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The Grizzly Maze: Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Obsession with Alaskan Bears
In the tradition of Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild and Peter Jenkins’s Looking for Alaska, a riveting adventure story of one man’s passion to understand and protect the grizzly bear—and his last foolhardy, violent encounter with one
Ursus arctos horribilis, commonly known as the grizzly or brown bear, is one of the most feared animals on the planet. As its most outspoken protector, Timothy Treadwell tirelessly sought to overturn the perception of grizzlies as dangerously aggressive. It was therefore a media sensation when in October 2003 Treadwell and his girlfriend were fatally mauled by a bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, the first such attack in the park in eighty-five years. The horrifying audiotape of Treadwell’s final, frantic screams begged the question: How could this happen?
In The Grizzly Maze, Nick Jans, who for years has written expertly and lyrically about the Alaskan wilderness, ventures to answer this question. Based on exclusive access to the killing site and his own and other’s expert knowledge of Alaskan bears, Jans plots out Treadwell’s final expedition and encounter with the grizzly. In doing so, Jans provides a moving and complex portrait of the man known as the “Bear Whisperer,” whose controversial ideas earned him the scorn of hunters, the adoration of some animal lovers, and the skepticism of naturalists. The Grizzly Maze also offers a definitive, close-up look at bears, bear behavior, and our complicated relationship with them. It promises to be the blockbuster adventure read of the season.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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723 people want to read
About the author
Nick Jans
17 books83 followersNick Jans is an award-winning writer, photographer, and author of numerous books, including The Grizzly Maze. He is a contributing editor to Alaska Magazine and has written for Rolling Stone, Backpacker, and the Christian Science Monitor.
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March 10, 2021
I find something fascinating about the character of Timothy Treadwell, the man who went to Alaska to become a friend and protector of the grizzly or brown bear. In 2003, Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard were fatally mauled by a grizzly in Alaska's Katmai National Park. Nick Jans, who knows Alaska and is an expert on Alaskan wildlife, tried to find out what happened. He gained access to the killing site and plotted out Treadwell's final expedition and encounter with the grizzly. What happened to Treadwell and Huguenard are the focus of this book published in 2005 ( I read the first edition of it).
I saw the 2005 documentary, "Grizzly Man," which basically portrayed Treadwell as a crazy person. Jans has more sympathy for the man than shown in the documentary and presents views on him that are both pro and con. He gives us a complex portrait of the man who was considered the "Bear Whisperer."My own feeling is sympathy for a person who wanted a strong connection to Nature (in the form of the bears) but failed in the end to recognize the limits that there are on our connecting with Nature. His mistakes cost him not only his life but the life of a young woman. And the lives of two of the bears that he loved, two bears found at the scene of the killing. And we can't be certain that either one of them was the killer.
In this book, Jans also gives us a close-up look at bears and bear behavior and our relationship with these magnificent animals.
I saw the 2005 documentary, "Grizzly Man," which basically portrayed Treadwell as a crazy person. Jans has more sympathy for the man than shown in the documentary and presents views on him that are both pro and con. He gives us a complex portrait of the man who was considered the "Bear Whisperer."My own feeling is sympathy for a person who wanted a strong connection to Nature (in the form of the bears) but failed in the end to recognize the limits that there are on our connecting with Nature. His mistakes cost him not only his life but the life of a young woman. And the lives of two of the bears that he loved, two bears found at the scene of the killing. And we can't be certain that either one of them was the killer.
In this book, Jans also gives us a close-up look at bears and bear behavior and our relationship with these magnificent animals.
February 11, 2018
Timothy Treadwell and his friend (or girlfriend - I think it depends on who you ask) were mauled to death by bears in Alaska in 2003. It seems that there are two, and only two, camps of thought when it comes to Treadwell: most people appear to believe that he got what he deserved, while a much smaller group seems to think that Treadwell was some environmental hero.
Nick Jans is outside of both of those camps; he really does an excellent job of trying to remain balanced. I always kind of cringe a little before reading books like this, because I feel like authors tend to drift toward an automatically sympathetic approach to their subject, sometimes resulting in almost falling in love with them (I'm looking at you right now, Jon Krakauer, who practically deified Christopher McCandless in "Into the Wild"). But Jans doesn't do that. He freely admits that Treadwell is, well, not the brightest bulb when it comes to bear safety. Treadwell took incredible risks doing what he did - I mean, camping right along a bear trail is stupid. It's even more stupid when he refused to carry bear spray (he didn't want to hurt the bears) or an electric fence (same reason).
But Jans is also kind in his evaluation of Treadwell. Yes, the guy was overly dramatic and at least partially fictional (his own "biography" was embellished, to say the least). He said that he was protecting the bears from poachers when there was no real evidence that these bears, protected by the National Park Service, were ever in significant danger of being poached - especially in Katmai, which in spite of being portrayed as this unspoiled wilderness, is actually crowded with tourists on nearly a daily basis. And yes, Treadwell was in actuality putting these bears in more danger by habituating them to human contact (which makes them less wary of approaching humans, which can lead to bad times, usually for the bears). And yes, he approached bears and ignored ALL safety procedures in doing so.
But Treadwell genuinely cared for these bears, something that often is mocked or ridiculed by those who discuss his death. He loved them so much that he named them, followed them for years, spent his entire summer in a primitive campsite to observe them. And, honestly, I don't think that Treadwell would be very upset that this was his end - only that two bears (neither of which can be proven to be the ones who actually killed Treadwell) died in the process, as well.
