Amy Gutmann introduces The Lives of Animals, which was originally presented as a series of two lectures given during the 1997-98 Tanner Lectures at Princeton University. She summarizes and analyzes the lectures and the reflections that follow.

John Bernard picks up his novelist mother, Elizabeth Costello, from the airport. Elizabeth has been invited to speak at Appleton College in Waltham, where John works as an assistant professor of astronomy and physics. John is shocked at his mother’s aged appearance, noting her white hair and “flabby” skin. They drive to John’s home and are greeted by his wife, Norma, and their children. Norma and Elizabeth do not get along, and neither Norma nor John are looking forward to Elizabeth’s three-day visit. At dinner, Elizabeth questions why only three places have been set, and while Norma tries to avoid answering, John steps in and explains that the children are eating in the playroom because they are having chicken and Elizabeth does not like to see meat served for dinner. They do not want to adapt the children’s diet for her brief stay, so removing them from Elizabeth’s view is deemed best.

John and Elizabeth do not share a last name, so when she was invited to speak at Appleton College no one knew they were related, which is how John preferred it.