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The Unexpected Truth About Animals
- Narrated by: Lucy Cooke
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
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Summary
Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Unexpected Truth About Animals, written and read by Lucy Cooke.
History is full of strange animal stories, invented by the brightest and most influential, from Aristotle to Disney, and they reveal as much about us and the things we believe as they do about the animals they misrepresent. We once thought that eels were born from sand, that swallows hibernated underwater, and that bears gave birth to formless lumps that were licked into shape by their mothers.
Zoologist Lucy Cooke unravels many such myths, revealing the facts she's uncovered while sniffing out vultures, snooping on sloths and stalking drunk moose.
The Unexpected Truth About Animals is in equal parts astonishing, illuminating and laugh-out-loud funny. Starring: feminist hyenas, perverted penguins, exploding bats and frogs in taffeta trousers....
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-04-18
Who are we to judge?
A witty collection of human failures in our attempts to understand animals. I think this book says much about man trying to see see all life through our limited perceptions.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 31-03-18
Exceptional
By far the best audio book I've had the pleasure to listen to yet.
Lucy Cooke's passion about the animals she discusses is clear but that doesn't steer her away from a light hearted theme, which runs through her writing and results in regular laugh out loud moments.
Despite watching and reading many animal and nature documentaries I found a wealth of intriguing facts and knowledge.
My greatest disappointment after finishing this book was not being able to find another by the author.
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2 people found this helpful
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- J Monk
- 28-01-21
So disappointed
I was really looking forward to this book being a big fan of animals with regard for the author too. However, the narration style is irritating with constant inflections and character voices more suited to Jackanory, I listen while I paint and I might as well listened to someone scratching their fingernails on a blackboard! Lucy’s enthusiasm is over the top and the rise in her voice, even shouting sometimes, constantly emphasising her point is very wearing. Not good, probably a decent book spoiled; I could stand no more after chapter 2.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Liam Jorge Hermeaus Echevarria
- 30-07-20
Loved it!
I'm studying Zoology at University and this has taught me so much! A big thank you to the author for this wonderful book!
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1 person found this helpful
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- labrador man
- 06-02-20
A great read
Loved this book and there is a cautionary tale for all zoologists and non zoologists alike. Parts make you chuckle and parts make you sad.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Rachael B.
- 27-08-19
shame the narration distracts from the menagerie
Some interesting facts and stories in here but i struggled to get past the overacting narration, which sounds like it's aimed at children, whereas the writing and stories are interesting and well written enough to reach a wide age range if they were read better.
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- Danielle
- 27-05-19
Super Interesting
My first time finishing reading a non fiction book and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to follow.
It kept me interested, entertained, wasn't too complicated (I have a Zoology degree but I'm pretty sure anyone could follow it as she explains any scientific terms used).
Gave me loads of really interesting facts and information to tell my friends about, they have been super impressed.
Her writing style is very witty and enjoyable to read, her narration is also very entertaining.
Loved it, probably one of my favourite books I've read or listened to. I'm very excited to see if she writes any more books like this.
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- Tab
- 08-04-19
Couldn’t stand the narration
This may have turned out to be a good book, I don’t know. I couldn’t get past chapter one; it’s seldom that authors make good narrators, and this is no exception. Over emphatic, over enthusiastic, virtually every word in every sentence is audibly italicised and finished with exclamation! marks!! I found it exhausting and irritating.
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- john
- 14-02-24
Eye opening
Breaks down misconceptions and delivers wonderful insights and information- often funny and heartwarming as well as heartbreaking!
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- Katie
- 26-01-24
really interesting
great book, really interesting and well read. I learnt much about be the animal kingdoms and enjoyed the authors delivery of her work
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