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  • The Unexpected Truth About Animals

  • By: Lucy Cooke
  • Narrated by: Lucy Cooke
  • Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (92 ratings)

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The Unexpected Truth About Animals

By: Lucy Cooke
Narrated by: Lucy Cooke
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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....

©2017 Lucy Cooke (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks
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Critic reviews

"Eye-opening, informative and very funny!" (Chris Packham)

What listeners say about The Unexpected Truth About Animals

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Eye opening

Breaks down misconceptions and delivers wonderful insights and information- often funny and heartwarming as well as heartbreaking!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable

Very interesting and enjoyable but I found the author's narration a bit OTT at times. Whilst I understand it's important to use intonation in reading, sometimes this was a bit overdone. But the content was very interesting and worth the listen.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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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Amazing

Hd
Just one of the best books I’ve listened to you must read it important!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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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    5 out of 5 stars
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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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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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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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Historical scientific clarification

Beautifully written and read by the author. Some very interesting clarifications of historical the misrepresentation of animals.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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