3.75/5 rounded up!

I love learning seemingly random things, especially about animals! And I wanted to read this book because one of my all-time favorite non-fiction books is Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell, another book about animals (that one is about endangered animals though, this is more random questions and facts).

This book covers a large range of questions, ranging from "why do skunks smell?" and "why are some bumblebees cannibals?" There is so much to learn from this book, I especially liked learning about how humans play such a role in the evolution of other animals (for better or for worse). I have so many fun facts saved and I cannot wait to share them with people. I love annoying friends and family with fun facts!

Stylistically, this was conversational but also a bit dense, but not too dense! I could read this without loosing track of what was being explained to me, but I do prefer a very casual and conversational non-fiction. So that is totally a personal preference thing!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Why Rats Laugh and Jellyfish Sleep is like a nature documentary hosted by your super nerdy (and slightly unhinged) friend. David Stipp explains why sparrows are squatters, caffeine is plant warfare, and jellyfish somehow sleep without brains. It’s weird, fascinating, and makes you question everything—including your morning coffee. Perfect for anyone who likes their science with a side of “wait… what?!”

I love trivia and this was right up my alley. I had no deal that most of the things in this book actually occurred in real life and I’m sure I’ll be driving hubby nuts 🌰 in no time flat sharing all I learned from this book.

Packed full of interesting information including sleep in animals to bumblebees. Enjoyable, evidence based book, thoroughly entertaining. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I loved this book. It provided a great look at evolution with thorough yet plain-language explanations. I found the writing to be snappy, well-paced, and light-hearted. Each chapter started with a great illustration that helped increase my engagement with the book. I also found the writing to be poetic at times without getting bogged down with excess formality. Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it for anyone interested in biology. Thank you to Netgalley and Timber Press for the advance reader copy.

4.5 rounded up!
Such an interesting book! As someone currently finishing a biology major, I found this book really absorbing. The writing is very good with wording and it keeps you from getting distracted or lost. I liked how each chapter focused on answering each question not only with the scientific explanation, but with the clarification and simplicity that helps anyone understand it easily.

Books like this are why I love science writing. Every chapter explores a different, unusual question, like the human relationship with wolves and whether we've made rats smarter. These scientists did all this work so I wouldn't have to.
My favorite was the scientists who were studying whether they could train earthworms and one of the scientists ended up doing the experiments with one worm, several hundred times, and then cutting the worm's head off and seeing whether the worm could do the mazes as its head grew back. The scientists for me are as interesting as the topics they pursue.

This is such an interesting and insightful book! I love nature facts and learning about things I didn't even think of, like how do insects sleep, are rats getting smarter, what's that smell (it's a skunk), and...grandmas? Although some parts felt a little dense with information, the writing was great and kept you very engaged through out each section. If you are a science lover, I really recommend picking this up!

Thank you to Timber Press and Netgalley for the advance reader copy!

4.5 rounded to 5 ⭐️

Delightful and inquisitive. I love that the idea is laid out like a quest from the beginning, like a game we're now all playing as we read: Why? And what advantage could it be creating? Stipp really works to not only answer the original question at hand in each chapter, but also trips into other evolutionary quandaries that require investigation. He fosters wonder and curiosity, two things we all could exercise a little more of.

4.5 stars What a wonderful book. Over nine chapters and subjects, Stripp invites us to see how animals, including ourselves, came to be what we are today. Did we teach wolves to be dogs, or did woles teach us to invite other species into their family. What constitutes consciousness? And why do animals without brains, sleep? I was honestly pulled up short when the book ended, as I was ready to continue on. I truly enjoy authors who can make complex scientific ideas accessible to the non-scientist.