Narrator L.J. Ganser’s conversational delivery perfectly matches author-primatologist de Waal’s easygoing style, increasing the accessibility of this examination of animal behavior in captivity and in the wild. Humans have long thought of themselves as having a monopoly on complex emotions such as empathy, delayed gratification, long-term memory, and friendship. But after learning how monkeys and apes interact with each other and how they solve everyday problems, listeners may begin to question their own uniqueness. Ganser wisely honors the author’s storytelling approach to this complex subject, allowing his own enthusiasm and wonder to shine through. Through hearing examples of apes sharing a sense of humor and elephants being self-aware and imaginative, listeners will discover just how similar we are to fellow mammals. C.B.L. 2020 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781980032168
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This sure-footed author is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods.
As he did in On Trails (2016), author and narrator Moor serves as companion, guide, and information source for a novel excursion into a familiar aspect of nature—in this case, trees. Moor begins by describing a tree he climbed as a boy. As an adult, he returns to climbing trees, making note of features of the human body ideal for tree-climbing and even engaging a climbing coach. The focus of subsequent chapters ranges from bonsai to sequoias, but a significant portion of the narrative takes place within the canopy of trees. Moor isn’t a trained narrator, but he connects well, and his natural style is a key part of his appeal.
This sure-footed author is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods.Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668169056
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Haskell’s insights and sensibility are perfectly conveyed by Campbell’s acute narration.
Narrator Cassandra Campbell assumes the voice of biologist Haskell, author of The Song of Trees (2017), for an illuminating first-person tour of one of nature’s most common sights: flowers. Campbell provides momentum to a narrative that, though richly informative, could easily have become rambling and slack. “We live on a floral planet,” Haskell says, and he goes on to explain how that fact is key to our existence. Flowering plants first appeared 200 million years ago, and they enabled humans to evolve—and to survive. The narrative is loosely organized into eight illustrative categories, covering magnolias, orchids, grasses, roses, teas, and more.
Haskell’s insights and sensibility are perfectly conveyed by Campbell’s acute narration.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 5 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281794
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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