Though I never met her, Susan Orlean and I are exact contemporaries, and co-alums of the University of Michigan, 1976. We are both animal lovers. I settled in to this with some enjoyable anticipation. It didn’t last long.
Within a few pages, I was cocking an eyebrow with puzzlement: as a student, she spends an unexpected windfall on an Irish setter puppy, while living in a rented college-town apartment, with crazy hours and unsympathetic landlords (yes, I remember it well…). A few pages and years later, when she moves to Manhattan with her now-elderly setter, she worries because the dog had “never lived in an apartment.” A new boyfriend impresses her by bringing a friend with a fully-grown lion to her apartment. She decides she’d like to have only animals with red hair. And then she falls in love with chickens based on a Martha Stewart television show – whose chickens were always a marketing tool, and who sighs that she’ll “never get another Egyptian Fayoumi again” after the hen froze to death. Orlean seems oblivious to any problem with any of this. Throughout most of these essays, reprinted largely from The New Yorker and Smithsonian magazines, there is an unsettling sense of someone for whom animals are interesting and appealing, and some of whom she comes to be fond of, but who are more accoutrements, charming rural accessories, or colorful topics for an essay than individual, thinking, feeling, “complete” beings in their own right. She is frequently glib, surprisingly callous. There is an otherwise lovely vignette about the role of oxen in the agriculture of Cuba over the decades of pre- and post-Soviet dominion, and the character of these highly-valued animals – but she can’t resist a flippant comment about an ox who broke into a feed bin and “died happy of incurable colic.” Colic is a dreadful, painful way for an animal to die.
Then there’s the fact-checking… or lack thereof. There were statements of fact or incident that were questionable at best; wrong or outdated at worst. She mentions buying hay for her chickens nests; straw would be much more likely, preferred, and cheaper. Biff the show dog “beg[s] for chocolate”; I thought everyone knew chocolate is not a good treat for dogs, and the brand of dog food Biff shills for is lousy quality, mostly corn junk food. She blithely offers that knee-replacement surgery has boosted the market for riding mules because mules have a smoother gait and thus are easier on the knees; no substantiation is given, and most riders with replaced knees are fine in the saddle – it’s the mounting and dismounting that can be dicey. And perhaps this is old fake news, but she suggests there may be a connection between cellphone towers and disoriented homing pigeons – again, with no factual support, and which has been fairly well debunked buy Audubon Society researchers. And really, Susan, lions don’t sweat.
The best essays are the ones in which Orlean herself features the least. The strange and awful Tiger Lady saga (pre-Tiger King!) is a disturbing portrait of the wild-animal-as-pet trade and obsession. The piece on rabbit-keeping in the U.S. is a clear-eyed look at the ambivalence of rabbit fanciers who can’t decide if their charges are much-loved pets or meat stock. Taxidermists come across as a pleasantly loony, obsessed, creative and artistic bunch – but she completely avoids the figurative (and maybe even literal) elephant in the room about where the “trophies” they create come from, how, and at whose hands. However, the piece on the Lion Guy forcefully depicts the tragic state of lions in the modern world, and the unconscionable horrors of canned safari hunts.
The final section outlines a year or so in the life of Orlean’s hobby farm in the Hudson Valley: dogs, cats, poultry, and even a few cattle occupy her (though the cattle are actually a tax-avoidance project, as is a casual and joking reference to raising puppies for profit). Still, there is a weird lack of emotional connection to these, her very own personal menagerie. They take in a stray cat, and she seems to be mystified by why her resident cat hates the newcomer, whose sex she can’t even identify correctly. I will agree whole-heartedly with her assessment of the evils of ticks, though. I’d also like to know how Helen, the Rhode Island Red hen, is the lowest chicken in the pecking order on one page, becomes the top-ranking alpha hen a few pages later.
And then, the family ups sticks and move to Los Angeles for a job opportunity. The animals have to be handed off, arranged for, and away they go. They spend a few more summers in New York, but it turns out to be too much trouble, so they sell up what we’ve been told is a much-loved, long-dreamed-for place, and that’s that.
Animal lovers, if you are looking for dedication, loyalty, intimacy, and a recognition of animals as, in the inimitable words of Henry Beston, “finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth,” don’t look here. To be fair, she is never mawkish or sentimental, she does not anthropomorphize, and her approach seems to be one clinging to objectivity (with some factual issues), an eye for detail, and respect for the attitudes the human subjects may have toward their animal charges. But her own humanity has gaps, and she lacks “another and a wiser…concept of animals,” (Beston again) that respects them as they deserve.

This book is comprised of a handful of essays Orlean has written, well, "on animals". The topics varied from mules used in the military to the rules governing the use of animals in the movies. Orlean is a lovely writer and I enjoyed the whole book. My favorite pieces, though, were her accounts of her own attempts at animal husbandry - pets and pets/farm animals, primarily chickens. I'm not an animal lover on Orlean's level, but I found this book well worth my time.

