On September 11th, 2001 while exploring a Burmese jungle, Dr. Joe Slowinski was bitten by a krait, one of the most poisonous snakes in the world.& ...
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reviews
Apr 06, 2009
Eric_W
rated it: 
I listened to this on audio (Audible download.) Very hard to turn the car engine off. I think the protagonist, Joe Slowinski, was a little cracked, but it makes for fascinating listening. Lots of fascinating detail about the politics of herpetology science. It does seem that this male-dominated profession attracts more than its share of those who like living on the edge. Some described him as a genius. He struck me more as one obsessed.
A nice feature of the book is to highlight and More...
A nice feature of the book is to highlight and More...
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Dec 15, 2008
Kay
rated it: 
I'm at odds about this book. On one hand, I very much enjoyed learning more about herpetology and field biology. The best parts of the book, I thought, delved into advances in the classification of snakes and description of key species. Did you know that virtually all snakes are poisonous but that some are simply not toxic enough to affect humans? I didn't. That some "primitive" snakes such as pythons have pairs of organs (kidneys, lungs, etc.), but that more "evolved" sna
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Apr 26, 2009
Steve
rated it:
In the vein of Into The Wild or Into Thin Air (but not as well written or fleshed out) Jamie James tells the story of Joe Slowinski, herpetologist extraordinaire, who was bitten by a deadly many-banded krait deep in northernmost Burma. James does a good job of setting up Slowinski's lifetime obsession with snakes, including both his reckless exploits with them and his dedication to the science of studying them. The centerpiece of the book is Joe's struggle for life in the remotest part of Burm
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May 10, 2010
Mike
rated it: 
This book was sent to me by a friend: I had sent her Dr. Kate Jackson's autobiography of her snake-collecting work in Africa, Mean and Lowly Things and she mailed me The Snake Charmer in reply. It is an expertly-crafted tale, as the journalist who authored it captures the life, and unfortunate death, of Dr. Joe Slowinski in gripping detail. Dr. Slowinski became one of the world's leading experts on the snakes of Asia, and died due to a bite from a many-banded krait in Burma. However, this book i
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Apr 18, 2010
Jackie
rated it:
First of all, I don't like snakes. But I feel that one must confront one's fears with solid knowledge. In The Snake Charmer, I learned much about venomous snakes...enough to know that I do not want to be in the same room with them!! Jamie James tells of the life of Joe Slowinski, a brilliant herpetologist and daring field scientist. Slowinski fell in love with snakes as a young boy growing up in the Mid-West and went on to pursue his love of all things reptile in college. After getting a Doc
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Sep 14, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
This was a serendipitous discovery: I THOUGHT I was buying a book about snake handling in Appalachian churches. Instead I got a marvelous combination of biography, geography, and snake lore. Joe Slowinski was a complex individual, devoting his life and career to studying snakes and furthering the comprehensive study of life forms started by Linnaeus and Darwin. He possessed a charismatic and risk-taking personality, one that in no small way contributed to his death while on an expedition to
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Jul 18, 2009
Jane
rated it: 
My main feeling as I started reading this book was how awful it would be to be Joe, the subject of the book, having his life pawed over by some sensation-seeking journalist who wasn't there, never knew him, didn't know the people, and didn't know anything about snakes that you couldn't get (better written) by leafing through Harry Greene's 1997 classic on snake biology (To be fair, the author does include Greene's book among "sources"). Basically it read like a book written by a journa
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May 13, 2009
Leslie
rated it:
In this excellent biography of Joe Slowinski, James closes his acknowledgements by expressing his regret that he never got to meet Slowinski. Upon finishing The Snake Charmer, one feels much the same. While most folks fear snakes, Slowinski positively reveled in them from a very young age. TSC is a measured and well-researched biography that explores the tragedy of Slowinski's death from snakebite in Burma without sensationalizing it, examining and celebrating Slowinski's life in full.
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Feb 28, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
This book is about Joe Slowinski, a herpetologist whose passion for science and snakes took him to Burma/Myanmar, where he died from a snake bite. It is a biography, but the author includes several interesting and relevant facts about snakes, academia, and the Burmese government. The balance between this educational (for me) information and the details of Slowinski's life was perfect.
