How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
Ratings6
Average rating3.2
15
Ratings6
Average rating3.2
A New York Times bestseller! National Book Award finalist Sy Montgomery reflects on the personalities and quirks of 13 animals—her friends—who have profoundly affected her in this stunning, poetic, and life-affirming memoir featuring illustrations by Rebecca Green. Understanding someone who belongs to another species can be transformative. No one knows this better than author, naturalist, and adventurer Sy Montgomery. To research her books, Sy has traveled the world and encountered some of the planet’s rarest and most beautiful animals. From tarantulas to tigers, Sy’s life continually intersects with and is informed by the creatures she meets. This restorative memoir reflects on the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals—Sy’s friends—and the truths revealed by their grace. It also explores vast themes: the otherness and sameness of people and animals; the various ways we learn to love and become empathetic; how we find our passion; how we create our families; coping with loss and despair; gratitude; forgiveness; and most of all, how to be a good creature in the world. Perfect gift for the holiday season. Engaging back matter showcases personal black-and-white photos of Sy and the animals she so lovingly depicts. Don't miss Sy Montgomery's other books including Of Time and Turtles, The Soul of an Octopus, and The Hawk's Way.
Reviews with the most likes.
Terrific illustrations accompanying essays about the lessons we can learn from the animals in our lives, and in the bigger world. She made tarantulas and octopuses as endearing as she did dogs.
I found this sweet and interesting, but I wouldn't call or entertaining. The author is extremely enamored by animals which I identify with. However it reads like a live story for animals wild and domesticated.
Charming, reverent writing on animals, beautiful illustrations. Vignettes of experiences with animals and people, feelings of joy and grief, isolation and healing, meditations rather than lessons learned or a linear memoir.
Liiitle woo-woo with mentions of faith, dreams, mediums, but it's kind of just a background glow.
I've got less problem with temporary visitations to animals in nature reserves, rescued domesticated animals and wild animals temporarily captured and tagged for preservation studies than I do those animals held in zoos, aquariums and labs for long term study or ‘entertainment' 😑- just be aware this book runs the whole. gamut
Look out for that second half, odds are you're going to cry at least once. There are photos near the back, though, as always, I wish they'd been printed in colour.
⚠️ arachnophobes beware: a spiders comprise the focus of one of these chapters; subjectively gross animal facts; animal death; grief/depression; suicidal ideation; oppressive, intolerant parents
