Maybe this novel is overly ambitious, pulling together the historical legend of Dick Whittington and the cat who helps him make his fortune, with the...moreMaybe this novel is overly ambitious, pulling together the historical legend of Dick Whittington and the cat who helps him make his fortune, with the present day story of the cat's descendant who helps a dyslexic boy learn to read. But it was set in a BARN and all the animals can talk, and it was so Charlotte's Web/Catwings that I couldn't help loving it.(less)
Jason Chin is unbelievably talented in that he provides stunning illustrations for his story of the Galapagos Islands - their birth, death, and the un...moreJason Chin is unbelievably talented in that he provides stunning illustrations for his story of the Galapagos Islands - their birth, death, and the unique animal life they shelter. And the story itself conveys a strong sense of excitement about this aspect of natural history. I would have loved this as a child except I wouldn't have read it because I rarely read non-fiction.(less)
I think Jon Cohen, who is a science journalist, has raised an important question in this report on chimp science: that is, what makes us human? The ga...moreI think Jon Cohen, who is a science journalist, has raised an important question in this report on chimp science: that is, what makes us human? The gap between ape and hominid is vast even though we have a lot in common with this animal relative. This question can't be answered because it seems that research into the human/ape genome, brain anatomy, physiology, cognition, etc. hasn't yielded enough indisputable information. Unfortunately Cohen uses this book to report on progress to date in mind-numbing detail. He is not good at synthesis or summary. In the last chapter he tries to summarize the current state of chimpanzee conservation, but he left me puzzled. Are chimpanzees threatened or endangered or not? Is there hope for the species in preserves? zoos? reintroductions? I just don't have the patience to sift through so much conflicting opinion to find the facts in this book. This work was a sincere and ambitious undertaking, and it was even well written, but it wasn't well done.
This is a good read, but it is sloppily researched and lacks intelligence in its half-hearted attempt to balance the usefulness of zoos against the pe...moreThis is a good read, but it is sloppily researched and lacks intelligence in its half-hearted attempt to balance the usefulness of zoos against the perception of them as evil tools of man's hubris. French confines his research to one zoo, Lowry Park in Tampa, which, under the leadership of the charismatic Lex Salisbury came to be rated as one the best zoos in America.
By relying so heavily on the reports and opinions of the Lowry Park keepers, French becomes swamped by the internal politics and self interest of the zoo as a not for profit organization which shares with all not for profits the pitfalls of bureaucracy and lack of clarity about its mission. While Lowry Park seems a good representative of American zoos in the early 21st century, French's co option by the zoo staff causes him to lose control of the important message that zoos strongly support worldwide animal conservation in many ways, both direct and indirect. On balance, French chooses the journalist's need for drama over truth.(less)
After reading this book, I understand the meaning of the word crap. This story of a human/bonobo hybrid would have been more interesting if the author...moreAfter reading this book, I understand the meaning of the word crap. This story of a human/bonobo hybrid would have been more interesting if the author could have put a check on his mouth-foaming hatred of evangelical Christianity and Republican politics. But his emotions prevented him from an intelligent exploration of the implications of human/animal breeding. The writing style is also crap.
I do wonder if this hybrid is possible and if it has ever been tried. Such a thing would bring up practical and philosophical questions. In this novel, however, the girl Lucy is so patently human that the idea of treating her as anything else is unthinkable. I will have to re-read Green Mansions to see if this a 21st century version. (less)
It took me forever to read this book and then I just gave up half way. I gave 2 stars insead of one though because I had a misapprenhension of what ki...moreIt took me forever to read this book and then I just gave up half way. I gave 2 stars insead of one though because I had a misapprenhension of what kind of book it is. I thought it was about baboons. Actually it's a series of essays about a young American's adventures in Africa while he is there studying baboons' stress hormones. The African adventures are loosely linked by chapters of baboon observations.
As an animal book, this totally stinks. Sapolsky makes mundane observations of baboon social life and intrudes on the troupe in a Heisenberg fashion by tranquilizing the animals to take blood, thus no doubt affecting his results. He doesn't really seem that interested in baboons.
