Zooburbia: meditations on the wild animals among us

A lively blend of memoir, natural history, and mindfulness practices, Zooburbia makes the case for being mindful and compassionate stewards—and students—of the wildlife with whom we coexist. With lessons on industriousness, perseverance, presence, exuberance, gratitude, aging, how to let go, and much more, each chapter shares the happy fact that none of us is alone—our teachers are right in front of us.

To be alienated from animals is to live a life that is not quite whole, contends nature writer Tai Moses. Urban and suburban residents share our environments with many types of wildlife: squirrels, birds, spiders, and increasingly lizards, deer, and coyote. Many of us crave more contact with wild creatures, and recognize the ways animals enrich our lives, yet don't notice the animals already around us.