It's impossible to know which bears actually killed Treadwell. One, an old bear, was shot and killed and found to have human remains in its stomach. Disturbingly, this is one of the bears that Treadwell tracked for years, one that he had named, even. But bears are scavengers as well as killers - just because he did have human remains in him doesn't mean that he was the killer bear. In fact, Jans hypothesizes (although he is the first to admit that it's impossible to know now which bear killed them) that the second bear that was shot, an adolescent (that Treadwell had also observed on multiple occasions) might be the killer, while the first bear was only a scavenger. He points out that adolescent bears are often more aggressive than old, established bears. This bear was scavenged by other bears before its stomach contents could be examined.
I feel like Jans really wants to go back in time and give Treadwell a good shaking and a swift kick of sense and bear safety. Jans has lost a few friends to bear attacks, which me brings up multiple times, as well, and compares and contrasts those experiences to Treadwell's. He also brings up different kinds of bears and which are more likely to attack humans or kill humans. I did learn that it's helpful to know which bear is attacking you - black bears, which are numerous, are less likely to attack humans but, when they do, playing dead is not a good choice; while grizzlies, which are more likely to attack humans, are less numerous and are often just defending their territory, so playing dead with them is a good idea - they'll usually back off if they feel the threat has been eliminated.
The overwhelming conclusion is don't be stupid. Bears are dangerous creatures, and you can't treat them like they're pets or teddy bears. Jans delves a bit into Americans' growing fascination with the wilderness, while many of them don't have much sense when it comes to surviving in the actual wilderness. If you're going to be backcountry hiking, for the love of god, read a book about the animals and plants you might encounter along the way and prepare yourself. If you stick to the paved trails in National Parks, you should be fine.
Altogether, I'd recommend this book, simply because Jans IS so fair in his treatment of Treadwell.
Nick Jans is outside of both of those camps; he really does an excellent job of trying to remain balanced. I always kind of cringe a little before reading books like this, because I feel like authors tend to drift toward an automatically sympathetic approach to their subject, sometimes resulting in almost falling in love with them (I'm looking at you right now, Jon Krakauer, who practically deified Christopher McCandless in "Into the Wild"). But Jans doesn't do that. He freely admits that Treadwell is, well, not the brightest bulb when it comes to bear safety. Treadwell took incredible risks doing what he did - I mean, camping right along a bear trail is stupid. It's even more stupid when he refused to carry bear spray (he didn't want to hurt the bears) or an electric fence (same reason).
But Jans is also kind in his evaluation of Treadwell. Yes, the guy was overly dramatic and at least partially fictional (his own "biography" was embellished, to say the least). He said that he was protecting the bears from poachers when there was no real evidence that these bears, protected by the National Park Service, were ever in significant danger of being poached - especially in Katmai, which in spite of being portrayed as this unspoiled wilderness, is actually crowded with tourists on nearly a daily basis. And yes, Treadwell was in actuality putting these bears in more danger by habituating them to human contact (which makes them less wary of approaching humans, which can lead to bad times, usually for the bears). And yes, he approached bears and ignored ALL safety procedures in doing so.
But Treadwell genuinely cared for these bears, something that often is mocked or ridiculed by those who discuss his death. He loved them so much that he named them, followed them for years, spent his entire summer in a primitive campsite to observe them. And, honestly, I don't think that Treadwell would be very upset that this was his end - only that two bears (neither of which can be proven to be the ones who actually killed Treadwell) died in the process, as well.
It's impossible to know which bears actually killed Treadwell. One, an old bear, was shot and killed and found to have human remains in its stomach. Disturbingly, this is one of the bears that Treadwell tracked for years, one that he had named, even. But bears are scavengers as well as killers - just because he did have human remains in him doesn't mean that he was the killer bear. In fact, Jans hypothesizes (although he is the first to admit that it's impossible to know now which bear killed them) that the second bear that was shot, an adolescent (that Treadwell had also observed on multiple occasions) might be the killer, while the first bear was only a scavenger. He points out that adolescent bears are often more aggressive than old, established bears. This bear was scavenged by other bears before its stomach contents could be examined.
I feel like Jans really wants to go back in time and give Treadwell a good shaking and a swift kick of sense and bear safety. Jans has lost a few friends to bear attacks, which me brings up multiple times, as well, and compares and contrasts those experiences to Treadwell's. He also brings up different kinds of bears and which are more likely to attack humans or kill humans. I did learn that it's helpful to know which bear is attacking you - black bears, which are numerous, are less likely to attack humans but, when they do, playing dead is not a good choice; while grizzlies, which are more likely to attack humans, are less numerous and are often just defending their territory, so playing dead with them is a good idea - they'll usually back off if they feel the threat has been eliminated.
The overwhelming conclusion is don't be stupid. Bears are dangerous creatures, and you can't treat them like they're pets or teddy bears. Jans delves a bit into Americans' growing fascination with the wilderness, while many of them don't have much sense when it comes to surviving in the actual wilderness. If you're going to be backcountry hiking, for the love of god, read a book about the animals and plants you might encounter along the way and prepare yourself. If you stick to the paved trails in National Parks, you should be fine.
Altogether, I'd recommend this book, simply because Jans IS so fair in his treatment of Treadwell.
March 10, 2021
The Grizzly Maze: Timothy Treadwell’s Fatal Obsession With Alaskan Bears by Nick Jans (Plume Books 2005)(599.764) demonstrates quite clearly that Tim Treadwell was crazy. It is also the best of the books about Treadwell. Here’s a great and very long excerpt from the book: “ Marc Davis is angry. Furious might be more accurate. I'd been working down a list of phone interviews a few days after Tim Treadwell's death - Park Service officials, Alaska State Troopers, and bear biologists, and getting the sort of polite, helpful, but carefully guarded comments you'd expect them to make to a writer who's busily jotting down every word on the record. Then I come to Davis, a respected biologist, and all I had to do was mention Tim Treadwell to trigger a spontaneous combustion. Actually, it starts out as a slow burn, then escalates into a four-alarm wildfire. I'm reminded of that Three Stooges episode, when every time Moe hears "Niagara Falls" he goes crazy. Anyway, halfway through the call, there's this guy practically leaping through the phone line; I can imagine a clenched jaw, spittle flying, and index finger jabbing the air.
