"Meet the Neighbors," a heartfelt exploration of animals' inner lives is the next Libby Reads book club pick

Ever feel like your dog actually does understand you? Ever marvel at how the squirrels in your backyard seem to keep a running inventory of every acorn they’ve stashed or how the honeybees manage their hives like efficient miniature cities? Humans may be at the top of the food chain, but we share this planet with countless species—and they’re much more intelligent and living lives more complex than we realize. 

Acclaimed science journalist Brandon Keim, who studies animal intelligence, wondered: What would it mean to take the minds of other animals seriously? And he explores this question in his book, Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World. With Earth Day approaching and as spring begins to bloom around us, it’s time to get to know the neighbors—the creatures whom we share our yards, our communities, and our planet—and to understand their pleasures and pains, the richness of their family lives and their histories.

If you love narrative nonfiction, animals, nature, or are just curious about who’s in your own backyard, this book is for you. And you can borrow and read or listen to the audiobook with no holds or waiting as part of the Libby Reads global book club from March 29 - April 9. 

A letter from the author

Dear book club friends,

I can still remember the first time I visited the public library in my hometown of Bangor, Maine. It is a grand old stone building, the sort of place where footsteps echo as you enter and the air is cool in summertime, even without air conditioning. Back in those days a polished wooden card catalog lined one wall, an oaken monument to knowledge.

It was a serious place, but the seriousness felt like a form of respectful welcome. Of course the librarians, stern at first blush, were warm and helpful and encouraging. If a kid wanted to smuggle in a hot chocolate on a winter’s day and curl up on a chair to read, they would pretend not to see it.

Those experiences left me with a lifelong appreciation for libraries and what they represent. Nowadays the library in Bangor, like so many, plays an even larger role in the community than before, with programs and activities that help people in need and bring us together in an era of dislocation. I value libraries more than ever—and so I am honored to be part of the Libby Reads program and delighted that you chose to read Meet the Neighbors.

Back when my book was still a fledgling of an idea, I thought it was going to be about the science of animal intelligence. That’s still a big part of it, but Meet the Neighbors became much more. It’s also a celebration of nature; a reflection on how we think about nature and about animals; and ultimately an invitation to weave a deeper awareness of other animals into your experience of the world around you.

I hope you come away from it with a richer, more joyful connection to all your neighbors, human and nonhuman alike.

Thank you for reading, 

Brandon Keim

✨ Book club bonus 

Book clubs are about more than just reading the same book. The best part of a club is going deeper into the book: guided discussion questions, listening to others’ perspectives, definitely a snack or two, and maybe even getting a chance to engage with the author themselves. With Libby Reads, there’s all of that (minus the snack, unfortunately—but we do have suggestions). 

🔖 Readers’ group guide

🧵 Discussion board questions

🗨️ Live Q&A with Brandon Keim (Thurs. April 9, 12PM EST) - Join Book Lounge by Libby host Joe Skelley for an interactive Q&A session with the author! You can register here.

What to watch after reading

Empathy: A Skeptic Investigates Animal Cruelty

2017 | 1hr 17min

Ed has been commissioned to make a documentary against animal cruelty, but he's completely oblivious to the animal rights community. In order to make this film, he'll have to convince himself it's a worthy cause. Could this documentary become a project that will change his way of living forever?

Dolphins

2000 | 40min

From the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the wind-swept seas of Patagonia, go under the water’s surface for a romp with inquisitive Atlantic spotted dolphins, acrobatic dusky dolphins and the familiar bottlenose dolphin. Follow marine biologists as they research the communication of wild dolphins with innovative scientific methods. From rarely seen fish-herding behavior to a close-up look at complex communication activities, this film offers a fascinating new perspective on the lives of dolphins and their remarkable intelligence.

The Heart of an Elephant

2019 | 52min

A story of wonder, woven together from a tapestry of eye-witness accounts and stories of these gentle giants’ intelligence and undeniable emotional capacity that is far more powerful than we ever acknowledged. It’s a story not just about the love and trust they feel towards members of their own species but also their ability to express forgiveness towards humans who prove they are deserving of it.

*Title availability may vary.

The next selection is right around the corner! Be the first to know when the next book club pick is announced by joining the Libby Life community (plus get lots of new book recs while you wait!).

RELATED READ: Book recommendations based on your favorite animal