Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains

Bethany Brookshire, author of the new book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, will discuss why we deem certain animals “pests” and others not—from cats to rats, elephants to pigeons—and what this tells us about our own perceptions, beliefs, and actions, as well as our place in the natural world. Bethany Brookshire is an author and freelance science journalist, and  a host and producer on the podcast Science for the People.

Book summary: At the intersection of science, history, and narrative journalism, Pests is not a simple call to look closer at our urban ecosystem. It’s not a natural history of the animals we hate. Instead, this book is about us. It’s about what calling an animal a pest says about people, how we live, and what we want. Bethany Brookshire’s deeply researched and entirely entertaining book will show readers what there is to venerate in vermin, and help them appreciate how these animals have clawed their way to success as we did everything we could to ensure their failure.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. The Herpetology Club at NC State will be available to share information about the club and will have a live snake.

This program is a partnership between the University Libraries and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center.