How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals

Naturalist Sy Montgomery uses thirteen animals as the framework for a memoir about the ways they shaped her life. The animals range from pet dogs to wild emus connected with the beginning of her writing career, and each has personal or professional importance. One chapter features Christopher Hogwood, a pig whose appetite and sociability encourage Montgomery to engage with neighbors. Across these encounters, the book considers empathy, family-making, loss, and the differences and connections between people and animals. It also addresses parental estrangement, severe depression, and suicidal thoughts.