How to Think like a Cat

Actor Newbern brings an aloof coolness to his reading of French novelist Garnier’s playful self-help guide. After years of enviously observing the lifestyle of his cat, Ziggy, Garnier developed the theory that people would be a lot happier if they acted more like cats. His book compiles 40 cat behaviors—such as knowing how to assert oneself calmly or being persistent in one’s demands for affection (or dinner)—to illustrate the ways humans can eliminate sources of stress by adopting the mindset of a cat. The text includes quotes from famous authors, checklists, quizzes, and other elements that are difficult to decipher in Newbern’s reading. However, reader Newbern handles the longer, more straightforward passages with ease, playfully conveying the worldview of cats with a smooth confidence and nonchalance. Though Newbern’s narration is hit or miss, the content of the book and Newbern’s attempts to mimic the attitudes of its subject are sure to please cat lovers. [em]A HarperWave hardcover. (Mar.) [/em]