First off, I manage to make the error of framing a question that uses the words Tim Treadwell and bear expert in conjunction.
'Expert?' Davis sputters. "Oh please...well, whatever. Give me a break. Call him that if you want to." That sets the tone, and it doesn't take too much persuasion to keep Davis talking. He has a personal stake in this--- bears are his life. Davis begins his litany, speaking in precisely worded sentences that cut like a hot razor. "For starters, what Tim Treadwell did was patently illegal. His mission was absolutely at odds with the National Park Service's stated goal of preserving and protecting wildlife...The question to ask is, how do we justify his ignoring rules?' Davis points out that regulations for Katmai stipulate viewing distances of no less than fifty yards for brown bears, and at least a hundred yards for a 'family group' - a female with cubs. Both Treadwell's personal videos and professional productions featuring him document distances far closer than the minimum half a football field. Then there was that business about the fox that routinely slept in his tent. "'The videos," Davis fumes, "are all of outrageous behavior...completely unethical from a scientific point of view...a bunch of cheap theatrics, the most absurd, cockamamie crap." As Davis pauses for breath, I allow that he's being pretty hard on Treadwell. "What do you mean I'm hard on him?...Why are we trying to water this down? I don't want to disrespect dead people, but what he was doing was illegal and absolutely selfish," he says, and reminds me that all the bears Treadwell named and followed around, including the two bears that were killed following his death, were wildlife belonging to the American people that Treadwell basically hijacked to satisfy his own agenda. "We have no right," intones Davis, "to impose our stupid little personal mission on the universe."
I offer that with all that field time concentrated in just a few areas, and all that face time with bears, more than some field biologists might amass in twenty years, Treadwell must have produced something of value to the scientific community. My comment elicits another exasperated snort. "You show me the science...There was no science to him...From where I stand as a biologist, he made a mockery of the word." Davis points out that Treadwell never once submitted material or a paper for peer review---an essential component of scientific inquiry. The one study proposal Treadwell submitted to the Park Service was rejected, Davis says, due to vague objectives and virtually nonexistent design. At the one professional bear conference Treadwell attended, Davis, who was also there, states, "He just sat there. He did not take part in the debate- refused, in fact, to debate anything. He had nothing at all to offer except his touchy-feely Beanie Baby approach...That might work with fifth graders, but you can't advance a good science agenda on public relations and hyperbole."
Davis goes on to slam-dance Treadwell's get-close field methodology. "He systematically failed to acknowledge basic biological principles, including that of generalized habituation. Bears get used to him, they're likely to approach other people, maybe far less experienced, and get in trouble when those people freak out and react inappropriately. Katmai is a national park, and Treadwell hung around areas that see a fair to heavy amount of use. In light of that fact, his behavior was especially irresponsible." Davis also points out that by such close association with the objects of his supposed study, Treadwell was violating a prime biological directive - altering the behavior of his subjects, therefore tainting any results and rendering them useless to researchers. Not to mention permanently altering the behavior of entire populations of bears.
Shifting to a different tack, I observe that, if not an expert in scientific terms, Treadwell must have been a pretty astute student of bear behavior to have lasted as long as he did among the bears of Katmai. This just serves to set Davis off again. This time he's less like a fire than a human bomb.
"You must be joking! He was an absolute disaster with bears. You've been to Katmai - you've seen it yourself. Those bears are so tolerant, so laid back, you could have a day care center out there. No one's ever been killed in Katmai, not ever. I don't know how he managed, but he finally goaded a bear into it...Did Tim Treadwell teach me anything about bears? Year, it was an incredible testament to their patience. Look, there are only two reasons, from a mature bear's point of view, why any creature would approach it closely - to mate with it or displace it. That's the message he was constantly sending bears: I want to hump you or I want to chase you off."
Everyone says he was a nice guy, I say, It's my final card, but by now I'm braced for the retort. "Nice?" Davis sputters. "Nice? Everybody's nice. That's not the point here. The measure of a person isn't how nice they are-it's what they actually do in the world. A bank robber might be pleasant and funny if you meet him on the street."
Then abruptly, Marc Davis is quiet. It seems his quarter has run out. "Look," he says, "I apologize for all this venting. I'm sorry to dump all this on you. This incident has been very, very frustrating from a professional standpoint. It's done tremendous damage to our mission of promoting brown bear conservation and education. There's lots of anger among professionals...Still, I wouldn't ever say Treadwell deserved what happened to him. Nobody I know wished ill on those two. It's a tragedy for bears and humans alike. The sad part is, these deaths were predictable and totally preventable," Davis sighs. "We can go right down the list of errors he made. It didn't have to happen. He was warned and warned and warned and warned. Yet he negated, defied, and ignored all common sense."
For a time, Davis and I wander on different subjects chatting about things I can't remember. After the force and emotion of our conversation, the mad scribbling on my part, it's pleasant and relaxed. I tell him sincerely that I respect his honesty and forthright attitude, when so many seem to be guarding their words. We circle back to the subject at hand, and though his voice is lower, Davis's anger and the force of his conviction carry through.
