ZOOBURBIA: A Jubilee for Animal Lovers

~post by Steven W.

The natural environment is inescapable regardless of how insulated we may feel in the bustling metropolis of our decidedly urban surroundings. No matter how conceptually distant our homes and workplaces seem from idyllic cascades of meadow grasses susurrating in the breeze or sun-dappled sylvan ponds buzzing with frantic activity, wildlife is there to confront us at every turn. Common raccoons scavenge nourishment from apartment dumpsters, White-tailed deer rest their fawns in imperceptible indentations in suburban lawns, Northern mockingbirds chatter their frustration at interloping house cats, and Swallowtail butterflies pollinate the blossoms in our community gardens. Convenient or not, we constantly interact with native creatures great and small, and, as we expand into their territory, this cohabitation will only become more and more apparent. As this inevitability instantiates itself in our day-to-day-lives, it becomes incumbent upon us to take our roles as stewards of the environment seriously and acknowledge the ways our actions affect our surroundings and, more importantly, the ways, in which wild animals enrich our existence.

In Zooburbia: Meditations on the Wild Animals Among Us, journalist Tai Moses investigates the behavior of urban wildlife and reflects on the indispensability of animals in our human lives. Cities, like any other place where flora and fauna are able to thrive, have become viable biomes – microcosms of the natural environment – and their inhabitants have all made adaptations necessary to sustain life. As such, every living thing, from the mosquito that makes backyard barbecues all-but-unbearable to the grackle that makes parking under trees downtown a hazard, fulfills an essential function in our new urban ecosystem. More than this, though, our furry, scaly, and slippery neighbors can teach us an enormous amount about our own lives, and, through a healthy reverence for nature, we can become attuned to a more authentic understanding of companionship, curiosity, and quiet wisdom.

On Tuesday June 17th at 7:00 PM, BookPeople has the distinct honor of hosting author Tai Moses as we celebrate her latest literary achievement. She will share her journey with us, read selections from her book, answer audience questions, and sign copies of Zooburbia. Like all events at BookPeople, the speaking portion is free to attend and open to the public. To have anything signed, all we ask is that a copy of Zooburbia be purchased from the store. This event will be a jubilee for all animal lovers, so walk on the wild side with us at BookPeople on Tuesday at 7:00. While you’re at it, do yourself a favor, and pet a bunny rabbit next time you get the chance.

Tai Moses will be here Tuesday, 6/17 at 7PM speaking and signing copies of Zooburbia: Meditations on the Wild Animals Among Us. Books are available on our shelves at BookPeople and via bookpeople.com.