Mari Andrew

A shelter cat teaches that our damaged parts are also worthy of love, a captive orca shows that inconvenience and difficulties are the blessing of a full life, a group of oysters prove that magic and science can coexist.

In the collection of essays, How to Be a Living Thing: Meditations on Intuitive Oysters, Hopeful Doves, and Being Human in the World, writer and artist Mari Andrew reflects on the ways animals mirror, challenge, and deepen our experiences as living creatures and how they can teach us to live more fully as humans. Highly-sensitive horses, overly-cautious donkeys, and silly social rats offer us glimpses of the glories and shortcomings of humanity. Weaving philosophical, historical, and scientific references with the stories of these animal teachers, Andrew finds examples of uncertainty, grief, community, interdependence, and hope in every corner of the animal kingdom.

How to Be a Living Thing reminds us that we are perfectly imperfect beings, capable of profound connection with each other and with other species of the natural world. Andrew is the author of Am I There Yet? and My Inner Sky and writes the newsletter “Out of the Blue” on Substack. 

All books will be pre-signed by the author. A book signing will follow the event for those who would like their book personalized.