The Truth about Animals

Mary Roach meets Bill Bryson in this uproarious tour of the basest instincts and biggest mysteries of the animal world

Whether we're seeing a viral video of romping baby pandas or a picture of penguins "holding hands," it's hard for us to think of animals as anything but playful paragons of innocence and virtue. So you've probably never considered if moose get drunk, penguins cheat on their mates, or worker ants lay about. They do--and that's just for starters. In The Truth About Animals, Lucy Cooke embarks on a global adventure to meet everyone from a Colombian hippo castrator to a Chinese panda porn peddler, all to lay bare the secret--and often hilarious-habits of the animal kingdom. Charming and at times downright weird, this modern bestiary is perfect for anyone who has ever suspected that virtue might be unnatural.