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Of Wolves and Men

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 877 ratings · 43 reviews

Originally published in 1978, this special twenty-fifth-anniversary edition of the National Book Award finalist includes an entirely new afterword in which the author considers the current state of knowledge about wolves and recent efforts to reintroduce wolves to their former habitats in American wilderness areas. Humankind's relationship with the wolf is based on a spect...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published September 1st 1979 by Scribner (first published 1979)

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Apr 06, 2011 Laurens Schaad added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Laurens Schaad
4/6/11
Terry Thaxton
GoodReads Book review

Of Wolves and Men
Barry Lopez
New York: Scribner, 1978

A new evolutionary look into the mind of wolves and the mind of men, Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez drives us through a journey that studies each species perspective on the wolves. He is not just a naturalist but also a story teller. First Lopez looks into the wolf itself, its makeup and evolutionary growth, its social commitments and the way they manage their species within itself. Then L...more Laurens Schaad
4/6/11
Terry Thaxton
GoodReads Book review

Of Wolves and Men
Barry Lopez
New York: Scribner, 1978

A new evolutionary look into the mind of wolves and the mind of men, Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez drives us through a journey that studies each species perspective on the wolves. He is not just a naturalist but also a story teller. First Lopez looks into the wolf itself, its makeup and evolutionary growth, its social commitments and the way they manage their species within itself. Then Lopez takes a look at the relative myth, superstition, and truth he finds mainly from indians, eskimos, and other native tribes. Next he reflects on the ongoing history of blood and cruelty made by humans against the wolves, how humans try to take revenge against the ones that hurt their livestock, how we hunt them for sport or fun, and how the killings of the native americans paralleled that of the wolves. Lopez concludes with the multitude of myths of wolves emerging from pagan history, religious superstition, tales of werewolves, children’s bedtime stories, and a few remaining myths from other cultures.
The first few chapters will follow a series of wolves and explore how they treat each other. He studies how the wolves have evolved from small rodent creatures towards “long-legged otters” until Canis was formed. There he explores how some creatures like aardwolf, maned wolf, or Andean wolf aren’t wolves at all but other species. Lopez also comments how people think wolves are much heavier and huskier than they tend to be, an actual weight of 45 to 100 pounds. We learn little facts about how wolves survive in their environments and how to identify them. He covers the social structure of wolves and how they keep themselves within their territories and treat their young with more compassion and understanding than other naturalists.
Lopez doesn’t accept the typical cruel and misunderstanding portrayal that people create about the wolf. As Lopez stated, “We create wolves” using our stories. Lopez sought out the people who encounter wolves on a regular basis. He talked to the eskimos, the ones who have great an ancient respect for the wolves. They have an admiration that they see on equal terms with themselves. Lopez learns of a “conversation of death” that occurs where a wolf stares down it’s prey and decides wether or not their prey is worth the kill.
As Lopez’s investigative journey continues he finds those who despise the wolves. They fear the wolves because they tend to kill some of the people’s livestock on which their livelihood depends. In return the people hunt the wolves to no end, far exceeding their debt. It was considered honorable and prestigious to hunt them down. People were paid to hunt them down like the native americans when america was colonized. Humans must recognize the balance between nature.
Since a child we are told stories of wolves always being the antagonist. In christian religion wolves appear as the devil himself causing an apparent “holocaust” whenever the wolves may raid the livestock.
Of Wolves and Men is a new in-depth explanation of the wolf and its habits. This book is for anyone who loves wolves, nature, or animal myth.
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May 05, 2013 Jennifer W. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lopez is an incredibly gifted nature writer and this was the first book I had the opportunity to read from him in an american literature class in college! He is so skilled at weaving in fact and his own insights about the wolves he lived around and studied to paint a three dimensional picture of the lives of wolves. They are not just predators, and they're not like dogs, they are their own creature filled with the mysteries of their own little societies. They love and fight and hunt, it's amazin...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Kaia Gondron rated it 5 of 5 stars

