Best Non-Fiction Animal Stories

1.
If I Should Die Before My Dog—
If I Should Die Before My Dog— 4.64 avg rating — 109 ratings
2.
All Creatures Great and Small (All Creatures Great and Small, #1-2)
All Creatures Great and Small (All Creatures Great and Small, #1-2) 4.35 avg rating — 155,351 ratings
3.
The Elephant Whisperer
The Elephant Whisperer 4.50 avg rating — 31,510 ratings
4.
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds (Story of Elsa, #1)
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds (Story of Elsa, #1) 4.16 avg rating — 33,673 ratings
5.
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World 3.87 avg rating — 62,005 ratings
6.
The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks
The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks 4.01 avg rating — 7,050 ratings
7.
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Seabiscuit: An American Legend 4.23 avg rating — 167,136 ratings
8.
Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo
Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo 4.32 avg rating — 4,514 ratings
9.
Cry of the Kalahari
Cry of the Kalahari 4.33 avg rating — 8,282 ratings
10.
All Things Bright and Beautiful (All Creatures Great and Small, #3-4)
All Things Bright and Beautiful (All Creatures Great and Small, #3-4) 4.35 avg rating — 82,188 ratings
11.
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl 4.10 avg rating — 12,464 ratings
12.
All Things Wise and Wonderful (All Creatures Great and Small, #5-6)
All Things Wise and Wonderful (All Creatures Great and Small, #5-6) 4.45 avg rating — 37,075 ratings
13.
A Street Cat Named Bob
A Street Cat Named Bob 3.99 avg rating — 59,148 ratings
14.
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived 4.22 avg rating — 12,352 ratings
15.
That Quail, Robert
That Quail, Robert 4.33 avg rating — 2,221 ratings
16.
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals 4.02 avg rating — 4,947 ratings
17.
In the Shadow of Man
In the Shadow of Man 4.36 avg rating — 8,857 ratings
18.
The Lord God Made Them All
The Lord God Made Them All 4.45 avg rating — 29,428 ratings
19.
Unlikely Friendships : 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom
Unlikely Friendships : 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom 4.06 avg rating — 3,323 ratings
20.
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness 3.94 avg rating — 57,029 ratings
21.
A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion
A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion 4.06 avg rating — 6,902 ratings
22.
Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process 4.10 avg rating — 10,017 ratings
23.
How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog): Visionary Scientists and a Siberian Tale of Jump-Started Evolution
How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog): Visionary Scientists and a Siberian Tale of Jump-Started Evolution 4.22 avg rating — 1,785 ratings
24.
The Dog Who Rescues Cats: The True Story of Ginny
The Dog Who Rescues Cats: The True Story of Ginny 4.12 avg rating — 1,314 ratings
25.
The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients
The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients 3.98 avg rating — 1,663 ratings
26.
Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide
Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide 4.02 avg rating — 11,605 ratings
27.
Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks
Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks 3.90 avg rating — 896 ratings
28.
Touched By a Rabbit
Touched By a Rabbit 4.58 avg rating — 12 ratings
29.
Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions
Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions 4.05 avg rating — 3,671 ratings
30.
Our Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies
Our Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies 4.31 avg rating — 258 ratings
31.
Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog
Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog 4.09 avg rating — 5,102 ratings
32.
Elephant Dawn: The Inspirational Story of Thirteen Years Living with Elephants in the African Wilderness
Elephant Dawn: The Inspirational Story of Thirteen Years Living with Elephants in the African Wilderness 4.47 avg rating — 684 ratings
33.
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale 4.22 avg rating — 6,684 ratings
34.
The Octopus and the Orangutan: New Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity
The Octopus and the Orangutan: New Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity 3.73 avg rating — 358 ratings
35.
Secretariat: The Making of a Champion
Secretariat: The Making of a Champion 4.24 avg rating — 10,375 ratings
36.
Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love
Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love 4.06 avg rating — 13,086 ratings
37.
Homer's Odyssey
Homer's Odyssey 4.20 avg rating — 15,861 ratings
38.
The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood 4.02 avg rating — 8,214 ratings
39.
Judy: A Dog In A Million
Judy: A Dog In A Million 4.36 avg rating — 1,198 ratings
40.
Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon
Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon 4.37 avg rating — 2,021 ratings
41.
Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey
Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey 4.15 avg rating — 13,573 ratings
42.
