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The Lion in the Living Room

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The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over The World by Abigail Tucker
Who it’s for: Adults
Format: Book

What have cats ever done for humans? They don’t provide food, they aren’t pack animals, they don’t protect our homes. So why are there nearly 100 million house cats in the US alone (and almost a billion worldwide)? In this well-researched and fascinating book, Abigail Tucker explores the history of the house cat, an animal that adapted to humans and essentially domesticated itself.

Unlike dogs and other domesticated animals, house cats haven’t physically evolved over the centuries. They are built to survive outdoors on their own, but they can also survive in a small apartment if necessary. They have, however, evolved their behaviors to influence us. Cats share some facial characteristics with human babies (round heads, front-facing eyes, small nose), and they’ve learned to use familiar sounds to get our attention. Many house cats have purrs and meows that sound suspiciously like a baby’s cry.

Tucker also addresses the impact cats have on environments around the world. Cats are hypercarnivorous and they do quite a bit of damage to ecosystems. Over the centuries, cats have been transported to new environments regularly, and they often destroy them by preying on native species. Yet we continue to live side by side with them, watch videos of them online, and follow them on Instagram.

Find The Lion in the Living Room in our catalog.

The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction

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The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

The Enchanted Hour celebrates the simple yet profound practice of reading books out loud to others: to children, of course, but to adults as well, especially those who are ill or elderly. “Story time” soothes premature babies and accelerates children’s language acquisition. It can strengthen family bonds at all ages and alleviate loneliness for adults. This book takes you on a tour through all these benefits and more.

In the author’s own description, her book’s main ingredients are “memoir and advocacy [mixed] with science, history, art, and literature”. This medley of approaches turns out to be a recipe for a delightful hybrid of persuasive essay and how-to manual, leavened with anecdotes both poignant and comical. Some of Gurdon’s own passages were so eloquently composed that I felt compelled to read them aloud to others!

The title of the last chapter captures the book’s central message: “There is No Present Like the Time”. Taking the time to read aloud to someone—a child, a sibling, a parent—may be one of the most rewarding gifts you ever give to them, and to yourself.

Find it in the catalog.

Hildegard of Bingen: Scientist, Composer, Healer, and Saint

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Hildegard of Bingen: Scientist, Composer, Healer, and Saint by Demi
Publication Date: April 7, 2019
Who it’s for: Kids

Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098, and she was one of the most remarkable and influential women of her time. Blessed with an astonishing array of talents, Hildegard was a mystic, theologian, scientist, doctor, nutritionist, composer, writer, linguist, and artist. Popes and kings, as well as humble peasants, sought her wise counsel. Today, Hildegard of Bingen is recognized as a saint and doctor by the Catholic Church and is  revered by many Lutherans and other Protestants. Find out more about her life in this beautifully illustrated book by award-winning author, Demi.

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Find more  illustrated biographies by Demi

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

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The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland  By Jim Defede
Format:  Audiobook
Who It’s For:  Adults

Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11.  It was a catastrophic day.  Seldom though, do we think about what happened to the rest of the planes in the sky after planes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, PA.  At 9:42 am, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all civilian aircraft within the continental U.S., and civilian aircraft already in flight were told to land immediately.  All international civilian aircraft were either turned back or redirected to airports in Canada or Mexico, and were banned from landing on United States Territory for three days.

When the United States shut down its airspace, tiny Gander International Airport in Newfoundland opened its runways, taking in 38 wide-body planes on transatlantic routes.   A town of about 10,000 people, with one hotel, took in nearly 7,000 passengers from more than 100 countries.  They made sure that the people, dogs, cats, and apes that were on board the planes forced to land in Gander, had food, prescriptions, bedding, clothing, toothbrushes, shower facilities and a place to sleep for several days.

Through interviews and research, Jim Defede shares with us the true story of the incredible acts of bravery, kindness, compassion and comfort that the people of Gander shared with those stranded passengers.  A day that was filled with so much terror and grief can also be looked upon as a day that humans were at their best in a small town in Newfoundland.

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The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life

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If you’ve ever considered adopting a plant based diet, this book is for you. Simmons takes readers on a journey that begins with his personal introduction to a vegan lifestyle and travels chapter by chapter through the reasons why others should consider this lifestyle as well. He appeals to all fronts by exploring the health benefits of veganism, the environmental impact, animal suffering, and the subconscious, emotional impacts of veganism. And, he does all of this with a very direct, no nonsense approach. He does not sugar coat the truth out of fear of upsetting the reader. This is particularly true in the section about animal abuse that contains graphic descriptions of the conditions inside concentrated animal feeding operations (also known as factory farms) and rendering plants. Although difficult to read at times, the graphic descriptions serve as a catalyst for action and force the reader to at least acknowledge, if not fully accept, the truth about where their meat comes from.

But, despite this direct approach, Simmons does allow that a plant based lifestyle will look different for everyone. Some may choose to be strict vegans. Some will make exceptions and eat this, but not that. For example, Simmons concedes that he’ll eat something cooked in fish stock, but not beef stock. Simmons encourages readers to find a space on the spectrum that works for them and to do their best at doing the least amount of harm possible. The book ends with tips on beginning a plant based diet, and it includes an appendix that takes readers through the practice of meditation. Highly recommended for adults. Find it in the catalog.

Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter

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Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

Ben Goldfarb is that rare breed of science writer who could probably turn a dishwasher manual into a page-turner…but let him loose with an already-intriguing topic like the beaver, and he’ll deliver a book that’s an absolute pleasure to read. In Eager, Goldfarb unveils beavers’ profound influence on the landscape of North America.

Our waterways behaved very differently when the beaver, fluvial geomorphologist extraordinaire, had the run of the continent. Beavers nearly disappeared from the land by the mid-1800s, largely due to trapping for their pelts. The sudden dearth of beavers was a calamity for biodiversity and water availability, particularly in the arid West. Eager reveals this unexpected history while showcasing the efforts of a diverse (and entertaining) army of “Beaver Believers” who work to restore our continent’s largest rodent.

Find it in the catalog.