I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's almost worth the purchase price for the explanation of the difference between negative re...moreI have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's almost worth the purchase price for the explanation of the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment, a distinction that escapes far too many pet owners, not to mention parents. And there is a ton of useful information in it for people who are learning about how animals think.
However, there are a few spots in it that give me cause for pause. Grandin has some unique ways of looking at things, and once she has a hypothesis, she is going to prove it come hell or high water. One fairly benign example is that she seems to be under the impression that only autistic humans think in pictures. Of course, many humans who aren't autistic but are visually oriented think in pictures at least as much as in words, and in many cases more so.
More worrisome is her hypothesis that animals are mentally ill in direct proportion to the amount of white skin they have. She contends that paint horses are crazier than solid-colored ones, and the more white they have, the crazier they are. As anyone who has worked with very many examples of both knows, paints on average tend to be mellower than many other breeds which are solid-colored, and the amount of white skin has nothing to do with it. The most reactive paint I ever worked with had only a small splash of white on his belly and white stockings, while one of the most levelheaded ones was an overo with only a minimal amount of color other than white. This kind of pants-seat hypothesizing worries me, because readers who don't know better may take it as gospel.
So this book it worth reading, IMO, but if something in it sounds off to you, check it out with a knowledgeable friend.(less)
This is a neat take on the feral child story, set in a universe in which some animals are sentient and magic is a force in some areas. The world-build...moreThis is a neat take on the feral child story, set in a universe in which some animals are sentient and magic is a force in some areas. The world-building and characterisation are excellent. Lindskold uses her creations to explore ideas about politics and religion, along with more basic ones like identity and conscience. There is nothing really objectionable for ambitious teenaged readers, but some of the emotional situations are so intense that they might be problematic for sensitive younger teens.(less)
This book contains, for my money, quite possibly the funniest scene in the English language. The characters are the author's family and friends (and t...moreThis book contains, for my money, quite possibly the funniest scene in the English language. The characters are the author's family and friends (and they are characters in every sense of the word) along with the various fauna of Corfu and, truthfully, the island itself.
Durrell used the proceeds from his writing to found and nurture the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, the first zoo in the world founded specifically for the breeding and conservation of endangered species. Should you ever be in the neighborhood of the English Channel, it is well worth a visit. The Trust hosts international trainng programs for the conservation and care of endangered species. It is a revelation of what a zoo can be and, so often, isn't.
I was probably around ten or twelve when I first read this book. Any kid who spends much time looking under rocks will enjoy it. As a bonus, the sentence structure and vocabulary undoubtedly (with a little help from Georgette Heyer) got me through my SAT verbal with flying colors. Adults are cautioned to read it privately, unless you want to explain repeatedly why you are laughing hysterically.(less)
Loading...