I am a huge fan of Susan’s writing and this does not disappoint. Any animal lover will love her essays on and experiences with different animals. The stories cover domestic animals to wild animals. Each story quickly draws you in, especially the ones about her chickens. She examines human- animal relationship without judgement., except for canned hunts. Quick read that all will enjoy.

I really enjoyed this title! Susan Orlean writes beautifully and honestly, and always manages to take whatever topic she chooses to write about and make it something profound, funny, and interesting. I particularly loved the introduction, the chapter relating to tigers, and of course, anything involving dogs. I would recommend this title to anyone already familiar with Orlean’s work, but also as an introduction to her style and prose.

16 essays on animals ranging from chicken to whales and even taxidermy. Fascinating to read the interactions and history between humans and animals. Fun read.

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It's fine, it's just got a lot of dated material — how can you not amend the ending of your article on Keiko the orca without explaining the widely known facts that due to his decades of captivity, he wasn't ever able to "adjust" to life as a "wild animal," and he died a mere 18 months after he was "fully freed." There are a number of scientific papers on Keiko's story, and even a Retro Report video by the New York Times in 2013 about his tragic story features Orlean speaking about it, So, for me, not bothering to append that essay with just a couple of clear sentences about Keiko's ultimate fate makes me wonder about the veracity, or at least the fullness of the reporting, of the rest of her essays, which really don't hang together outside of them all being "about" animals, roughly. Also she sure loves her enormous domesticated farm animals, don't forget that.

I've always admired Orlean's writing, but this essay collection feels like more of an opportunistic move to sell already-published work interspersed with a few anecdotes about suburban farming, to appeal to people of her class, who have the means to live more remotely and care for so many animals. It's great that she's happy, but that still doesn't make this book worthwhile.

Susan Orlean can write about anything she wants to and it is going to be an engaging, interesting read. I loved The Library Book and so I couldn't wait to read On Animals. It did not disappoint.

Each chapter could stand alone with one on dogs, another on mules and donkeys, and one on chickens (I'm still rolling with laughter over "Chicken Orlean.") Don't miss the chapter on the Tiger Lady! There are sixteen chapters and each is fascinating.

Orlean's style is so accessible and as a reader I feel like I'm sitting in the room talking with her. You may also consider the audiobook as the author has done the reading for this one.

Loved On Animals and thank NewGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. My initial thoughts were something similar to the popular "Chicken Soup for the Soul" type of books. Nope, On Animal was not even close. These were longer essays or articles on a variety of topics. Once again, I thank NetGalley for introducing me to a "new to me" author who has been well published for years (decades). Like any assembly of essays, you are bound to like some more than others. I really liked the homing pigeon essay; I had no idea that there was a highly transmittable rabbit disease; it was interesting to read about all the controversy regarding the Free Willy killer whale (Keiko). There was a little bit of overlap in a couple of essays; that was bound to happen as well. They were originally written over the course of decades and then I just read them all at the same time. Anybody who has a love of animals will likely enjoy this book and find something new.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Orlean the author and Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this advance read copy of On Animals. Release date is 12 Oct 2021.

The Amish population in America grew by 80% between 1992-2008, which consequently boosted the sale of mules (not John Deere tractors) to Amish farmers. In the essay “Riding High”—one of 16 compiled in On Animals—longtime New Yorker contributor and author Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief, The Library Book) begins with observing Afghanistan-bound soldiers taking a mule-packing military course in Nevada, moves on to the plowing habits of the Amish, and winds up with a modern-day mule auction—segueing seamlessly in a personable style that underscores her skill as a contemporary master of nonfiction journalism. What ties together these disparate elements—besides mules—is an overriding theme: we shape and are shaped by the animals in our lives, whether as pets, workers, or food. Some animals fall into multiple categories: rabbits, for instance, are the third most popular pet in America but are also the prime ingredient in rabbit fricassee (in fact, rabbit meat used to be a staple in grocery stores, until a certain Warner Bros. animated bunny came along and shifted perspectives). These hare lore info-nuggets appear in “The Rabbit Outbreak,” which examines the spread of a lethal and highly contagious rabbit virus that has been killing bunnies while COVID-19 has been felling humans (in an eerily familiar vein, Orlean details the fears of rabbit owners, the government red tape that vaccine approvals faced, and the inevitable misinformation posted on social media). The lion’s share of essays here were originally published in The New Yorker, while a few appeared in Smithsonian, including—speaking of lions—“The Lion Whisperer,” a profile of Kevin Richardson, an amiable man in South Africa who likes to roughhouse. With lions. Other essay subjects include New Jersey’s Joan Byron-Marasek and her big cats (she was a Tiger Queen long before the Tiger King), donkeys in Fez, Morocco (where narrow roads require the animals to serve as ambulances, garbage collectors, and the equivalent of Amazon delivery service), the Animal Humane Society’s work on Hollywood films (fish thespians cannot be required to do more than three takes a day), and pigeons (during WWII, pigeons were outfitted with mini-spy-cameras, serving the country as early drones). Orlean concludes with an often hilarious recounting of her years as a semi-farmer in upstate New York, where she had dogs, ducks, cattle, and chickens—the last including two Spring Flower birds of uncertain provenance (she was told they arrived from Sweden on a transatlantic flight courtesy of a woman with a “commodious” brassiere). While four of these pieces also appeared in Orlean’s earlier collections—The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup and My Kind of Place—most will be unfamiliar to the majority of readers. Sure to appeal to both animal lovers and fans of literary nonfiction, this is highly recommended. (Reviewed from an advance reading copy supplied by NetGalley).

