August's Hottest New Nonfiction Books. AI-Generated.
I. Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels by Ellen Ruppel Shell (August 6)
Fans of microhistory and true crime will find a rare treat in Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels. This gripping narrative takes readers on an unexpected journey into the mysterious world of eels, creatures that have fascinated and perplexed scientists for centuries. Despite countless attempts, eels have never been successfully bred in captivity, a biological puzzle that has contributed to the rise of a shadowy, multimillion-dollar black market trade. This illicit industry centers around the capture and illegal sale of juvenile eels, known as "glass eels," which are smuggled across borders and sold for staggering profits, particularly in Asia where they are considered a delicacy.
