The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World
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 upwards of ten 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.
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.
Reviews
***A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER***
"In The Lion in the Living Room, three things come together with exquisite, delightful effect: a natural history of cats, replete with ecological issues as well as contemporary cultural memes; evolutionary science as it pertains to the origins and consequences of our fascination with felines; and an unusually deft way with words by author Abigail Tucker. The net result is a deep and illuminating perspective on our favorite household companion… One hesitates to use the word genius, but Tucker’s book borders on that quality."
—Huffington Post
"Whatever your personal feelings [are] about our feline friends, this is a fascinating story about how cats not only conquered the world but our hearts."
—Catster
"If you know a cat person who likes science, this is the book you need right meow."
—Smithsonian.com, "The Best Books about Science of 2016"
"Fascinating… If you have relatives or friends who are mad about cats—and the strong statistical probability is that you do—consider putting this book under their Christmas tree."
—National Review
"With informative first-person excursions to different places and topics, Tucker reviews all aspects of our favorite pet as well as the spell it has cast on us."
—New York Times Book Review
"Eminently readable and gently funny, Tucker's blend of pop science and social commentary will appeal to cat lovers as well as a broad general audience with an interest in natural history."—Library Journal, starred review
"A thoughtful look at the illogical human love of felines."—Publishers Weekly
"Dig deep into the history, biology, and science of house cats in this charming, highly informative read that explains how cats came to rule."
—B&N Reads
"[An] intriguing history… Read this entertaining book and you will be convinced that house cats are 'the most transformative invaders the world has ever seen.'"
—Kirkus Reviews
"Fascinating… Cat lovers, keep watching those cute cat videos online, but back it up with this very serious look at what makes Tabby tick."—Booklist
"[A]n alluring, funny and informative romp through the domestication and history of the cat."—Shelf Awareness
"[Tucker] is an engaging writer and a sucker for the felines...her brief, lighthearted book takes us on a fascinating journey...Will this book change your opinion on cats? Probably not. Will you enjoy reading it? Absolutely, particularly with your own tiny lion close by."—Seattle Times
"Fascinating...[Tucker's] book answers her own question, one that all cat owners no doubt ask themselves: 'How exactly had these crafty little creatures gotten their claws into me?'"—Richmond Times-Dispatch
"If you own a cat (or a cat owns you) and you think you know it, take a read through Tucker’s book to find a host of surprising facts, history and characteristics of your inscrutable pet."—Columbus Dispatch
"A lively read that pounces back and forth between evolutionary science and popular culture, between a parasite spread by cats to humans that has been linked to schizophrenia and cat cafes, where people pay to be snubbed by the resident felines."—Baltimore Sun
"Many best-selling science books are by scientists who have taught themselves to write. Tucker is a writer who has informed herself on the science, and her book is full of funny observations and wordplay. She skips through academic landscapes that could be dull in less clever hands and hops into the next chapter before anyone can get bored."—Glen Falls Post-Star
"By pulling us into the deep history of cats, Tucker demonstrates her prowess as a researcher, but she also demonstrates her ability to take concepts that would be clumsy or difficult to follow in the hands of another author and make them palatable for the layperson... Tucker has given us plenty to enjoy in this book and we should look forward to whatever topic she next takes up as that exploration will undoubtedly be as much an enjoyable read as The Lion in the Living Room."
—Spectrum Culture Blog
“While the title of this book suggests a bit of a fluffy story, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s more of a story about evolution… This book explores how cats went from creatures we feared and conquered to animals that we cuddle and bring into our homes. It makes you think about what’s really going on inside your own cat’s head — because the house cat is still an animal built to kill.”