A collection of interesting essays Susan Orleans has written about animals and her love for them. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

On Animals features sixteen essays on animals, domestic and wild from the past two decades. Susan Orlean's writing is brilliant, thoroughly research, and engaging. I love her humor and flow of stories. This was a really delightful read for any animal-lover!

I learned a whole lot of fascinating things about many different kinds of animals and their relationships with humans!
Some stuff I sort of knew (like the training of USMC to utilize mules and other pack animals in mountainous terrains like Afghanistan), and pigeons not used in war like they were in The War To End All Wars, but where racing pigeons have sold for over $200,000. Then there's the history of chickens in the suburbs, a woman who had acres of tigers in New Jersey, the world of dog shows and proper breeding (as opposed to *puppy Mills*), regulations and stories regarding animals (even locusts and worms!) while filming movies/TV (organization Animal Humane).
The writing style is easy and characteristic of her New Yorker articles but does, rarely, sanitize a bit.
I requested and received a free review copy from Simon and Schuster Publishers via NetGalley. Thank you!
Now I have to get a copy for Zelda with her farm!

The newest work from prolific Susan Orlean is a series of essays on animals- mostly wild animals, farm animals- not usually thought of as pets. Each essay is a unique glimpse into the history and life of each animal as well as an interesting anecdotal story.

There is an essay about the lions in Africa, and one particular man who lives among a few as virtual pets. Another essay is about the tigers of New Jersey (of which there are more than you'd think!), and a woman who ran her own personal preserve, under public and legal pressure, for years. We become informed about the various types of whales, and one individual whale named Keiko (the whale from the original 'Free Willy' film) who traveled across the globe before setting himself free. There is also an essay about show dogs, dog breeders, and the life of a famous show dog with his trainers and his family, and an essay about the working donkeys of Morocco.

The final chapter is about Orlean's own home and being caretaker to various species of animals. She has a personal fondness for chickens and has transferred her family of animals from New York to Los Angeles multiple times as her human family has moved.

Highly recommended to animal lovers who wish to learn more about the less popular animals and animal cultures of the planet.

Interesting compilation of essays on different animals. Some essays are really interesting and others are of average interest, however, this interest will probably vary by individual reader. The author writes well.

Susan Orlean is a brilliant writer and indefatigable researcher driven by her startlingly varied fancies. "On Animals" gathers up sixteen essay articles from the last quarter century, mostly from The New Yorker. A self-confessed animal lover, albeit one more typically at home in an American city, Orlean writes about laboring donkeys in Morocco, her own chicken-owning experiences, the strangeness and popularity of pandas, a "lion whisperer," the world of taxidermy, and pigeon racing in Boston. She is a smooth, individualistic stylist, able to throw in barbed humor whilst expounding history and technicalities in a readable yet intelligent manner. I was most swept up by the author's wry but heartfelt narrative of the life of Keiko, an Orca whale who achieves stardom, and a spotlight essay on Biff, a prizewinning show dog. Entertaining and educational (in the best way), On Animals is sure to delight anyone curious about our non-human earthly neighbors.

Glad I got a chance to read this. Some chapters were a little more interesting than others. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This was a fun treat of a read! It’s not particularly deep or intricately woven. But each of these pieces is thoughtful and engaging. A great book to keep nearby to dip in and out of in the rush of everyday life. I’m excited to read this author’s backlist. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

I was hoping for more of Orlean’s sweeping style but alas, these essays were a bit dull by comparison. One at a time they’re okay but I didn’t enjoy reading them all at once.

I really liked what I’ve previously read by Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief, The Library Book), but I guess what I liked most about those books were their format: the intertwined threads that weave together straight facts, singular events, and Orlean’s personal involvement with the material that synergise into something special. I came into On Animals expecting more of the same, and it’s not. Rather than plumbing the depths of one overarching story, this is a series of fifteen articles that Orlean published over the years (in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian Magazine) which all feature a lightweight look at some “animalish” topic. And taken one after another, this became a little repetitive and dull. I appreciate that Orlean has had a greater than average fascination with animals throughout her life, and that she has had the good fortune to travel the world as a journalist to investigate animal-related stories, but this collection didn’t add up to a satisfying book. Low three stars.

A fun collection of essays about animals ranging from mules to pigeons to tigers to bunnies to camels and lots in between. The focus is on the interactions between people and animals and how they fit (or are made to fit) within our world. Told with Orlean's signature style of humor, detail, and personal involvement, it's a fun and edifying read. Good for fans of Mary Roach.