"The hypocrisy here is what really gripes a lot of us...The internal inconsistencies in his life's stated mission makes you wonder, really, if Treadwell was mentally well. Protect bears by putting them at risk. Study them by crowding. Export widely to the world a book and endless streams of videotape that basically says if you act like I do, then you, too, can be close to bears, which influences people to put bears and themselves at risk. Tell thousands and thousands of kids--- how many---forty thousand or fifty---that bears are huggable and lovable, then get yourself, your girlfriend, and two bears killed and plastered all over the news. What are those kids supposed to think? I just don't get it," Davis says, and I can sense his bitter shrug from five hundred miles away. "Tell me, what kind of legacy is that?" The Grizzly Maze, quoting biologist Mark Davis, pp. 160-163. It's a great book! My rating: 7.5/10, finished 7/27/11. I purchased a HB copy in like-new condition from McKay's Books 1/10/20 for $1.50. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
First off, I manage to make the error of framing a question that uses the words Tim Treadwell and bear expert in conjunction.
'Expert?' Davis sputters. "Oh please...well, whatever. Give me a break. Call him that if you want to." That sets the tone, and it doesn't take too much persuasion to keep Davis talking. He has a personal stake in this--- bears are his life. Davis begins his litany, speaking in precisely worded sentences that cut like a hot razor. "For starters, what Tim Treadwell did was patently illegal. His mission was absolutely at odds with the National Park Service's stated goal of preserving and protecting wildlife...The question to ask is, how do we justify his ignoring rules?' Davis points out that regulations for Katmai stipulate viewing distances of no less than fifty yards for brown bears, and at least a hundred yards for a 'family group' - a female with cubs. Both Treadwell's personal videos and professional productions featuring him document distances far closer than the minimum half a football field. Then there was that business about the fox that routinely slept in his tent. "'The videos," Davis fumes, "are all of outrageous behavior...completely unethical from a scientific point of view...a bunch of cheap theatrics, the most absurd, cockamamie crap." As Davis pauses for breath, I allow that he's being pretty hard on Treadwell. "What do you mean I'm hard on him?...Why are we trying to water this down? I don't want to disrespect dead people, but what he was doing was illegal and absolutely selfish," he says, and reminds me that all the bears Treadwell named and followed around, including the two bears that were killed following his death, were wildlife belonging to the American people that Treadwell basically hijacked to satisfy his own agenda. "We have no right," intones Davis, "to impose our stupid little personal mission on the universe."
I offer that with all that field time concentrated in just a few areas, and all that face time with bears, more than some field biologists might amass in twenty years, Treadwell must have produced something of value to the scientific community. My comment elicits another exasperated snort. "You show me the science...There was no science to him...From where I stand as a biologist, he made a mockery of the word." Davis points out that Treadwell never once submitted material or a paper for peer review---an essential component of scientific inquiry. The one study proposal Treadwell submitted to the Park Service was rejected, Davis says, due to vague objectives and virtually nonexistent design. At the one professional bear conference Treadwell attended, Davis, who was also there, states, "He just sat there. He did not take part in the debate- refused, in fact, to debate anything. He had nothing at all to offer except his touchy-feely Beanie Baby approach...That might work with fifth graders, but you can't advance a good science agenda on public relations and hyperbole."
Davis goes on to slam-dance Treadwell's get-close field methodology. "He systematically failed to acknowledge basic biological principles, including that of generalized habituation. Bears get used to him, they're likely to approach other people, maybe far less experienced, and get in trouble when those people freak out and react inappropriately. Katmai is a national park, and Treadwell hung around areas that see a fair to heavy amount of use. In light of that fact, his behavior was especially irresponsible." Davis also points out that by such close association with the objects of his supposed study, Treadwell was violating a prime biological directive - altering the behavior of his subjects, therefore tainting any results and rendering them useless to researchers. Not to mention permanently altering the behavior of entire populations of bears.
Shifting to a different tack, I observe that, if not an expert in scientific terms, Treadwell must have been a pretty astute student of bear behavior to have lasted as long as he did among the bears of Katmai. This just serves to set Davis off again. This time he's less like a fire than a human bomb.
"You must be joking! He was an absolute disaster with bears. You've been to Katmai - you've seen it yourself. Those bears are so tolerant, so laid back, you could have a day care center out there. No one's ever been killed in Katmai, not ever. I don't know how he managed, but he finally goaded a bear into it...Did Tim Treadwell teach me anything about bears? Year, it was an incredible testament to their patience. Look, there are only two reasons, from a mature bear's point of view, why any creature would approach it closely - to mate with it or displace it. That's the message he was constantly sending bears: I want to hump you or I want to chase you off."
Everyone says he was a nice guy, I say, It's my final card, but by now I'm braced for the retort. "Nice?" Davis sputters. "Nice? Everybody's nice. That's not the point here. The measure of a person isn't how nice they are-it's what they actually do in the world. A bank robber might be pleasant and funny if you meet him on the street."
Then abruptly, Marc Davis is quiet. It seems his quarter has run out. "Look," he says, "I apologize for all this venting. I'm sorry to dump all this on you. This incident has been very, very frustrating from a professional standpoint. It's done tremendous damage to our mission of promoting brown bear conservation and education. There's lots of anger among professionals...Still, I wouldn't ever say Treadwell deserved what happened to him. Nobody I know wished ill on those two. It's a tragedy for bears and humans alike. The sad part is, these deaths were predictable and totally preventable," Davis sighs. "We can go right down the list of errors he made. It didn't have to happen. He was warned and warned and warned and warned. Yet he negated, defied, and ignored all common sense."
For a time, Davis and I wander on different subjects chatting about things I can't remember. After the force and emotion of our conversation, the mad scribbling on my part, it's pleasant and relaxed. I tell him sincerely that I respect his honesty and forthright attitude, when so many seem to be guarding their words. We circle back to the subject at hand, and though his voice is lower, Davis's anger and the force of his conviction carry through.
