false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176686200m/644582.jpg 644582 1 Mixing mythology and natural history, Stephen Alter lets readers share his lifelong love for the Indian elephant, <I>Elephas maximus</I>. While legends threaten to overwhelm facts in the tale, Alter has nonetheless presented an accurate portrait of his subject, true to centuries of Indian tradition.<p> <blockquote>Beyond metaphors and fables, elephants occupy an important place in Sanskrit literature. Gajashastra, or "elephant science," was studied and recorded in several texts that are based on oral traditions.</blockquote><p> As much travelogue as science book, <I>Elephas</I> inextricably links the Indian elephant with the history of southern Asia itself. In pre-colonial India, elephants were wound up in religion and daily life; in modern times, the animals were first hunted then fetishized by Westerners. Alter reserves judgment on these issues, except to note that none of India's 20th-century history has been good for elephant populations, which are endangered or threatened nearly everywhere. He treks into parks and reserves, seeking out wild elephants and describing their awe-inspiring behaviors. The stories he uncovers along the way--of temple elephants, mysterious Elephanta Island, seagoing elephants, and the god Ganesha--weave a spellbinding tale. <I>--Therese Littleton</I> 630745 3 5 2004 Elephas Maximus: A Portrait of the Indian Elephant total:5|5:1|4:1|3:1|2:2| 5 16 10 1 3 0 false false Thu Apr 19 18:46:33 -0700 2007 Thu Apr 19 18:49:57 -0700 2007 more...]]> 0 0 false false Sun Mar 01 16:52:46 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 01 16:52:46 -0800 2009 2 0 false false Fri Dec 19 10:47:29 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 19 10:47:29 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Sat Dec 13 11:36:27 -0800 2008 Sat Dec 13 11:36:29 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Tue Sep 09 09:52:42 -0700 2008 Wed Sep 10 03:07:32 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Aug 27 21:23:21 -0700 2008 Wed Aug 27 21:23:21 -0700 2008 2 0 false false Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 11 21:42:41 -0700 2008 Tue Sep 30 22:33:20 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Wed Jul 23 07:35:51 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 23 07:35:51 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Fri May 30 08:31:51 -0700 2008 Fri May 30 08:31:58 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Thu Aug 23 18:49:30 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 23 18:49:33 -0700 2007 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=644582