—Erica Murphy, SEO Editor, The Cut (NYMag.com)
"By turns funny and disturbing, The Lion in the Living Room is full of surprises. Like all the best nonfiction, it will make you think twice about the world around you."—Elizabeth Kolbert, bestselling author of THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: An Unnatural History
"A delightful and warmhearted romp through the history of the world's most puzzling creature: The domesticated cat. A must-read for anyone who has ever owned—or been owned—by felis catus."—Virginia Morell, bestselling author of ANIMAL WISE: How We Know Animals Think and Feel
"A fresh look at the sphinx-like creature that defies the normal rules of domestication. Abigail Tucker does a humorous, intelligent, and insightful investigation into the genius of cats. A truly wonderful book—and a must read for anyone with a lion in their living room."—Dr. Brian Hare, bestselling author of THE GENIUS OF DOGS, and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University
"Abigail Tucker provides a clear and detailed view of the facts surrounding the furry felines that share our world. She engages her reader, whether she is discussing the history of the possible ways that cats entered our lives to sounding a warning about the types of selective breeding programs that could endanger the health and well-being of feline companion animals. After reading this book, no one will ever look at a cat the same way."—Irene Pepperberg, bestselling author of ALEX AND ME: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
"From mummification to catification, from cat cafes to feline etiquette manuals to the earliest cat shows at the Crystal Palace, Abigail Tucker's enlightening Lion in the Living Room explores the deep history of the connection between cats of all sizes and colors and the humans who adore them."—Wendy Williams, bestselling author of THE HORSE: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion
"The Lion in the Living Room is a remarkable and hilarious journey that tracks cats from solitary, prehistoric carnivores to undisputed world champions of Internet memes. (Sorry, dogs and human babies.) Tucker has written a big-hearted book that’s also a deep science dive into our most inscrutable furry companions. You can't help but LOL."—David Epstein, bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance
"Science fiction writers fantasize about aliens taking over our world. Too late. House cats have already occupied our homes and our hearts and hunted their way through ecosystems everywhere. The Lion in the Living Room delivers a rich and balanced account of feline world dominion, from their role as agents of species extinction to their 'I Can Haz Cheeseburger' triumph on the Internet. You will never look at the beast in your living room the same way again."
—Richard Conniff, author of HOUSE OF LOST WORLDS: Dinosaurs, Dynasties, and the Story of Life on Earth
"I recommend this book for cat lovers, cat haters, and anyone curious to learn how these inscrutable creatures crept out of the Fertile Crescent and clawed their way into our hearts. I’ll never look at my own fluffy little killing machine in quite the same way again."—Mara Grunbaum, author of WTF, EVOLUTION?!: A Theory of Unintelligible Design
"This book confirmed something I always knew about cats: they're the ones in charge of our relationship. And that's not the toxoplasmosis talking."
—Jim Tews, author of FELINES OF NEW YORK: A Glimpse into the Lives of New York's Feline Inhabitants
"In The Lion in the Living Room, three things come together with exquisite, delightful effect: a natural history of cats, replete with ecological issues as well as contemporary cultural memes; evolutionary science as it pertains to the origins and consequences of our fascination with felines; and an unusually deft way with words by author Abigail Tucker. The net result is a deep and illuminating perspective on our favorite household companion… One hesitates to use the word genius, but Tucker’s book borders on that quality."
—Huffington Post
"Whatever your personal feelings [are] about our feline friends, this is a fascinating story about how cats not only conquered the world but our hearts."
—Catster
"If you know a cat person who likes science, this is the book you need right meow."
—Smithsonian.com, "The Best Books about Science of 2016"
"Fascinating… If you have relatives or friends who are mad about cats—and the strong statistical probability is that you do—consider putting this book under their Christmas tree."
—National Review
"With informative first-person excursions to different places and topics, Tucker reviews all aspects of our favorite pet as well as the spell it has cast on us."
—New York Times Book Review
"Eminently readable and gently funny, Tucker's blend of pop science and social commentary will appeal to cat lovers as well as a broad general audience with an interest in natural history."—Library Journal, starred review
"A thoughtful look at the illogical human love of felines."—Publishers Weekly
"Dig deep into the history, biology, and science of house cats in this charming, highly informative read that explains how cats came to rule."
—B&N Reads
"[An] intriguing history… Read this entertaining book and you will be convinced that house cats are 'the most transformative invaders the world has ever seen.'"