Jan 18, 2012
Nichole
rated it:
The main character Joe reminded my so much of my herpetology teacher that I instantly fell in love with him. I think all herpetologists are a little insane, but that is what makes them good. Even though I knew what happened to him before I read this book I still couldn't help but cry. The ordeal that him and his collegues had to go through was unbelieveable. This was a great nonfiction read .
Dec 29, 2008
Kevin "El Liso Grande"
rated it:
a very good book. not knowing the story behind this guy joe i sorta saw what was coming by the way he wrote the first chapter. not exactly a spoiler but i knew where we were going. lots of info and science jargon that was well explained. a good bit of adventure along with descriptive writing that made if very interesting. i liked this book and will read other by james.
Jul 12, 2011
Robert
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 30, 2008
Leigh-ann
rated it:
A fascinating book about a fascinating man. His death was a real tragedy and so preventable, but hey, I'll never forget what a banded krait looks like.
Feb 11, 2009
Diane
rated it:
terrific!!!!!!!!!!! everything you ever wanted to know about snakes and herpetologists. Find out the deadliest snakes in the world and where they are
Mar 30, 2010
Book Concierge
rated it:
Biography of herpetologist Joe Slowinski, who met his match with ah venomous snake bite in the jungles of Burma. Fascinating.
Dec 14, 2010
Eden
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This book was amazing & tragic all at the same time. And my brother's major professor in college was in the book! :)
Dec 02, 2010
Michele
rated it:
Well written, and suspenseful except you know the end already but are riveted to find out what happened exactly.
Nov 05, 2009
Tuck
rated it:
not bad, not the greatest nat hist or bio or whatever you want to call this, but it IS interesting and fairly gruesome death by Krait scene. More info on herpetology than burma, but also interesting side light on rabinowitz ("beyond the last village"), and how he started a new national park in Kachin and how he is VERY protective of it.
Jan 14, 2009
Steve
rated it:
A biography and educational book about snakes. Like Into The Wild, but too long and not quite as good.
May 07, 2010
Belinda
rated it:
Handling hot snakes is hazardous to your health (duh). One careless, unlucky moment is all it takes...
Jan 14, 2009
Teri
rated it:
OK book. Didn't finish because there were just more interesting books waiting that caught my attention, but I did enjoy what I read.
Jun 16, 2009
Kate
rated it:
Dad really liked this one - the life and times of a dedicated snake scientist who died from a snake bite.
Aug 24, 2008
Suzanne
rated it:
A suprisingly good read about a herpetologist who is bitten by a Many-banded Krait in Burma while on a biological survey. The author did a very decent job describing field biologists and their many quirks- the good and the bad. It seemed like some parts of his life were sensationalized but not overly so. Certainly made me wish I was back outside doing field work!
Oct 17, 2008
Chris
rated it:
The story has stuck with me, and I think Slowinski's life was very interesting. That being said it's a much slower book in the mode of an Into Thin Air.
The difference here is that one day I will probably read Into Thin Air again... and won't be reading this one again.
3.5 Stars if I could give halves.
The difference here is that one day I will probably read Into Thin Air again... and won't be reading this one again.
3.5 Stars if I could give halves.
Sep 01, 2008
J.R.
rated it:
Jamie James, who lives and writes in Asia, has crafted an intriguing and educational book on the life, achievements and death of Joe Slowinski, a leading American herpetologist, who was bitten by a many-banded krait, one of the world's most dangerous snakes, while on expedition in northern Burma.
Sep 18, 2008
Orea
rated it:
This is a great story about a fascinating man who searchers the world for deeadly snakes. I am not a snake lover at all but I have learned a lot about snakes. The only problem I have with the book is when James is attempting to write about his younger years the writing is bery stilted.
Oct 29, 2008
Malia
rated it:
A good read in a rare-ly known field, not only celebrates a person (Slowinsky) who is a unique and born and bred dedicated Herpetologist, it shows if you get a chance to pursue your interests in life... Go for it!!!
