Our Unknown Family

»We do not know the make-up of this unknown family, which is composed of human beings and animals.« Walter Benjamin

Animals think, animals feel, animals are inventive and have a complex inner life – and sometimes, they try and make themselves understood by us humans. Every now and then they succeed and those of us who have experienced this are not only changed forever, but also have a story to tell that has the potential to change the way we see the animal kingdom. Many people have related their extraordinary encounters to Jürgen Teipel – they are remarkable, surprising and moving stories: like the one about the squirrel that decides to climb up someone’s leg in a park, downright »adopts« them and won’t ever leave their side again, not even in the shower; or the seven-metre right whale calf that invites a diver to slide down its back; or the once wild cat that is so ecstatic about the return of its favourite humans that it dances with joy for days on end; or the terminally ill woman who found comfort in the empathetic company of a horse.

These stories, often incredible but nevertheless true – about humorous cows, horses that heal themselves, artistic monkeys, loved-up cats and frightened bunnies that surpass themselves – are about trust, compassion, friendship and, yes, of love for and among animals. In them, the boundaries between humans and animals seems to have been lifted for a short while.

»I’ve been waiting a long time for such a beautiful book.« taz. die tageszeitung

»Our Unknown Family brings together 39 emotionally moving, real moments.« Süddeutsche Zeitung

»Every one of these stories comes alive through a truly artful protocol-like style that allows the most characteristic aspects of all of the animal-humans involved to clearly shine through. ... The most beautiful and philosophical stories of the summer can be found here in this book.« Philosophie Magazin

»It's easy to simply be moved by this book. Or amazed. Or fascinated. ... But what's really special is the language.« Frankfurter Rundschau

»Sometimes simple ideas are the best: many of the 39 stories are simply anecdotes. And perhaps that is why they are so touching.« Brigitte 13/2018

»The stories are fantastic to read and provoke a beautiful mixture of feelings: wonder, a sense of contact, joy, compassion.« Inga Humpe, 2raumwohnung

»In every sense a book to read: not only does it inform us about how animals live together, but about how animals and human beings live together too, both successfully and unsuccessfully. It encourages one to look more closely and to reflect.« literaturkritik.de

»Equally touching and fascinating stories about animals and humans ... Stories that have the power to change the reader's view of animals for good.« Badische Zeitung

»Touching but never sentimental, it once again raises the question: when will we (want to) understand how close to us animals truly are? – Highly recommended!« Buchprofile/Medienprofile Jg. 63/2018

»Jürgen Teipel collects true stories of important moments between animals and ›you‹. These demand to be passed on; and passed on again.« Kurier

»Fascinating stories.« Die ganze Woche

»Next to the pure entertainment value of the stories, the attentive reader will be able to walk away with a lot of food for thought as regards the mindful interaction with animals.« IFB

»These 37 entertaining stories are by turns amusing and sad, and always informative.« Lesart 1/2018

»Almost incidentally with this book, in which the author has only assigned himself the role of literary documentalist, a small piece of great literature has been born.« Humanistischer Pressedienst

»In any event, no one has approached our dear fellow occupants of this planet with so much empathy in a long long time ... « zuckerkick.com

»A simple tip: read it!« St. Galler Tagblatt