The Lion in the Living Room
How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World
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The Lion in the Living Room
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Narrated by:
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Arden Hammersmith
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Written by:
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Abigail Tucker
About this listen
A lively adventure through history, natural science, and pop culture in search of how cats conquered the world, the Internet, and our hearts.
House cats rule back alleys, deserted Antarctic islands, and our bedrooms. Clearly they own the Internet, where a viral cat video can easily be viewed upward of 10 million times. But how did cats accomplish global domination? Unlike dogs, they offer humans no practical benefit. The truth is they are sadly incompetent rat catchers and pose a threat to many ecosystems. Yet we love them still.
To better understand these furry strangers in our midst, Abby Tucker travels to meet the breeders, activists, and scientists who've dedicated their lives to cats. She visits the labs where people sort through feline bones unearthed from the first human settlements, treks through the Floridian wilderness in search of house cats on the loose, and hangs out with Lil Bub, one of the world's biggest feline celebrities.
Witty, intelligent, and always curious, Tucker shows how these tiny creatures have used their relationship with humans to become one of the most powerful animals on the planet. The appropriate reaction to a cuddly kitten, it seems, might not be aww but awe.
©2016 Abigail Tucker. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & SchusterWhat the critics say
What listeners say about The Lion in the Living Room
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hypatia from Space
- 2025-01-25
Brilliant
This fascinating book came as a very soothing and informative read just when I needed a break from my usual climate crisis and social justice books. It brought me back a smile, just as cats do.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Adri
- 2025-01-05
TLDR: A book about how cats are bad for the environment
I was very excited to finally read this book, which I've been eyeing for years. I was looking forward to understanding my cat better and maybe learning about feline evolution and practical cat care tips. What a disappointment.
The author uses every opportunity to highlight how cats are damaging to the environment, and how cat owners form an all powerful lobby, so God forbid you say anything negative on the matter. She prefaces such claims with, "oh but I'm a cat lover because I own a cat," which is somehow supposed to convince the reader of her trustworthiness.
The author uses dubious logic to tie some of her arguments together. As one example, she spends a large part of a chapter explaining how dog ownership has better health advantages because dogs force you to go out and be active, whereas cats want you to stay home and they don't spend every moment at your side even when home. Apparently studies show that cat owners thus tend to be in worse health when compared to dig owners. While she did include one short sentence staying this could be coincidental, the length devoted to the argument attempts to support the first argument. This half-baked claim didn't properly address even the simplest of counter arguments - that cats could have been chosen by those with existing health issues precisely because they are unable to deal with the demands of dog ownership. The book is filled with many similar, equally frustrating logical fallacies.
I regret spending money on this. I do not recommend it.
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