"The hypocrisy here is what really gripes a lot of us...The internal inconsistencies in his life's stated mission makes you wonder, really, if Treadwell was mentally well. Protect bears by putting them at risk. Study them by crowding. Export widely to the world a book and endless streams of videotape that basically says if you act like I do, then you, too, can be close to bears, which influences people to put bears and themselves at risk. Tell thousands and thousands of kids--- how many---forty thousand or fifty---that bears are huggable and lovable, then get yourself, your girlfriend, and two bears killed and plastered all over the news. What are those kids supposed to think? I just don't get it," Davis says, and I can sense his bitter shrug from five hundred miles away. "Tell me, what kind of legacy is that?" The Grizzly Maze, quoting biologist Mark Davis, pp. 160-163. It's a great book! My rating: 7.5/10, finished 7/27/11. I purchased a HB copy in like-new condition from McKay's Books 1/10/20 for $1.50. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
November 13, 2007
I read this after seeing the Grizzly Man movie, which I enjoyed for its low-key bizzareness, and I enjoyed this book so much more than the movie.
Nick Jans does his best to illuminate the Timothy Treadwell story by providing as much context as possible, including interviews with those who knew and loved him, as well as those who knew and despised him. Jans is also an Alaskan nature writer by trade, and it shows in his details and intimacy with the landscape, and especially about the bears he writes about. Because really, any book about Treadwell is going to be half about bears anyway...
I really appreciated the author's willingness to provide many differing opinions about that fatal day and to describe the contents of that audio recording in such gruesome detail. I also very much appreciated the last section of the book, which gave more education (than probably Treadwell gave in his school presentations) about North American bears and what to do (possibly) if attacked by one. Treadwell and his associates would have done well to read this section.
The entire story fascinates me mostly because there is something primal in my subconsious that really connects with bears, the mystique and awesome, gruesome power of these animals. They are so frightening and so magnificent, and I believe Treadwell probably felt these emotions toward them as well.
Yes, Treadwell does come off as a crazy, conflicted person in this book, but less of an enigma than the Grizzly Man movie portrayed him as. We do get a fuller picture of the man. I came away also with a deeper appreciation for the untamable fierceness of bears. I will always remember the descriptions of the maulings and the further discussions of the psychology of such a bear attack. Fearsome. Awesome.
Note: I probably did read the new intro to the paper edition, but I don't think it did much to alter my views.
Nick Jans does his best to illuminate the Timothy Treadwell story by providing as much context as possible, including interviews with those who knew and loved him, as well as those who knew and despised him. Jans is also an Alaskan nature writer by trade, and it shows in his details and intimacy with the landscape, and especially about the bears he writes about. Because really, any book about Treadwell is going to be half about bears anyway...
I really appreciated the author's willingness to provide many differing opinions about that fatal day and to describe the contents of that audio recording in such gruesome detail. I also very much appreciated the last section of the book, which gave more education (than probably Treadwell gave in his school presentations) about North American bears and what to do (possibly) if attacked by one. Treadwell and his associates would have done well to read this section.
The entire story fascinates me mostly because there is something primal in my subconsious that really connects with bears, the mystique and awesome, gruesome power of these animals. They are so frightening and so magnificent, and I believe Treadwell probably felt these emotions toward them as well.
Yes, Treadwell does come off as a crazy, conflicted person in this book, but less of an enigma than the Grizzly Man movie portrayed him as. We do get a fuller picture of the man. I came away also with a deeper appreciation for the untamable fierceness of bears. I will always remember the descriptions of the maulings and the further discussions of the psychology of such a bear attack. Fearsome. Awesome.
Note: I probably did read the new intro to the paper edition, but I don't think it did much to alter my views.
March 12, 2016
Timothy Treadwell (born Timothy Dexter) is the subject of this book and he is a very complicated individual. A self-styled "bear expert" he learns about grizzlies through trial and error, not by formal education, and eventually becomes a television bear celebrity. From the very beginning the reader is told that Timothy Treadwell meets his end by being attacked and eaten. Many bear scholars are amazed that he survived for so many years. The author does a thorough job presenting the pros and cons of his personality.
January 2, 2014
This was a very insightful book often Timothy Treadwell story. I was impressed by the detail, especially about the scene of investigation. There is much greater detail into the actual attack than the film "Grizzly Man" offers.
My favorite part is where the author's friend Joel Bennett comes in. This man presents a side of Timothy that the media decides to ignore. "When all is said and done, Timothy Treadwell will be remembered by those who knew him as caring for the future of bears. At least he did something when most people won't or are too busy to bother" (173). Bennett also speaks about the tricks of a camera, how Treadwell wasn't always as close to the bears as he seemed. That's not to say that Tim didn't break those distance regulations, but I don't think it was the scenario that has become the exaggerated media story used repeatedly.
I do have a few problems with this book:
1) the author's repetition. It grew so annoying that I closed the book before reading that final chapter. I couldn't stand it anymore. It was the same dragged out, over fluffed material he'd been examining throughout the entire book, which brings me to point 2.
2) the length of this book is unnecessary, and I think it will put off some readers. Because of the author's fluffy sentences, it's difficult to get through the pages. It felt I'd never reach the end of this book. Now, I enjoyed the facts, but some of the sentences felt forced - like he was trying to milk the story for everything it's worth and then some.
3) i had problems with the author comparing himself to Timothy. Isn't he doing the same thing here that Timothy did with the bears? That's what it feels like to me. Nick Jans bringing himself into the story - which is great when he's talking about his personal experiences with bears and what it is like to live in the small and larger cities of Alaska - and comparing himself with Timothy is overstepping his boundaries as a nonfiction writer. He's never met Timothy. He doesn't know Timothy as a person, except from the stories of other people. Comparing himself with the bear activist is a step too far and blurs the lines of good writing. Yes, it would be quite difficult to separate yourself from the person you've spent so long writing about and trying to grasp an essence of, but ultimately you do not know the person. It'd be like me writing a book about Steve Irwin and throwing in a last chapter that said Steve Irwin and I are both animal lovers, but I don't wrestle crocodiles, but this means we have a personal bond. No, you have respect for that person. Which brings us back to point 2. Why is this book dragging on and on? Does anyone agree with me that these last chapters seem forced and redundant?
