Book · 2008 · History
Rats
Observations on the History & Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants
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There's an awesome book that uh Robert Lamb and I uh talk used to talk about pretty often. It's named in a burst of creativity rats.
The best things said about it
When we first set out to make this series on rats we were inspired by what you might call all a foundational text a book called rats observations on the history and habitat of the city's most unwanted inhabitants by Robert Sullivan I remembered reading an excerpt of the book in The New York Times magazine when it was published.
Stephen Dubner Freakonomics Radio · Feb 2025 Why people recommend it
Rats by Robert Sullivan is a detailed non-fiction exploration of the history, behavior, and habitat of urban rodents, focusing primarily on New York City. On Stuff They Don't Want You To Know, Ben Bowlin recommended the book, mentioning that he and his co-host Robert Lamb frequently discussed it when exploring topics such as urban ecology and potential future apex predators. Bowlin specifically praised the book for its fascinating insights into rat intelligence and behavior within metropolitan environments. Furthermore, Stephen Dubner discussed the book on Freakonomics Radio, describing it as a foundational text that directly inspired the podcast's dedicated series on rats. Dubner recalled first encountering an excerpt of the work in The New York Times, which sparked his enduring interest in the subject. Across these podcast episodes, the speakers highlighted the book's unique ability to blend urban history, science, and reportage, making it an essential and engaging read for anyone interested in the hidden ecosystems thriving beneath major cities.
Every mention
Ben Bowlin There's an awesome book that uh Robert Lamb and I uh talk used to talk about pretty often. It's named in a… 2
“There's an awesome book that uh Robert Lamb and I uh talk used to talk about pretty often. It's named in a burst of creativity rats.”
“There's a book that our pal Robert Lamb and I really love called Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants. And it focuses on rats in New York, and it's amazing.”
Stephen Dubner when we first set out to make this series on rats we were inspired by what you might call all a foundationa… 1
“when we first set out to make this series on rats we were inspired by what you might call all a foundational text a book called rats observations on the history and habitat of the city's most unwanted inhabitants by Robert Sullivan I remembered reading an excerpt of the book in The New York Times magazine when it was published”