The adventures sections are ok, but they show too much of the young Sapolsky's (bad) personality. I was particularly turned off by his describing a group of Baptist missionaries as the most "alien" humans he had so far met in Africa. This is patently false as he goes on to describe staying with them and watching videotapes while munching on cheesewiz, spam, and chocolate syrup.
I can't quite understand all the rave reviews this book got, although I admit that I don't much like books of essays.(less)
Subtitled a Modern Parable of Man and Nature. Tells the chilling story of the killing and eating of a healthy 18 year old man by a cougar that had los...moreSubtitled a Modern Parable of Man and Nature. Tells the chilling story of the killing and eating of a healthy 18 year old man by a cougar that had lost its fear of humans. The broader story is of the ecotone around Boulder, Colorado where humans encouraged the wild animal population and cougars began to prey on pet dogs - an unnatural food- and became a threat to humans. Factors: encouragemetn of deer, attraction of lawns to der, removal of adverse conditioning (pellet guns, shouting) of lions, abandoned mines as cougar lairs.
ps: I live in Chicago- in the ever-greening city. We have deer vsiting and eating in our garden, and a couple of years ago a cougar was trapped in a gangway on the north side, in a fairly dense area,and shot by the police. I saw a coyote in Lincoln Park and one was captured at the zoo, seeking refuge in the African Wild Dog exhibit. I'm a little scared. (less)
I like stories about dogs, but this one was unbelievably bland. It's a dog version of Tuesdays With Morrie, but even more boring. As much as I like Ow...moreI like stories about dogs, but this one was unbelievably bland. It's a dog version of Tuesdays With Morrie, but even more boring. As much as I like Owen Wilson, I won't even bother with the movie.(less)
Disappointing. Too much superficial Eastern philosophy, not enough natural history of parrots. Bittner is a genuine eccentric, and as such is not too...moreDisappointing. Too much superficial Eastern philosophy, not enough natural history of parrots. Bittner is a genuine eccentric, and as such is not too interesting.(less)
A ccross between non-fiction science writing and science fiction, this author imagines the animals that would be alive today if the dinosaurs hadn't g...moreA ccross between non-fiction science writing and science fiction, this author imagines the animals that would be alive today if the dinosaurs hadn't gone extinct. Due to their adaptibility, Dixon figures that the original mammels would never have evolved into the dominant anmal species they are today. Most of the imaginary animals he describes are dinosaur-like, but also other animal-like, filling the niches of today's animals such as monkeys, penguins and antelope. Quite imaginative and bizarre, organized like most animal books, geographically.(less)
Truly engrossing and amazing story of Roger Fouts's work on language aquisition that began when he taught a young chimpanzee, Washoe, to use ASL. He t...moreTruly engrossing and amazing story of Roger Fouts's work on language aquisition that began when he taught a young chimpanzee, Washoe, to use ASL. He traces the development of spoken language in humans to the gestural language of chimpanzees in the wild and demonstrates the close relation betwen ourselves and others in the ape family. He also gives a impassioned plea for an end to animal research under conditions of fear, pain, and severe deprivation. Some of this was hard to read. My guess is that a high percentage of animal research is not to advance science but rather scientists' careers. Researchers, including social research, should have to clear immense barriers to get permission for conducting studies with living subjects.(less)
Well intentioned narrative from the director of the library that adopted Dewey the abandoned kitten who spent nearly 20 years knitting together the li...moreWell intentioned narrative from the director of the library that adopted Dewey the abandoned kitten who spent nearly 20 years knitting together the library staff and eventually the whole town of Spencer, Iowa. Sappy and predictable. Although the cat himself is charming, there is too much about the library director's personal life and the trials and tribulations of Iowa farmers and small towns.”(less)
Readable and well-written. Sensitive observations of chimpanzee life. Slightly marred by moralizing ending which attacks humans as capable of more cru...moreReadable and well-written. Sensitive observations of chimpanzee life. Slightly marred by moralizing ending which attacks humans as capable of more cruelty than animals, a popular notion that isn't true.(less)
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