My favorite part is where the author's friend Joel Bennett comes in. This man presents a side of Timothy that the media decides to ignore. "When all is said and done, Timothy Treadwell will be remembered by those who knew him as caring for the future of bears. At least he did something when most people won't or are too busy to bother" (173). Bennett also speaks about the tricks of a camera, how Treadwell wasn't always as close to the bears as he seemed. That's not to say that Tim didn't break those distance regulations, but I don't think it was the scenario that has become the exaggerated media story used repeatedly.
I do have a few problems with this book:
1) the author's repetition. It grew so annoying that I closed the book before reading that final chapter. I couldn't stand it anymore. It was the same dragged out, over fluffed material he'd been examining throughout the entire book, which brings me to point 2.
2) the length of this book is unnecessary, and I think it will put off some readers. Because of the author's fluffy sentences, it's difficult to get through the pages. It felt I'd never reach the end of this book. Now, I enjoyed the facts, but some of the sentences felt forced - like he was trying to milk the story for everything it's worth and then some.
3) i had problems with the author comparing himself to Timothy. Isn't he doing the same thing here that Timothy did with the bears? That's what it feels like to me. Nick Jans bringing himself into the story - which is great when he's talking about his personal experiences with bears and what it is like to live in the small and larger cities of Alaska - and comparing himself with Timothy is overstepping his boundaries as a nonfiction writer. He's never met Timothy. He doesn't know Timothy as a person, except from the stories of other people. Comparing himself with the bear activist is a step too far and blurs the lines of good writing. Yes, it would be quite difficult to separate yourself from the person you've spent so long writing about and trying to grasp an essence of, but ultimately you do not know the person. It'd be like me writing a book about Steve Irwin and throwing in a last chapter that said Steve Irwin and I are both animal lovers, but I don't wrestle crocodiles, but this means we have a personal bond. No, you have respect for that person. Which brings us back to point 2. Why is this book dragging on and on? Does anyone agree with me that these last chapters seem forced and redundant?
September 18, 2008
An interesting look at the man behind Grizzly Diaries. Treadwell and Huguenard's deaths must have been horrific and agonizing, and are certainly haunting to anyone who takes the time to really think about them. I would not wish such a horrible experience on anyone. That said, Treadwell should have seen it come because so many others did. He claimed to want to protect bears, yet he put them in danger by making them accustomed to his human presence. He wanted to "save" these bears, but his selfishness caused two of the bears to die. (I might point out that the bears don't need saving - they live in a National Park where hunting is banned). Furthermore, the National Park Service was aware of Treadwell's many violations including coming too close to the animals. Had the Service acted and put an end to Treadwell's illegal activities, he and Huguenard might still be alive. In the end, Treadwell was a psychologically unstable individual who seemed headed for disaster whether by bears or some other means.
September 13, 2020
I learned a lot about bears and why bears in the Lowe 48 states are more aggressive then Alaskan bears. Timothy Treadwell was an intriguing fellow.
I will read more from the author.
I will read more from the author.
May 15, 2019
A good read, and I will admit I although I found author Jans to be pretty egotistical at times (he is REALLY good at the humble brag), he definitely knows his stuff about bears. He sections on black bears were spot on: they ARE less likely to mess with humans in general but MORE likely to attack you with the intent to eat you all along. So basically you're less likely to get attacked by a black bear but if you do you're fucked because he's switched to predator mode. I really like that Jans gave black bears their due: too many times in my job or in casual life I see people talk and act like black bears are no big thing when they are still several-hundred-pound apex predators who could kill a person REAL dead.
Anyway, this book was actually less biased than I was expecting (but still biased slightly pro-Treadwell for sure). Actually, maybe it isn't that it's pro-Treadwell so much as it might just admit he had some redeeming qualities. It's hard for me to judge this book entirely fairly because I am so anti-Treadwell and I have been ever since I moved Montana and was actually properly trained on grizzly (brown) bears and how to act when you know you'll encounter them fairly regularly. But because I have lived and am once again around bears daily as part of my job, I can't get past my original opinion that Treadwell was a selfish attention-seeker more than he ever wanted to save a bear. For me it all boils down to the fact that he not only put himself in danger daily by acting like wild animals were his friends, but that because he became famous, he put untold numbers of people in future danger by 1) habituating bears to people and 2) making it appear to Joe Schmoe in New Jersey that bears are cuddly and loveable and that all of NPS/USFS bear safety requirements were unnecessary, that it's okay to approach bears and other wild animals. Because his story lives, he will continue to broadcast this super dangerous message to the world and someday someone (else) is going to get killed because of his "teachings."
Anyway, this book was actually less biased than I was expecting (but still biased slightly pro-Treadwell for sure). Actually, maybe it isn't that it's pro-Treadwell so much as it might just admit he had some redeeming qualities. It's hard for me to judge this book entirely fairly because I am so anti-Treadwell and I have been ever since I moved Montana and was actually properly trained on grizzly (brown) bears and how to act when you know you'll encounter them fairly regularly. But because I have lived and am once again around bears daily as part of my job, I can't get past my original opinion that Treadwell was a selfish attention-seeker more than he ever wanted to save a bear. For me it all boils down to the fact that he not only put himself in danger daily by acting like wild animals were his friends, but that because he became famous, he put untold numbers of people in future danger by 1) habituating bears to people and 2) making it appear to Joe Schmoe in New Jersey that bears are cuddly and loveable and that all of NPS/USFS bear safety requirements were unnecessary, that it's okay to approach bears and other wild animals. Because his story lives, he will continue to broadcast this super dangerous message to the world and someday someone (else) is going to get killed because of his "teachings."
