Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants
In his third book, Robert Sullivan leaves the wilds of the (Meadowlandsand the  roughwhaling watersof  the Pacific Northwest to take up rat-watching in the alleys of New York  City. Sullivan learned to appreciate the rodents during nocturnal  stakeouts; a night-vision scope helped him observe rats without scaring  them. As in his previous books, Sullivan uses pointillist details rather than  broad portraiture to paint his subject, and the details inRatsare devilish. There are plenty of facts in the book to make your skin  crawl, such as a description of the greasy skids rats leave on the paths  they frequent, and a list of garbage items they prefer to eat. But  Sullivan's style is often less that of a nature writer than a historian.  In personable, essayish chapters, New York's history is revealed to be  particularly ratty, with tall tales about the rodents' disgusting  accomplishments going back to the city's founding. Although many people  have never seen a rat outside a pet store, Sullivan reminds us that they  are our constant neighbors, staring out from dim corners and messy  crevices with beady eyes and twitching whiskers.--Adam Fisher--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.