Of Wolves and Men

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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Laurens Schaad
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Jennifer W.
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
Kaia Gondron
“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
Anna
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
Kelly
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
Sandy Hunter
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
Alison
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
Andrea Olsen
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
Kris Irvin
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
Michael Donohoe
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.
Dorothy
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
Paula
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.
Jodi
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.
Ben
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.
Jo
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.
Anna
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.
Josie
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.
Josh Hanagarne
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.
Lock
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.
Erok
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.
June Licc
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
Ryan Pfleger
If you're interested in wolves and their history in North America, this is THE book to read.
Heather
Slightly outdated and not like it's anything I haven't read before, but it's a good book overall.
Jane
Offers a truly unique look at wolves & their role in the ecosystem.
Nicole
Aug 12, 2012 Nicole added it
Excellent read. On my shelf handy, just in case
George
One of the best books on wolves ever written.
Xminer
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
Nick
can't go wrong with barry lopez
Jake
For when I need to let the wolf out.
Sara
Jul 29, 2011 Sara marked it as to-read
'78 finalist-nat'l book award
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Of Wolves and Men (Hardcover)
Of Wolves And Men (Hardcover)
Of Wolves and Men (Hardcover)
Of Wolves and Men (Hardcover)
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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
More about Barry Lopez...
Arctic Dreams Crossing Open Ground Desert Notes/River Notes About This Life Winter Count

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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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