“Lopez, Barry. Of Wolves and Men.”
New York: Scribner, 1978

With shocking and detailed descriptions of a species of animal for which the book is named, Lopez’s novel immediately tosses the reader into a world made only for wolves and their prey. Stunning images compliment his words and add such a unique flavor to his work. Ranging from scientific explanations of wolves’ adaptability to their love and protection of their pack members, this work goes into deep analysis of the wolf and everything tha...more “Lopez, Barry. Of Wolves and Men.”
New York: Scribner, 1978

With shocking and detailed descriptions of a species of animal for which the book is named, Lopez’s novel immediately tosses the reader into a world made only for wolves and their prey. Stunning images compliment his words and add such a unique flavor to his work. Ranging from scientific explanations of wolves’ adaptability to their love and protection of their pack members, this work goes into deep analysis of the wolf and everything that the proud and impressive animal is capable of.

The incredibly personal and descriptive diction immediately sucks you in to what Lopez has to say about the wolf. The novel starts out with the focus on one particular wolf whose trek we follow. This introduction of sorts connects you to the species and to the writer all at once, and is awe-inspiring. The way Lopez writes, the reader feels as though they are loping next to this young male wolf. The work graciously dives into a more scientific approach, describing and detailing many of the subspecies, and their characteristics, of Canis lupus, or the wolf.

As you read deeper, you as a reader discover that there is so much more complexity to the wolf that what has just been romanticized or chastised over the years. We learn about the communication of the wolf, and how their howl is far from the only noise they make in order to communicate. Lopez speaks with various peoples, ranging from tribes of Eskimo to others that have watched and studied and emulated wolves for years and years. The act of hunting is deeply touched upon, and how it is a sort of communication with the earth. It seems to be almost spiritual, and Lopez makes the act sound almost ethereal, despite the fact that he’s talking about death.

Lopez spends quite a bit of time discussing the positive and negative labels society as a whole have slapped onto the wolf, with tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, and other such legends and myths. How the church, in the past, labeled the wolf as an alternate form of the devil himself. How, in short, all of these stereotypes attached to this animal have shone a negative light upon them.

Lopez also goes into the impact humans have on wolves. How wolves are killed because they venture into land owned by man and kill their livestock. How this battle between man and beast turned into a massacre, and was eventually more than men avenging their lost livestock – it was murder. Lopez even compares this to a holocaust of sorts, and mirrors it with America’s war on Indians.

Through all of the negativity, however, Lopez never loses sight of the true purpose of what he wanted to express: the wolf as a being, and why we should not hate the creature, but should respect and even protect it. “Of Wolves and Men” definitely contributes to the awareness that people have about these predators. Though written decades ago, the book feels like a new friend to me; I feel more connected with the wildlife of the forests surrounding my home. Though many claim to know what wolves are and what they do, Lopez sums it up perfectly in this book. They are creatures of great pride, great compassion, and great loyalty. They care deeply for their pack members, they are determined in their quest for life, regardless of the negative view many have of them, and they are vital in our forest’s survival and are a key part of the everlasting chain of life.
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Dec 02, 2012 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Fifteen years after first reading Of Wolves and Men, this book is still, in my opinion, the best examination of man's complicated love/hate relationship with canis lupus, and why the survival of the wolves matters to the survival of ourselves -- our inner souls, most of all. Barry Lopez's language is lyrical and magical, close to worshipful, but never preachy or political. This is not a book about environmentalism or preserving a threatened species. It's a love story about wolves. Not dogs, but...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was recommended to me by a journalist who have covered environmental issues after I ranted to him about wolf hunting.

Lopez has an amazing way of creating a sense of place. The best messages I found were at the end: we have much to learn from observing truly-wild animals in their natural environment.

I got a little weighed down in the natural history aspect, much as I did with "The World Without Us." As with that book, I am sure it is more about my lack of knowledge and interest than the au...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Sandy Hunter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: writerly-research

I choose this book as a research source as I have a wolf character in a novel sequel I'm currently writing - in any case, I am always fascinated by the various wolf-myths and with learning more about who and what they really are.

The author wrote a truly satisfying, and eye-opening, study of both myth and beast. I was caught up immediately reading one of the introductory quotes chosen by this author,"In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extens...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book which contains some fascinating insights into the relationship between wolves and humans, both historically and now (althought the book is a bit dated now).

I confess to finding some parts very difficult to read as they were graphic details of some of the hunting techniques used against wolves. As an animal lover these were too distressing for me.

