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 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.
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.
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***A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*** ***AN INDIEBOUND 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 "Funny and fascinating." —Pet Connection "Love cats? Instead of watching yet another YouTube video of an adorable kitten, check out The Lion in the Living Room (2016)—Smithsonian science correspondent Abigail Tucker’s in-depth look at Felus catus." —Mental Floss "This surprising and funny deep dive into the history, biology and science behind house cats—and how they seized our hearts and the internet—is a must-read for any cat lady or lad." —Read it Forward “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) "For the scientist who wants the purrrfect book this winter, look for The Lion in the Living Room by Abigail Tucker, a book about how cats came to own us as they do." —BOOKWORM SEZ, LLC "Employing pop culture references and a touch of humor alongside impressive scientific and historical research, Lion is engaging for the lay (wo)man and cat lovers alike." —Riveter "A delightful and warmhearted romp through the history of the world's most puzzling creature: The domesticated cat. A must-
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