My Family and Other Animals
My Family and Other Animals 4.17 avg rating — 61,489 ratings
43.
I, Toto: The Autobiography of Terry, the Dog Who Was Toto
I, Toto: The Autobiography of Terry, the Dog Who Was Toto 4.11 avg rating — 172 ratings
44.
Smoky the Brave: How a Feisty Yorkshire Terrier Mascot Became a Comrade-in-Arms during World War II
Smoky the Brave: How a Feisty Yorkshire Terrier Mascot Became a Comrade-in-Arms during World War II 4.13 avg rating — 306 ratings
45.
Faithfully Yours: The Amazing Bond Between Us and the Animals We Love
Faithfully Yours: The Amazing Bond Between Us and the Animals We Love 4.02 avg rating — 44 ratings
46.
The Spotted Sphinx
The Spotted Sphinx 4.35 avg rating — 325 ratings
47.
Climb that Fence and take that Leap
Climb that Fence and take that Leap 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings
47.
Trooper: The Bobcat Who Came in from the Wild
Trooper: The Bobcat Who Came in from the Wild 4.51 avg rating — 902 ratings
49.
The Shark and the Albatross: A Wildlife Filmmaker Reveals Why Nature Matters to Us All
The Shark and the Albatross: A Wildlife Filmmaker Reveals Why Nature Matters to Us All 4.23 avg rating — 192 ratings
50.
Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo
Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo 4.01 avg rating — 2,027 ratings
51.
The Wilderness Family: At Home with Africa's Wildlife
The Wilderness Family: At Home with Africa's Wildlife 4.46 avg rating — 1,500 ratings
52.
They Called Her Reckless: A True Story of War, Love And One Extraordinary Horse
They Called Her Reckless: A True Story of War, Love And One Extraordinary Horse 4.15 avg rating — 88 ratings
53.
The Great Penguin Rescue: 40,000 Penguins, a Devastating Oil Spill, and the Inspiring Story of the World's Largest Animal Rescue
The Great Penguin Rescue: 40,000 Penguins, a Devastating Oil Spill, and the Inspiring Story of the World's Largest Animal Rescue 3.98 avg rating — 243 ratings
54.
Gorillas among Us: A Primate Ethnographer’s Book of Days
Gorillas among Us: A Primate Ethnographer’s Book of Days 3.85 avg rating — 27 ratings
55.
Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish
Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish 3.94 avg rating — 3,496 ratings
56.
Chosen By A Horse
Chosen By A Horse 4.11 avg rating — 9,059 ratings
56.
Koko's Kitten
Koko's Kitten 4.31 avg rating — 1,097 ratings
58.
Emergency Animal Rescue Stories: True Stories About People Dedicated to Saving Animals from Disasters
Emergency Animal Rescue Stories: True Stories About People Dedicated to Saving Animals from Disasters 4.30 avg rating — 64 ratings
58.
The Shepherd's Life: A Tale of the Lake District
The Shepherd's Life: A Tale of the Lake District 4.14 avg rating — 15,148 ratings
58.
Laika's Window: The Legacy of a Soviet Space Dog
Laika's Window: The Legacy of a Soviet Space Dog 4.03 avg rating — 159 ratings
61.
Saving Simon: How a Rescue Donkey Taught Me the Meaning of Compassion
Saving Simon: How a Rescue Donkey Taught Me the Meaning of Compassion
by: Jon Katz
4.13 avg rating — 1,896 ratings
62.
Adventures Among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions
Adventures Among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions 4.23 avg rating — 599 ratings
62.
H is for Hawk
H is for Hawk 3.74 avg rating — 78,917 ratings
64.
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend 3.53 avg rating — 4,938 ratings
64.
The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries
The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries 3.70 avg rating — 164 ratings
66.
No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home from the Combat Zone
No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home from the Combat Zone 4.35 avg rating — 495 ratings
67.
The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation
The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation 4.23 avg rating — 14,494 ratings
67.
Every Living Thing (All Creatures Great and Small, #8)
Every Living Thing (All Creatures Great and Small, #8) 4.50 avg rating — 17,221 ratings
69.
Where the Blind Horse Sings: The Uplifting Story of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary and the Animals Who Call It Home
Where the Blind Horse Sings: The Uplifting Story of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary and the Animals Who Call It Home 4.30 avg rating — 748 ratings
70.
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog 4.14 avg rating — 475,387 ratings
71.
