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
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.
Social epidemiologist Werb narrates his extensive exploration into modern urban ecology. As population centers worldwide have increased and expanded, so has the growth of synanthropes: wild animals (and occasionally plants) that adapt to survive and thrive within human-built communities. Werb divides this deep dive into three sections: successful communal relationships, unsuccessful or hazardous ones, and the potential for future harmonious living between humans and the urban wilderness. Werb’s narration is pleasantly informative, maintaining a steady flow of relatable detail in his case studies without overwhelming the listener. His enthusiasm for his subject shines through in his dedication to discussing the whole range of positive and negative outcomes when people and wild animals coexist.
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 23 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340521
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
Dramatic encounters with wildlife are, unfortunately, muted footnotes in this memoir.
Few people have spent more hours observing wild wolves than the author of this unique nature memoir. Narrator Ryan Shaefer’s steady performance matches the author’s impactful yet emotionally subtle descriptions of wild spaces and the animals that inhabit them. McIntyre explains his decades-long evolution as a storyteller while teaching the public as a park ranger, naturalist, wolf researcher, and author. The audiobook is vivid and exciting when he talks about individual bears and wolves. However, he struggles to craft a compelling narrative out of his own life story. McIntyre ignores his own salient storytelling advice, describing his life chronologically as a list of facts, accomplishments, and job placements.
Dramatic encounters with wildlife are, unfortunately, muted footnotes in this memoir.Pub Date: June 13, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228803619
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
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