On the Animal Trail by Baptiste Morizot is an impressive work of philosophy written in a beautifully lyrical form. Part memoir, travelogue and science writing, the book’s structure is almost novelistic, with a strong narrative voice, characterization, compelling plot and literary elements. Yet the work is deeply philosophical, as is made evident in the paradox of the title: The “animal” trail is about tracking and finding through other creatures what it means to be human-in-the-world. Tracking is not just the skill of following an invisible animal but also the art of grasping human nature. Morizot is a gifted thinker and talented writer, and this is the type of stimulating, erudite book many readers will not want to end. The work is difficult to pigeonhole, but it’s recommended for students of cultural anthropology, environmental studies and animal ethics.
Morizot’s stated intention is to track the seemingly invisible traces of animals through...