Wild Rituals by Caitlin O’Connell
In Wild Rituals, elephant scientist Caitlin O'Connell examines 10 rituals non-human animals exhibit in the wild and how they relate to our own rituals, traditions, and experiences. Caitlin O'Connell uses her many years studying and observing elephants and other animals to provide a touching examination that details our connection with animals and how we can learn to become more self-aware and compassionate. From playful encounters to funerary practices, it becomes evident that we are not so different from other animals, especially in how we engage socially.
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
I usually don’t gravitate toward nonfiction, but since World of Wonders is Barnes and Nobel's Book of the Year for 2020, I decided to give it a go. It's a quick and easy read, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. Aimee takes moments of her life and juxtaposes them with passages that recall the beauty of animals and plants. Beautiful illustrations done by Fumi Mini Nakamura accompany the essays, creating an organic visual tie. Aimee's intent seems to implore readers to take more moments to acknowledge the outside world’s beauty. By doing so, we can form more significant connections to our environments and other creatures. There are sections of the memoir where Aimee also touches on the importance of protecting species in their natural habitats and how this is becoming more difficult with habitat destruction.