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King Solomon's Ring: New Light on Animals' Ways
Solomon, the legend goes, had a magic ring which enabled him to speak to the animals in their own language. Konrad Lorenz was gifted with a similar power of understanding the animal world. He was that rare beast, a brilliant scientist who could write (and indeed draw) beautifully. He did more than any other person to establish and popularize the study of how animals behave...more
Paperback, 216 pages
Published
January 1st 1997
by Plume Books
(first published 1949)
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This book is split between general anecdotes about animals the author has kept and studied, and more specific details about observed behaviors of particular species of animals, notably water shrews,
domestic dogs (his dog of choice was the Alsatian, a puppy Alsatian is seen here with a cat that looks like a fatter Mooncheese)
and jackdaws.
The writing style is light and humorous while still being fascinating about the observ...more
domestic dogs (his dog of choice was the Alsatian, a puppy Alsatian is seen here with a cat that looks like a fatter Mooncheese)
and jackdaws.
The writing style is light and humorous while still being fascinating about the observ...more
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Gini
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Recommends it for:
Tina Ruyter, Gigi Simone, Katherine Bragdon, Nina Malkin, Sharson Sakson
This is one of the most wonderful books I've read in a long time. It was recommended to me years ago by a friend who lived on a farm in Vermont. He said it was the best book on animals ever. IT's so much more than that. Lorenz was an animal behaviorist who, at times, writes like a poet. The translation from German is beautiful. The book is laugh-out-loud funny in places, horrifying in others (such as the descriptions of how water shrews or water beetle larvae eat their prey.)
It was writte...more
It was writte...more
67. Lorenz, Konrad. SOLOMON’S RING. (First Ger. Ed. 1949; first Eng. trans. 1952). ****.
I had come across Lorenz in various Psychology courses, but this is the first book of his that I have read. Lorenz (1903-1989) had both a M.D. and a PhD in Zoology. He studied first at Columbia, but finished his studies at various schools in Europe. He joined the Nazi Party in 1938 and was later drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1941. He was captured early on by the Russians, and was a POW from 19...more
I had come across Lorenz in various Psychology courses, but this is the first book of his that I have read. Lorenz (1903-1989) had both a M.D. and a PhD in Zoology. He studied first at Columbia, but finished his studies at various schools in Europe. He joined the Nazi Party in 1938 and was later drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1941. He was captured early on by the Russians, and was a POW from 19...more
Published in 1952 when scientists were becoming suspicious that animals, even the lowest on the ladder of complexity, have WAY more going on that simply hard-wired instinct. Konrad Lorenz was one of the first Ethologists. Reading these stories is like meditating. How carefully, painstakingly, and often hilariously Lorenz scrutinized the animals he saw in his native Austria. It is charmingly written and translated and not a fast read. The author included small simple-lined illustrations throughou...more
When I showed up for grad school in an animal behavior program, this was the first book my major professor told me to read. Not some weighty research tome, this little book from one of the founding fathers of ethology. I saw it on my bookshelf this winter and decided to reread it. Konrad Lorenz was not only a gifted scientist he was also a good storyteller. His insightful and often funny musings on the creatures he raised and studied, from invertebrates in his aquarium to dogs to his beloved...more
I read this book because Mary Midgely recommended it so highly in her autobiography "The Owl of Minerva" (which I so highly recommend to anyone who may be reading this). It is a book about animal behaviour by an Austrian ethologist, Konrad Lorenz. It originally came out in the later 40's, and while some of the prose is slightly dated, it is a wonderful read.
Lorenz observed and documented all kinds of animals from the time he was a child, but is most well known for his work ...more
Lorenz observed and documented all kinds of animals from the time he was a child, but is most well known for his work ...more
I wish I'd come across this book a long, long time ago. Clarkie handed it to me on my last trip to Eighth Day and it's been a night time read for the last couple of weeks. Lorenz is able to transmit the joy of knowing animals in the simplest of iconic stories. Just think: this man LIVED the boyhood fantasy of befriending animals--I will never forget the description of calling to a raven soaring far overhead, which brought the bird down after a steep dive and flaring of wings onto his shoulder....more
A lovely book which was on my suggested reading list for a final year, zoology, advanced animal behaviour course.
This is a wonderfully book written by a keen observer of animal behaviour. Konrad Lorenz is a Nobel prize winner for physiology of medicine and one of the founders of ethology – the systematic study of animal behaviour. It is a rare treat that such an important book be so readable and so enticing to all who love animals.
This is a wonderfully book written by a keen observer of animal behaviour. Konrad Lorenz is a Nobel prize winner for physiology of medicine and one of the founders of ethology – the systematic study of animal behaviour. It is a rare treat that such an important book be so readable and so enticing to all who love animals.
Wonderful book, with delightful stories and experiences illuminating fascinating concepts and aspects of animal behaviour. Very interesting stuff on individuality in animals, personality, memory, insight, social behaviour and cultural transmission, animal welfare and cruelty in captivity... a lot packed in to this book. A classic!
