Susan Orlean has a thing about animals, particularly those that might be kept as pets. In this entertaining book, which she narrates herself, Orlean investigates our intense love of the domesticated animals who steal our hearts, be they chickens, dogs, donkeys, or lions. Orlean has a flattened, nasal voice that is nonetheless engaging. She reads clearly at an unrushed pace with a downbeat delivery that suits the book's funny situations and quirky, occasionally bizarre, characters. The woman with tigers in rural New Jersey is definitely bizarre, while the owners of the show dog are a tad quirky. As for Orlean herself, she is thrilled when the post office calls to say, "You have a package here, and it's clucking."
Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797130323
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A superb naturalist, Heinrich’s musings on everything from climate change to yellow-bellied sapsuckers matter.
This delightful cornucopia of nature writings, scientific observations, and snippets of memoir makes for a stimulating audiobook. Narrator Steve Marvel has a naturally authoritative tone. He captures biologist (and prolific author) Heinrich’s sense of wonder, fun, and exploration. Heinrich’s four decades in the Maine woods are the backdrop: He lives in a cabin and has studied ravens, closely observed porcupines, scooted up trees to avoid bears, and chopped his own wood. The collection is not linear but presents a collage of his thinking. A lover of birds, Heinrich writes about ravens’ intelligence, owls’ abilities, and the peculiarities of sparrows. His planting of American Chestnut trees has resulted in thousands of now-thriving specimens in the Northeast.
A superb naturalist, Heinrich’s musings on everything from climate change to yellow-bellied sapsuckers matter.Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 57 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318565007
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 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: April 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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