February 18, 2013
Meh. Pretty much a case of too much information. I kept thinking the book should be over about now; the story's been told; what more could there be...then I'd check the progress bar and I'd only be, say, 64% done. A book has to be really, really bad for me to put down without finishing, so I stayed the course and kept with it anyway. I'm a very fast reader; typically I'll tear right through a book. This one took me forever to finish, though, because my kids kept stealing my iPad to play Minecraft. Usually I'll put my foot down on that action if I'm really into a book, but with this one I kind of just let it go...
One other note--it was a bit annoying how the author used all the excess info in the book to continually jump back and forth in time, place, and topic. It made for a very disjointed whole; the transitions were awkward and left me wondering, "Why bother? Does this really matter? Is he getting paid by the word?"
One other note--it was a bit annoying how the author used all the excess info in the book to continually jump back and forth in time, place, and topic. It made for a very disjointed whole; the transitions were awkward and left me wondering, "Why bother? Does this really matter? Is he getting paid by the word?"
December 14, 2025
Interesting deep dive into Timothy Treadwell’s time with the bears, would’ve liked less bear analysis overall though
November 20, 2011
A very bad use of my £8! This book is actually really bad, without many redeeming features. It's based on a series of interviews and a collection of opinions gathered right after Treadwell's death, but it doesn't really give any information you cant find out in seconds on the internet. It reads very much like someone trying to make a quick buck after the death of a celebrity. Overall this is FAR FAR from any sort of biography, it cruises straight over his life and death with no detail whatsoever. There aren't really any personal insights into bears either, if anything this book is a study of the psychology of the main players of Timothy Treadwell's death story. The best thing about the book is sadly all its reference to other books. I would suggest if you want to know more about Timothy Treadwell you should read his own autobiography. I wish I had. Honestly I have no idea how this book got such good reviews when it went to press. Three quotes to illustrate:
{intesting accounts of other peoples work)
By all accounts, the Kodiak brown bear population is stable and well managed; according to regional bear biologist Larry Van Daele, the 160-odd bears taken each year in the refuge (the total number of permits is around three hundred) are of at least equal size to those killed fifty years earlier—a sure sign of the population’s health.
…
If the cumulative record of all these behavioral experiments is meant to demonstrate the capacity of people and bears to get along, Lynn Rogers has secured his point about black bears. In addition to his personal research, the wide-flung presence of Ursus americanus in the lower forty-eight seems irrefutable evidence that the black bear can indeed manage to live around people—quite peaceably and unobtrusively, in fact—on the edges of housing developments from Pennsylvania to northern California. But when it comes to the big ticket item—brown/grizzlies—the overall result amounts to a negative landslide
{Authors boring opinionated, American (ethnocentric) rants}
Build enough condos and strip malls on the Katmai Coast or in Yellowstone, and kiss the bears good-bye. Preserve habitat and give them enough room, and they’ll be fine. There will be no grizzly in the backyard, fence-hopping like some mutant squirrel, nibbling a few nuts here and there. White-tail deer and raccoons, coyotes, and even black bears can make the suburban transition; Ursus arctos has demonstrated by its simple absence in such environs that as a species, it can’t. It might be pretty to think otherwise, but the evidence offers scant room for debate. They’re creatures that demand landscapes as big and wild as themselves.
…
We don’t have to look very far to butt against dozens of representations in popular culture—some complimentary, some negative, others contradictory, and all somehow true to us. Consider Yogi, the comical, happy-go-lucky thief; the fearsome beast on seemingly every other outdoor magazine cover; cute and cuddly Teddy; solemn and wise Smokey; the cloyingly kind Berenstain Bears; the lurking, man-eating monster in dozens of films. To be sure, we’re fond of lions, wolves, elephants, apes, and whales, but no single wild creature takes up as much space in our bestial cosmology. An anthropologist from another planet would no doubt be intrigued by our preoccupation, and how we garnish our lives with bears—Care Bears, Gummi Bears, and the Chicago Bears; Gentle Ben and Goldilocks’s famous trio; the skin rug before the fireplace. Our visitor might scratch his head and wonder what sort of god we’ve chosen, and why we cast him in such strange and varying light.
{Other peoples opinion on surviving a bear attack – basically fight back if they are trying to eat you, but if they are trying to scare you away, play dead, don’t run}
A word on tree climbing: Black bears can climb like cats, so they may well follow you up and attempt to drag you down. Then you end up fighting the bear in the tree. Some brown/grizzlies, contrary to popular belief, can climb at least as well as humans if there are limbs to hook with paws. But still, many people have avoided bears, especially brown/grizzlies, by climbing a nearby spruce or birch. How high should you go? Don’t worry. That detail will work itself out, and probably will precisely coincide with the height of your chosen tree. Let’s go to that next level, rare as it is: The bear, instead of backing off, bites or claws you, even knocks you off your feet. Here’s where some variance of opinion sets in. Herrero once preached playing dead for a brown/grizzly, fighting back against a black bear...
{intesting accounts of other peoples work)
By all accounts, the Kodiak brown bear population is stable and well managed; according to regional bear biologist Larry Van Daele, the 160-odd bears taken each year in the refuge (the total number of permits is around three hundred) are of at least equal size to those killed fifty years earlier—a sure sign of the population’s health.