—Kirkus Reviews
"Fascinating… Cat lovers, keep watching those cute cat videos online, but back it up with this very serious look at what makes Tabby tick."—Booklist
"[A]n alluring, funny and informative romp through the domestication and history of the cat."—Shelf Awareness
"[Tucker] is an engaging writer and a sucker for the felines...her brief, lighthearted book takes us on a fascinating journey...Will this book change your opinion on cats? Probably not. Will you enjoy reading it? Absolutely, particularly with your own tiny lion close by."—Seattle Times
"Fascinating...[Tucker's] book answers her own question, one that all cat owners no doubt ask themselves: 'How exactly had these crafty little creatures gotten their claws into me?'"—Richmond Times-Dispatch
"If you own a cat (or a cat owns you) and you think you know it, take a read through Tucker’s book to find a host of surprising facts, history and characteristics of your inscrutable pet."—Columbus Dispatch
"A lively read that pounces back and forth between evolutionary science and popular culture, between a parasite spread by cats to humans that has been linked to schizophrenia and cat cafes, where people pay to be snubbed by the resident felines."—Baltimore Sun
"Many best-selling science books are by scientists who have taught themselves to write. Tucker is a writer who has informed herself on the science, and her book is full of funny observations and wordplay. She skips through academic landscapes that could be dull in less clever hands and hops into the next chapter before anyone can get bored."—Glen Falls Post-Star
"By pulling us into the deep history of cats, Tucker demonstrates her prowess as a researcher, but she also demonstrates her ability to take concepts that would be clumsy or difficult to follow in the hands of another author and make them palatable for the layperson... Tucker has given us plenty to enjoy in this book and we should look forward to whatever topic she next takes up as that exploration will undoubtedly be as much an enjoyable read as The Lion in the Living Room."
—Spectrum Culture Blog
“While the title of this book suggests a bit of a fluffy story, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s more of a story about evolution… This book explores how cats went from creatures we feared and conquered to animals that we cuddle and bring into our homes. It makes you think about what’s really going on inside your own cat’s head — because the house cat is still an animal built to kill.”
—Erica Murphy, SEO Editor, The Cut (NYMag.com)
"By turns funny and disturbing, The Lion in the Living Room is full of surprises. Like all the best nonfiction, it will make you think twice about the world around you."—Elizabeth Kolbert, bestselling author of THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: An Unnatural History
"A delightful and warmhearted romp through the history of the world's most puzzling creature: The domesticated cat. A must-read for anyone who has ever owned—or been owned—by felis catus."—Virginia Morell, bestselling author of ANIMAL WISE: How We Know Animals Think and Feel
"A fresh look at the sphinx-like creature that defies the normal rules of domestication. Abigail Tucker does a humorous, intelligent, and insightful investigation into the genius of cats. A truly wonderful book—and a must read for anyone with a lion in their living room."—Dr. Brian Hare, bestselling author of THE GENIUS OF DOGS, and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University
"Abigail Tucker provides a clear and detailed view of the facts surrounding the furry felines that share our world. She engages her reader, whether she is discussing the history of the possible ways that cats entered our lives to sounding a warning about the types of selective breeding programs that could endanger the health and well-being of feline companion animals. After reading this book, no one will ever look at a cat the same way."—Irene Pepperberg, bestselling author of ALEX AND ME: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
"From mummification to catification, from cat cafes to feline etiquette manuals to the earliest cat shows at the Crystal Palace, Abigail Tucker's enlightening Lion in the Living Room explores the deep history of the connection between cats of all sizes and colors and the humans who adore them."—Wendy Williams, bestselling author of THE HORSE: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion
"The Lion in the Living Room is a remarkable and hilarious journey that tracks cats from solitary, prehistoric carnivores to undisputed world champions of Internet memes. (Sorry, dogs and human babies.) Tucker has written a big-hearted book that’s also a deep science dive into our most inscrutable furry companions. You can't help but LOL."—David Epstein, bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance
"Science fiction writers fantasize about aliens taking over our world. Too late. House cats have already occupied our homes and our hearts and hunted their way through ecosystems everywhere. The Lion in the Living Room delivers a rich and balanced account of feline world dominion, from their role as agents of species extinction to their 'I Can Haz Cheeseburger' triumph on the Internet. You will never look at the beast in your living room the same way again."
—Richard Conniff, author of HOUSE OF LOST WORLDS: Dinosaurs, Dynasties, and the Story of Life on Earth
"I recommend this book for cat lovers, cat haters, and anyone curious to learn how these inscrutable creatures crept out of the Fertile Crescent and clawed their way into our hearts. I’ll never look at my own fluffy little killing machine in quite the same way again."—Mara Grunbaum, author of WTF, EVOLUTION?!: A Theory of Unintelligible Design
"This book confirmed something I always knew about cats: they're the ones in charge of our relationship. And that's not the toxoplasmosis talking."
—Jim Tews, author of FELINES OF NEW YORK: A Glimpse into the Lives of New York's Feline Inhabitants
About the Author
Abigail Tucker was the first ever staff writer for Smithsonian magazine, where she remains a contributor. She previously wrote for The Baltimore Sun. Her work has been featured in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. The first word of both of her daughters was “cat.” She is the author of The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World.
http://abigailtucker.com/
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