This is an absolutely excptional book. Lorenz describes the lives of fighting fish, mallard ducks, water shrews, jackdaws, dytiscus larvae, sticklebacks, dogs, parrots, monkeys and many other interesting animals in language that makes it obvious how much he admires all animals. In addition this book is an excellent example of how knowledge aquired through science can be expressed in a beautiful artistic way without sacreficing neutrality. The story of the life of the jackdaws which takes place i...more
This book made me laugh out loud and I didn't stop until the book was done. This was a great book, I loved it. Don't read it hoping to learn anything, most of the ideas are a bit outdated. Read it for the entertainment value. You wanted to laugh and cry. The writing style is very simple but it is a collection of great stories about animals. You feel like they are almost human.
konrad lorenz ist wie bernhard grzimek und ich einer der großen naturforscher, die es verstehen ihr umfassendes wissen in unterhaltsame worte zu fassen. das buch muss man gelesen haben
Una delle storie d'amore più belle e vere che abbia letto.
Amore significa accettare l'altro per ciò che è. Lorenz ci dimostra che questo vale anche per gli animali.
Amore significa accettare l'altro per ciò che è. Lorenz ci dimostra che questo vale anche per gli animali.
A classic, definite must-read for anyone involved with animals. Lorenz's passion and love for the animal kingdom are inspirational and his insights into behaviour fascinating.
An absolutely charming, and sometimes hilarious, book of essays on animal behavior that I found while looking through the 'serious' ethology literature in the library.
Konrad Lorenz wrote these observations in the late 1940s in Austria; they are translated for English readers. This is a rare look at animal behavior from a scientific point of view, yet this scientist is most interested in animals that interact with him (and others that are just "interesting"). The book is a series of essays from his experiments and observations, not at all like the ususal scientific reads. The observations are intelligible to those un-scientific, but interested-in-ani...more
Anyone who studies animal behavior has heard of ethologist Konrad Lorenz (and have probably seen pictures of him being followed by a string of imprinted goslings). This is a wonderful collection of anecdotes from his personal life overrun with animals. He believes strongly that you cannot study a creature in a cage and so had all manner of wildlife (tamed and otherwise) given free reign of his house and surrounding areas. Detailed observations from a scientific mind in a time when animal beha...more
One of the most delightful scientific books I have read. His observations about animals are fascinating. If you are lucky enough--like me--to get your hands on a copy with his own illustrations scattered throughout the text then that will double your enjoyment.
Wonderfully engaging tales of animal behavior from an early pioneer. Enjoy.
A really good look at animal behaviour,including the original Pavlov's Dog!
I read about halfway through and then just gave up. It was an interesting and engaging read, but there's only so much I would want to know about *one man*'s behavioral observations of birds and insects. No matter how brilliant, insightful, or well-credentialed he may be.
Some of his points about the intelligence of birds seems to be moot, after Alex. Those parts in the book made me want to stop reading... I wondered how many more outdated things I might find, which might become ingraine...more
Some of his points about the intelligence of birds seems to be moot, after Alex. Those parts in the book made me want to stop reading... I wondered how many more outdated things I might find, which might become ingraine...more
veramente uno dei più bei libri che abbia mai letto
Lovely
Konrad Lorenz is awesome. I read On Aggression for school and have since never thought the same way about smiling.
I'm looking forward to reading this - SEED says it's about his relationship with animals, something that On Aggression just hints at (read: the goose on the staircase scene).
This was fun - not as serious or deep or meaningful as On Aggression, but written with a sweet sort of love for animals and their worlds and their intersection with ours.
I'm looking forward to reading this - SEED says it's about his relationship with animals, something that On Aggression just hints at (read: the goose on the staircase scene).
This was fun - not as serious or deep or meaningful as On Aggression, but written with a sweet sort of love for animals and their worlds and their intersection with ours.
If you decide to read it get an addition that has the original sketches Lorenz drew himself. I was suprised at how much I enjoyed reading this,even though I didn't get through all of it. You can only read so many details about how geese-talk differs from duck-talk or the inter-workings of a pond aquarium. Still, if you're even slightly an animal person or know-it-all go for it; it'll spark something in you somehow.
Loved it. I suspect some of the theory here regarding dogs/wolves/jackals is dated, but this is wonderfully readable, keenly observed book. It is behavioural biology/zoology in an anecdotal format that is fascinating and heart-warming.
bello parla di animali e grazie a questo libro ho imparato molto sul loro comportamento
i have a really old edition of the book that includes drawings by the author on the margin that really add to the experience of reading the book. thoroughly enjoyable book about animals and people.
This book was my younger daughters favorite for years- if you have a late grade-school to college age kid who loves animals this book will provide fun & science in a naritive form.
Fascinating and amusing observations from the great man himself. I bet this is a fun read in German too. Some dated information.
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