Ravenmaster
Ravenmaster 4.04 avg rating — 5,894 ratings
72.
Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II
Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II 4.27 avg rating — 11,420 ratings
73.
Stories Rabbits Tell: A Natural and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Creature
Stories Rabbits Tell: A Natural and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Creature 4.29 avg rating — 220 ratings
74.
Hachi-Ko: The Samurai Dog
Hachi-Ko: The Samurai Dog 4.48 avg rating — 237 ratings
75.
Corvus: A Life with Birds
Corvus: A Life with Birds 4.05 avg rating — 1,084 ratings
76.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating 4.15 avg rating — 20,360 ratings
77.
The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals
The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals 4.03 avg rating — 1,148 ratings
78.
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: Stories of Feline Affection, Mystery and Charm
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: Stories of Feline Affection, Mystery and Charm 4.22 avg rating — 1,656 ratings
79.
The Possibility Dogs: What a Handful of "Unadoptables" Taught Me About Service, Hope, and Healing
The Possibility Dogs: What a Handful of "Unadoptables" Taught Me About Service, Hope, and Healing 4.20 avg rating — 1,503 ratings
80.
On Animals
On Animals 3.83 avg rating — 5,786 ratings
81.
Watching Giants: The Secret Lives of Whales
Watching Giants: The Secret Lives of Whales 3.73 avg rating — 104 ratings
82.
The Cat and the Curmudgeon (Compleat Cat #2)
The Cat and the Curmudgeon (Compleat Cat #2) 3.69 avg rating — 822 ratings
83.
Cold Noses and Warm Hearts: Beloved Dog Stories by Great Authors
Cold Noses and Warm Hearts: Beloved Dog Stories by Great Authors 3.73 avg rating — 44 ratings
84.
Sandy: The Sandhill Crane Who Joined Our Family (Northwest Reprints (Paperback))
Sandy: The Sandhill Crane Who Joined Our Family (Northwest Reprints (Paperback)) 4.06 avg rating — 32 ratings
85.
Lucky For Me
Lucky For Me 3.74 avg rating — 121 ratings
85.
Pit Stops: Crossing the Country with Loren the Rescue Bully
Pit Stops: Crossing the Country with Loren the Rescue Bully really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 15 ratings
85.
The Hidden Life of Dogs
The Hidden Life of Dogs 3.67 avg rating — 2,585 ratings
85.
The Rescue
The Rescue 4.23 avg rating — 30 ratings
85.
Of Mice and Zen. Animal Encounters in the Life of a Wandering Buddhist
Of Mice and Zen. Animal Encounters in the Life of a Wandering Buddhist 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings
85.
Little Paws and Lion Hearts
Little Paws and Lion Hearts 4.50 avg rating — 12 ratings
85.
Daisy to the Rescue: True Stories of Daring Dogs, Paramedic Parrots, and Other Animal Heroes
Daisy to the Rescue: True Stories of Daring Dogs, Paramedic Parrots, and Other Animal Heroes 4.08 avg rating — 115 ratings
85.
Greyfriars Bobby: The Real Story at Last
Greyfriars Bobby: The Real Story at Last 3.93 avg rating — 61 ratings
85.
The Long, The Short and The Tall: Life with Rescue Dogs
The Long, The Short and The Tall: Life with Rescue Dogs 4.36 avg rating — 42 ratings
85.
Out of Harm's Way
Out of Harm's Way 4.30 avg rating — 433 ratings
85.
Love Rhymes with Everything: Animal ruminations through poetry & paintings
Love Rhymes with Everything: Animal ruminations through poetry & paintings 4.50 avg rating — 8 ratings
85.
Explorer's Guide to Wildlife Adventures
Explorer's Guide to Wildlife Adventures
by: J.Z. Hunt
4.03 avg rating — 35 ratings
85.
The Animal Lover's Guide to Changing the World: Practical Advice and Everyday Actions for a More Sustainable, Humane, and Compassionate Planet
The Animal Lover's Guide to Changing the World: Practical Advice and Everyday Actions for a More Sustainable, Humane, and Compassionate Planet 4.15 avg rating — 94 ratings
85.
The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic
The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic 4.19 avg rating — 3,530 ratings
85.
Who Was Seabiscuit?
Who Was Seabiscuit? 4.31 avg rating — 406 ratings
85.
The Rhino Crash
The Rhino Crash 4.19 avg rating — 153 ratings
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