It's a scientific discussion of alien life, and how to understand their society we would have to understand their biology, but it makes for interesting reading. I've said before that a lot of Fantasy Races are like Star trek aliens, just Humans with funny ears or strange foreheads, and not really "Other". I know that they have to be relatable to the reader, but a quick read of this might help your "Podcashiers" or whatever Non-Human race be more Non-Human, and less Peter Dinklage in Spock Ears.
To Learn How Aliens Think, We Must First Learn About Their Biology
To Learn How Aliens Think, We Must First Learn About Their Biology