Die erstaunliche Wahrheit über Tiere: Was Mythen und Irrtümer über uns verraten by Lucy Cooke

4.23 AVERAGE

kelseymay's review against another edition

4.0
This book is a fantastic insight into thirteen species of animals: eels, beavers, sloths, hyenas, vultures, bats, frogs, storks, hippos, moose, giant pandas, penguins, and chimpanzees. Blending together history, scientific research, and natural observation, this book is truly incredible. I learned so much and highly recommend it to other naturalist enthusiasts. I was, however, saddened to learn just how violent and cruel scientists, explorers, and naturalists have been in their efforts to uncover the truth about many species.

I'm rating this book as 4 stars instead of 5 because I wish the author had provided more judgement and decrying of the violent methods employed by historical scientists and modern-day poachers. In this time of climate change, overfishing, deforestation, and poaching, we can't really afford to let readers draw their own conclusions. I hope more people read this book and understand why having kids and consuming limitless swaths of land and resources IS the problem. This world is not for humankind only. I was also bothered by the use of the word "discovered," as in "such-and-such a species wasn't discovered until 1849," when really, plenty of indigenous people knew such an animal existed.

I hope Lucy Cooke writes a follow-up book about thirteen different species. I would gladly read another exposé on animal myths and facts.

rachaelecarmen's review against another edition

5.0
Loved this book. Like reading your favorite podcast or David Attenborough documentary.

seyfert's review against another edition

5.0
Lucy Cooke narrates her own book, and she is as fabulous a reader as she is a writer. Very humorous, witting, and highly entertaining! Deciding to pick up the audiobook was one of the best decisions I've made regarding a book. For whatever reason, I was having problems getting into reading it to begin with, but I had no problems at all with wanting to hear more from the audiobook. You were learn so much, even if you're a naturalist of zoologist, and simply fall in love with Lucy's work. If you like animals, humor, and a bit of history, pick this one up.

Now to wait for Lucy to make this a television series to watch...

aliceee3's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
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dogearedtales's review against another edition

5.0
I adore this book. Its informative, but has a tone that is conversational and personable. I have a heard time capturing everything that this books is. This book includes: the quirks of animals and explanations, the historic misunderstandings, cultural contexts, conservation, and general interesting commentary on the relationship between animals and humans.

I have been sharing the facts I learned in this book with anyone with who spoke with me in the weeks following. I hope she writes more books similar because it seems as though this is the tip of the iceburg!
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skylacine's review against another edition

3.5
informative slow-paced
Definitely a fun read but felt a bit same-y after a while.

Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/2023/02/book-review-unexpected-truth-about.html
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shelleyrae's review against another edition

5.0
funny informative medium-paced
Written with an irreverence tempered by passion, Cooke exposes the secrets of thirteen well known animals, drawing from historical sources, current research, and her own knowledge and experience.

Here are just a few of the unexpected truths I learned:

  • Despite billions of dollars and the best of modern technology, we still are not certain how or where the Anguilla anguilla (Eel) reproduce.
  • The sloth’s neck has more vertebrae than any other mammal’s, even the giraffe’s.
  • Vultures have been used to detect gas leaks in pipelines
  • To determine how bats are able to fly in the dark, Italian Catholic priest Lazzaro Spallanzani experimented by systematically removing their eyeballs, plugging their ears and noses, cutting off their tongues, and coating them in varnish.
  • From the 1940s through to the 1960s the world’s first reliable pregnancy test came courtesy of a small, bug-eyed frog. When injected with a pregnant woman’s urine, the amphibian squirted out eggs eight to twelve hours later to confirm a positive result.
  • Storks were exterminated in Britain because the church was offended by the ‘pagan’ belief that they played a part in bringing a couple a baby.
  • Hippopotamuses secrete a substance that is acts as sunscreen, fly repellent and antiseptic.
  • Pandas might look cute and harmless but the powerful muscles in the panda’s cheeks deliver a bite force almost equal to a lion’s.
  • Adélie penguins exchange sex for pebbles from single males to shore up their nests.

And so much more! I’ve shared some of the tamer revelations here because, among other things, the sex lives of desperate male penguins are a little disturbing. This is definitely not a book for prudes, or anyone who prefers the Disney version of animals.

Witty, informative and utterly fascinating, The Unexpected Truths About Animals is an engrossing read.
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zuzi's review against another edition

5.0
funny informative medium-paced

shortandtired's review against another edition

4.5
informative fast-paced

_rhireads's review against another edition

5.0
funny informative medium-paced