans who enjoy discovering how scientific knowledge developed through human rivalry and error
• History buffs who appreciate colorful characters and surprising connections to modern issues
• Anyone curious about how political forces shape the scientific ideas that survive

The Horse (2024) offers a sweeping exploration of how horses have shaped human civilization across millennia. From their evolutionary origins to their roles in warfare, agriculture, and culture, the book explores the profound and often overlooked impact of these majestic animals on the course of human history. 

• History buffs interested in social and cultural history
• Animal lovers and equestrians curious about the history of human-horse collaboration
• Anyone curious about the unexpected forces behind cultural evolution

This Dog Will Change Your Life (2025) takes us on a heartfelt journey that reveals the many unexpected ways in which dogs enrich our lives. They’re teachers, healers, helpers, and unconditional friends. The kind of companions who can deepen our relationships, ease our anxieties, and even help us find our true calling. Whether you’re a dog person or just curious, this book reveals the surprising magic dogs bring to our everyday lives.

• Dog lovers and pet owners
• Mental health advocates and those struggling with anxiety or depression
• Anyone curious about human-animal relationships

How to Be a Living Thing (2025) explores what animals can teach us about being human. It blends personal reflection with stories of creatures from orcas to oysters, showing how their instincts and behaviors mirror our own struggles and joys. It invites you to see connection, resilience, and wonder as part of your everyday life.

• Animal lovers seeking deeper meaning in human life
• Anyone interested in philosophy, spirituality, and self discovery
• People exploring empathy, disability, and social awareness

This heartwarming true story follows a veterinarian named Harry Colebourn who adopts an orphaned bear cub and names her Winnie. Set during World War I, the book recounts the incredible journey of Winnie and the bond she forms with Harry, ultimately leading her to become the inspiration for A.A. Milne's beloved character, Winnie-the-Pooh. A tale of friendship, love, and the power of storytelling, "Finding Winnie" is a delightful read for all ages.

• Parents and caregivers who want to teach children about history and the power of love
• Readers who enjoy heartwarming and beautifully illustrated true stories
• Anyone interested in the origins of the beloved character Winnie the Pooh

Goodnight Moon is a classic children's book that takes readers on a soothing journey through a little bunny's bedtime routine. With its simple yet captivating rhymes and beautiful illustrations by Clement Hurd, the book has been a beloved bedtime story for generations. It's a comforting and calming read that helps children wind down and prepare for sleep.

• Parents or caregivers who want to engage their young children in a calming bedtime routine
• Adults who appreciate simple and beautifully illustrated children's books
• Individuals who enjoy nostalgic stories that evoke a sense of comfort and tranquility

Horse Health Care by Cherry Hill is a comprehensive guide covering all aspects of equine health. From preventive care and nutrition to first aid and common illnesses, this book provides valuable information for horse owners and caretakers. With clear explanations and practical tips, it aims to help readers keep their horses healthy and happy.

• Equine enthusiasts who want to ensure their horse's well-being

• Horse owners looking to expand their knowledge of equine health

• Veterinary professionals seeking comprehensive information on horse care