A cat purrs next to a fireplace. A dog sniffs the trunk of a tree. A horse canters in a green meadow. A giraffe bends down to drink at a watering hole. A hippo splashes in a river. A gecko darts up a wall.
The natural world compels us to pay attention because of its beauty and endless surprises. But there is another reason to pay attention: Animals have the answer to many of the problems we face. And not just answers to the small messes, but answers to the big threats like terrorism, heart disease, cancer, domestic violence, drug addiction, and global warming. When we cuddle our dogs and snuggle our cats, it turns out that answers to our greatest predicaments are sitting in our laps.
In this book, acclaimed journalist Ben Sherwood offers ideas, inspirations, and even detailed blueprints to help us stop terrorists, prevent deadly infections, make us more successful at work, repair broken families, raise happier babies, and even reverse the polar melt . . . to name just a few. While it's certainly true that nature needs to be protected and conserved for its own sake, there is also another compelling reason: We need to save the animals to save ourselves. The solutions in this book are practical and grounded in cutting-edge science. They will change the way you see nature. And in the end, they may change the way you see your own life.