Book review: ‘Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known’
Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known by Scott Simon with illustrations by Liana Finck. W. W. Norton, 2026. Hardcover, 224 pages.
For decades, Scott Simon, host of National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Saturday, has impressed me with his journalistic skills. Whether reporting national or international news, Scott brings clarity and compassion to news stories. However, it is in the smaller stories that Scott really shines: tributes, commentaries, and remembrances.
With his latest book, Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known, he puts these skills to work and invites readers to meet many of the animals, past and present, who have touched his heart. The title cat, for instance, was an orange Scottish fold who kept vigil over Scott’s stepfather during his last days. Other cats have welcomed his adopted daughters home from China and filled his household with love and laughter.
Dogs, too, have been a large part of his life — from the German shepherd Penny of his childhood to Daisy, the poodle whose antics enliven the family’s homelife and travel. There are also some unusual pets such as Hoppy, the grasshopper the author cared for as a child when his parents were going through a divorce.
No matter the species, animals have been an important part of Scott’s life. And, in this collection of essays, he tells us why and leaves us richer for that knowledge.
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