How to Be a Living Thing: Meditations on Creatures and Being Human in the World

Ever wonder why human beings feel so out of sync with the natural world? Mari Andrew addresses this by weaving together personal anecdotes and fascinating facts about the animal kingdom. The story about oysters adjusting their feeding schedules to moon cycles even in a Midwest basement was absolutely captivating. It’s a heart-centered reminder that we are all part of a larger ecosystem. While some of the comparisons felt a bit abstract, the overall tone is incredibly wholesome and life-affirming. Her signature whimsical drawings are scattered throughout, providing a lovely visual break between the essays. It’s the kind of book that encourages you to slow down and look at a common pigeon with new-found respect and empathy.

What an absolute gem of a book for the deeply feeling animal lovers out there. This collection of essays serves as a beautiful reminder that we are more like our pets and wild creatures than we care to admit. Mari Andrew mixes personal vulnerability with observations about the natural world in a way that feels both intimate and universal. I loved the focus on how most creatures respond to pain and loss in similar ways. The drawings are just delightful and add so much personality to the text. It’s a creative, wholesome, and heart-centered book that I’ll definitely be gifting to my friends who need a little bit of magic in their lives.

I’ve been following this author for years, and this might be her most mature and thought-provoking work yet. She has this incredible ability to take a simple observation about a dog or a cat and turn it into a profound lesson on humanity. The book is woven together with so much heart and soul. It feels less like a traditional essay collection and more like a conversation with a wise friend. I particularly enjoyed the chapters that focused on how we respond to confinement and loss. It’s a wholesome, fascinating exploration of our shared connection to the natural world. Every animal lover needs this on their shelf!

Honestly, I was hooked from the very first chapter. This book is a gorgeous reminder that we are all just living things trying our best to navigate this world. The parallels between human behavior and the animal kingdom are explored with such creativity and kindness. I found myself frequently pausing to look at the whimsical drawings and think about my own relationship to the environment. It is heart-centered, wholesome, and exactly what I needed to read right now. Whether she’s talking about orcas or common household pets, Andrew’s voice is always authentic and engaging. This is a beautiful, creative tribute to our shared connection with all creatures.

Mari Andrew has crafted something truly unique here, though it isn't quite the scientific study I initially anticipated. It leans much closer to a memoir, using animals as a lens to examine her own life and beliefs. To be fair, some chapters work better than others. I found the parallels between the confinement of Orcas and human isolation to be deeply moving and thought-provoking. On the other hand, the section comparing nomadic human subcultures to the roving nature of snow leopards felt like a bit of a reach. However, the writing is consistently thoughtful and the illustrations are as charming as ever. It is a solid read for those who enjoy deep, creative reflection.

As someone who follows Mari on Instagram, I knew this would be a visual treat, but the prose really surprised me. The way she explores human behavior through the instinctive ways of animals is both clever and insightful. Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about the chapter on oysters at first, but it ended up being one of my favorites! It really makes you think about how we are influenced by cycles we don't even see. My only minor gripe is that some of the personal anecdotes felt a little disconnected from the animal theme. Still, it’s a very lovely read that helped me expand my thinking about what it means to be a person.

The section detailing how oysters react to moon cycles even in a dark basement was truly mind-blowing. Truth is, I wasn't expecting this book to get so deep into the idea of embodiment and physical presence. Mari Andrew uses these animal facts as a jumping-off point to discuss how we move through the world as friends and humans. It’s a very creative layout. While I agree with other reviewers that the snow leopard comparison was a bit of a stretch, the rest of the book more than makes up for it. The writing is fascinating and the tone is consistently gentle. It’s a great companion for a quiet weekend of reflection.

Finally got around to reading this one after seeing those cute animal sketches online for months. Gotta say, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. About half of the essays are profound and really made me think about my own embodiment and instincts. The other half felt like the author was reaching for metaphors that didn't quite land. At times, the animal facts felt like an afterthought to the personal stories. It’s definitely more of a self-help memoir than a book about biology. If you’re a fan of Mari’s social media, you’ll likely enjoy the vibe, but don't expect a deep dive into animal science.

Look, I really wanted to love every second of this because I find Mari’s art so whimsical and charming. This collection, however, was a bit uneven. Some of the essays are incredibly profound and offer a beautiful look at how we can learn from our animal friends. Other parts felt like the animal theme was just a hook to justify a personal essay that didn’t have much to do with nature at all. In my experience, the book is at its best when it focuses on the instinctive ways of being alive rather than the author’s specific social observations. It's an insightful read, even if the execution feels a little bit like a 'mixed bag' in the end.

Not what I expected at all, and unfortunately, not in a good way. I picked this up hoping for insights into animal behavior, but it felt more like a diary the author should have kept to herself. Frankly, the comparisons between human problems and animal instincts felt forced and often made very little sense to me. There was one section about specific NYC populations that felt strangely voyeuristic and uncomfortable, reminding me of the way characters were exploited in the musical RENT years ago. It’s essentially a self-help book where the animal facts are just a thin veil for the author's own life stories. I love animals, but I really didn't love this book.