NYT - Animals

Dana Perino was President George W. Bush's press secretary and is now a host on Fox News' The Five. She also knows who the real star in her family is: her Vizsla, Jasper -- a.k.a. America's Dog. In this new book, Dana tells stories about life and politics -- and how dogs can transcend rancor and partisanship. She also talks about how dogs bring families together -- like Dana's own, from her career in Washington through her life as a TV star.--

"In this astonishing book from the author of the bestselling memoir The Good Good Pig, Sy Montgomery explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus--a surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature--and the remarkable connections it makes with humans. Sy Montgomery's popular 2011 Orion magazine piece, "Deep Intellect," about her friendship with a sensitive, sweet-natured octopus named Athena and the grief she felt at her death,...

"Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. In fact, according to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. Like humans, many birds have enormous brains relative to their size. Although small, bird brains are packed with neurons that allow them to punch well above their weight. In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores the newly discovered brilliance...

When London street musician James Bowen found an injured cat curled up in the hallway of his apartment building, he had no idea how much his life was about to change.