I thought the tone of the book was very well balanced - neither too 'pro-wolf' nor to 'anti-human'. It more than anything ma...more

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Dec 10, 2009 Andrea Olsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: wolves

The question this book asks is: What is a wolf? (Remember it's a human asking the question.)

It starts out with the scientific approach for studying wolves and their behavior, like radio collars, and what has been learned, then moves on to views of the Native American and Inuit people who have lived with wolves in competition for the same food and for survival in an often hostile natural environment. The author brings amazing ideas to light about the "game of death" of predator and prey and made...more The question this book asks is: What is a wolf? (Remember it's a human asking the question.)

It starts out with the scientific approach for studying wolves and their behavior, like radio collars, and what has been learned, then moves on to views of the Native American and Inuit people who have lived with wolves in competition for the same food and for survival in an often hostile natural environment. The author brings amazing ideas to light about the "game of death" of predator and prey and made me think about the wolf in an inspiring new way. I found myself more intrigued than ever about the wolf.

The next chapter abruptly changes the mood as the author talks about the view American's have had about wolves throughout history. Through interviews, books, and the photos of the time, a very grisly and disgusting side of humanity is shown in the fact that it was very normal to shoot, torture, poison, mutilate, and kill any wolf on sight–and for doing it you were considered heroic and paid handsomely.

The wolf has had much the same fate as the snake does in the human mind and only recently has the tide began to turn for the wolf- not for the snake of course. The author looks in to the reasons behind the hatred of the wolf and often arrives at the answer that it is derived from man's frustration at not knowing his place in the universe and having a scapegoat to ease the burn.

The last third of the book goes into human views of the wolf in the ancient world throughout time until the Renaissance and then today in Europe and Russia. The book ends with the wolf's impact on stories, fables, and fairy-tales in literature.

While I loved the beginning, cried and felt sick in the middle and wasn't as interested in the end, overall I feel I learned a lot about what the wolf isn't. Humans have put a very ugly face on the wolf, due mostly to the following reasons: It it is the animal most like us in its social structure and behavior (even closer than primates) and that seems to know its place in the world; Humans needed a physical entity to symbolize fear and the devil; Wolves were a direct competitor for human food and later, the human right to hunt for sport.
It isn't too much of a leap to see why wolves were given their role.

So, what is a wolf? The main message I took out of this book is that no matter how much humans scientifically study and analyze wolves, or how much we paint them into an image that we choose, as the Inuit people believe: There are some things we will never know. (less)

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Aug 18, 2012 Kris Irvin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

A fascinating study of men's reactions to wolves. Not so much about wolves as it is about the mythology, demonizing, and killing of them. There's still some wolf-y information, but for someone who has studied wolves for a lifetime, it's nothing new.

Still, I enjoyed reading about the different legends about wolves from different cultures. I found the Pawnee legends particularly interesting.

The chapters on wolf hunting and the eradication of wolves was hard to read. It was presented well, very s...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Michael Donohoe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Packed with photos and artwork from various cultures and time periods, it’s a comprehensive look at wolves from folklore and ancient myth to behavior and biology. The book made me aware how, not only wolves, but many species, as well as Native Americans, had been decimated in the U.S., particularly during an all-out pogrom in the 1880s. I came to have a deep admiration for coyotes as practically the lone survivors in the wild of the animals and people that once thrived in America.

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Sep 22, 2009 Dorothy rated it 5 of 5 stars

If I could only have three wolf books with me on a desert island, this would absolutely be one of them. The other two change depending on my mood, but I wouldn't leave this one behind. Of Wolves and Men offers wonderful insights into the biology and behavior of wolves. But its greatest value is its discussion of wolf mythology and of our own complex and often disturbing attitudes about wolves. What amazes me is that this book was written in 1978 and, although some of the science on behavior and...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Paula rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a great book, including scientific information about wolves but exploring the interactions between men and wolves (mostly in the Western Hemisphere), the misconceptions, legends and lies that influence how we react to and treat this magnificent animal.

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Mar 03, 2013 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Took many years for me to finally read this book. Glad I did - esp. for Conservation NW's involvement with wolves returning to WA. Helpful to understand nuanced history of man and wolves and why current anti-wolf sentiments run so high.

