Mr. Ward’s The Social Lives of Animals explores, in extensive and often exhilarating detail, the many ways in which animals, like humans, 'hate to be alone'.

Vampire bats 'have each other’s backs', according to one of the extraordinary stories in this fascinating book.

Ward has a good eye for details...and he writes vividly.

Apart from all we learn from this fascinating book about the myriad ways in which different species of animals survive and thrive by living together, The Social Lives of Animals is a reminder of why the damage to human lives caused by the COVID-19 pandemic goes way beyond the physical impact of the highly contagious virus.

The Social Lives of Animals...gets off to a rocky start. Not only does Ward indulge in the kind of navel-gazing that whimsy absolutely requires...but he indulges the very signature of whimsy: the inclusion of direct-address 'dear reader' in non-ironic prose. Fortunately, he mostly gets it out of his system early. The bulk of The Social Lives of Animals turns the focus exactly where it belongs: on the social lives of animals.

... [a] smart, funny and thoroughly engaging book.

Engaging and entertaining; of interest to anyone who wants to better understand the behavior of social animals, including humans..

Ward’s lively and oftentimes surprising observations and quirky and wry writing will appeal to readers. The juxtaposition of animal and human behavior will linger long after readers have turned the last page..

Ward’s enthusiasm keeps things moving, and his account is well researched and fascinating as he covers locust swarms, infanticide in chimpanzees, and humbug fish harems. This is catnip for animal enthusiasts..