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Mar 24, 2013 Ben rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a geat read, it did make me mad as I read to learn how much we as people hunted down wolves and almost wipe them out. For almost no real reason what so over. It good to learn that the native Americas treat them much better and learn to live with them.

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Feb 20, 2012 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

In a world where wolves are misunderstood and persecuted, this should be required reading.
very hard to read at times but if you love wolves as I do, you have a duty to read it.

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Jul 01, 2012 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: informative, three-stars

Lopez makes a point in the beginning that not much is known about wolvse (especially at the time that this book was written) so if you're looking for an informative source on wolves for a project, perhaps this isn't it. But he does show off some flair in his writing, and I think some of the meanings that Native Americans have put behind wolves are interesting.

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Apr 25, 2012 Josie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful examination of wolves, their habits, behaviors, and lives, as well as a critical look at the tumultuous relationship between them and humans.

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Mar 07, 2012 Josh Hanagarne rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you want to know a lot about wolves, here's your book. I first heard of this when Studs Terkel interviewed the author on these American Voices. A fascinating read.

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Dec 31, 2010 Lock rated it 5 of 5 stars

Incredible. Anyone interested in wildness, mythology, ecology, and wolves of past and present, should read this. I will definitely seek out other things by this guy.

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Jan 07, 2011 Erok rated it 4 of 5 stars

I surprisingly really liked this book. At first i was afraid it would be all hokey spiritual stuff, but thankfully it proved me wrong. It's a straight up history book of the wolf and the wolf's relation with it's greatest threat, the human. Natural, spiritual, practical, and political histories are all covered. totally recommended.

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Mar 17, 2012 June Licc rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well written overall and brings together many different viewpoints on the wolf - from the First Americans (Indians) to the pioneers ans even Old World texts. This book was lent to me by a friend before Christmas, so I was anxious to get it back to her. I tried to skimming the chapters in an attempt to speed up the process but the book was just too interesting to me not to read every word. This was the original edition of the book from the 1970's. I understand that the current edition has an upda...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Ryan Pfleger rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you're interested in wolves and their history in North America, this is THE book to read.

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Mar 07, 2013 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Slightly outdated and not like it's anything I haven't read before, but it's a good book overall.

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Feb 16, 2009 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Offers a truly unique look at wolves & their role in the ecosystem.

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Aug 12, 2012 Nicole added it

Excellent read. On my shelf handy, just in case

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May 15, 2011 George rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the best books on wolves ever written.

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Oct 13, 2009 Xminer rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Xminer by: Jane Wine Box

The book is organized in distinct sections regarding wolves: biology, natural history, wolves in mythology, wolves in literature. While this book is about wolves, much of it has do with humans and our relationships with wolves in context of the above mentioned sections. Lopez talks to modern day biologist, and Inuits, he talks to ranchers concern with wolves, both retired and working, and he sights and brings forth a lot literature and mythology humans have creating involving wolves.

If you are...more

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Feb 21, 2011 Nick rated it 4 of 5 stars

can't go wrong with barry lopez

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Feb 06, 2011 Jake rated it 5 of 5 stars

For when I need to let the wolf out.

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Jul 29, 2011 Sara marked it as to-read

'78 finalist-nat'l book award

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About Barry Lopez

Barry Holstun Lopez is an American author, essayist, and fiction writer whose work is known for its environmental and social concerns.

Lopez has been described as "the nation's premier nature writer" by the San Francisco Chronicle. In his non-fiction, he frequently examines the relationship between human culture and physical landscape, while in his fiction he addresses issues of intimacy, ethics an...more

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“The wolf exerts a powerful influence on the human imagination. It takes your stare and turns it back on you” — 3 people liked it

“Why we should believe in wolf children seems somehow easier to understand than the ways we distinguish between what is human and what is animal behavior. In making such distinctions we run the risk of fooling ourselves completely. We assume that the animal is entirely comprehensible and, as Henry Beston has said, has taken form on a plane beneath the one we occupy. It seems to me that this is a sure way to miss the animal and to see, instead, only another reflection of our own ideas.” — 1 person liked it

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