…
If the cumulative record of all these behavioral experiments is meant to demonstrate the capacity of people and bears to get along, Lynn Rogers has secured his point about black bears. In addition to his personal research, the wide-flung presence of Ursus americanus in the lower forty-eight seems irrefutable evidence that the black bear can indeed manage to live around people—quite peaceably and unobtrusively, in fact—on the edges of housing developments from Pennsylvania to northern California. But when it comes to the big ticket item—brown/grizzlies—the overall result amounts to a negative landslide
{Authors boring opinionated, American (ethnocentric) rants}
Build enough condos and strip malls on the Katmai Coast or in Yellowstone, and kiss the bears good-bye. Preserve habitat and give them enough room, and they’ll be fine. There will be no grizzly in the backyard, fence-hopping like some mutant squirrel, nibbling a few nuts here and there. White-tail deer and raccoons, coyotes, and even black bears can make the suburban transition; Ursus arctos has demonstrated by its simple absence in such environs that as a species, it can’t. It might be pretty to think otherwise, but the evidence offers scant room for debate. They’re creatures that demand landscapes as big and wild as themselves.
…
We don’t have to look very far to butt against dozens of representations in popular culture—some complimentary, some negative, others contradictory, and all somehow true to us. Consider Yogi, the comical, happy-go-lucky thief; the fearsome beast on seemingly every other outdoor magazine cover; cute and cuddly Teddy; solemn and wise Smokey; the cloyingly kind Berenstain Bears; the lurking, man-eating monster in dozens of films. To be sure, we’re fond of lions, wolves, elephants, apes, and whales, but no single wild creature takes up as much space in our bestial cosmology. An anthropologist from another planet would no doubt be intrigued by our preoccupation, and how we garnish our lives with bears—Care Bears, Gummi Bears, and the Chicago Bears; Gentle Ben and Goldilocks’s famous trio; the skin rug before the fireplace. Our visitor might scratch his head and wonder what sort of god we’ve chosen, and why we cast him in such strange and varying light.
{Other peoples opinion on surviving a bear attack – basically fight back if they are trying to eat you, but if they are trying to scare you away, play dead, don’t run}
A word on tree climbing: Black bears can climb like cats, so they may well follow you up and attempt to drag you down. Then you end up fighting the bear in the tree. Some brown/grizzlies, contrary to popular belief, can climb at least as well as humans if there are limbs to hook with paws. But still, many people have avoided bears, especially brown/grizzlies, by climbing a nearby spruce or birch. How high should you go? Don’t worry. That detail will work itself out, and probably will precisely coincide with the height of your chosen tree. Let’s go to that next level, rare as it is: The bear, instead of backing off, bites or claws you, even knocks you off your feet. Here’s where some variance of opinion sets in. Herrero once preached playing dead for a brown/grizzly, fighting back against a black bear...
August 13, 2008
For reasons I have yet to pinpoint, I am fascinated with Treadwell. His life, his personality, the apparent dichotomy within him, the personal Treadwell, the private Treadwell and the way he reinvented himself. Oh yeah, and and all of those BEARS. With zero experience, zero training, and zero education in the field, he decided it was his destiny to spend months every year living in a tent amidst grizzly bears, studying them, protecting them, and taking some of the most incredible footage ever shot. That he was eventually eaten by one is not a huge surprise. That he managed to live among them for thirteen years, however, is a gargantuan surprise. The kind of thing that makes it hard for even his staunchest critics to explain. And that, I feel, is why both the author and people like me keep going back to his story, looking at it from every angle, trying to dissect it and apply meaning where perhaps none is deserved. Some people are bigger than life, and like him or not, Treadwell was one of those people. A very well-written book about Treadwell and others who choose to lead unique lives in places where nature can be both beautiful and brutal.
March 7, 2016
In October of 2003 Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard were mauled and killed by a bear in Alaska's Katmai National Park. The first half of the book is about Timothy and his obsession with the bears. Very little about Amie, just a mention here and there. The second half of the book is about myths and statistics of a bear killing or harming humans. The whole book touches on activist and researchers alike on what happen that day. A audiotape in the only living witness to the horrific day and even it does not tell the whole story. Nick Jans does a fair job on keeping the very controversial Timothy story neutral. Timothy interactions with the bears were not well received with many and Nick Jans lets those voice be heard. Nick Jans also lets the voices of Timothy's supporters to be heard. I would have like more story about Amie. She too was a victim of Timothy's unhealthy obsession. Overall a ok book.
April 19, 2010
Good read, interesting, very educational when it comes to bears and their habits. I find I'm much more sympathetic to Timothy Treadwell and the fact that he went 13 years without an incident before his death. Parts of it dragged, though - the whole "how do we identify with bears and what do they mean to us" chapter was a real snore. The rest was interesting and while I can't say I loved it, I'd recommend it to anyone who saw the documentary and wanted to get a very even handed look at what Treadwell was trying to do.
June 24, 2016
I enjoyed parts of this book for the fascinating information about the lives and nature of brown bears. Some of the information was highly informative and increased my appreciation for their intricate ursine society. However, in spite of the author's attempts to convince his readers otherwise, I found Timothy Treadwell to be a selfish, theatrical, dishonest individual who was willing to lie for personal gain and sacrifice the safety of other people in order to satisfy his own agenda. Due to the fact that this book focused primarily on said agenda, I give it a reluctant two stars.
August 14, 2010
Timothy Treadwell is one of those people who certainly does bring the term "Darwin Award Winner" to life. In this biography, we get to see his obsession with bears, and what is essentially a life gone to ruin. It's just a great pity that he had to take another person's life along that bleak path. Well written, well researched and chilling.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_21673...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_21673...
February 20, 2018
A pretty fair look at Treadwell and his bear con. I just wish the author would stop breathlessly pointing out how "brave" Treadwell was. He constantly mentions his cojones or balls or courage as if he was some sort of extreme sports star and the stupid things he did, that got two of the bears he supposedly loved killed, should be admired.
April 10, 2008
After seeing "Grizzly Man," I wanted to know more about this unusual man who was determined to live among the grizzlies. Very bizarre choices he made!
November 13, 2012
backstory to the crazy man who ended up as a bear sandwich
February 2, 2025
favorite book about Alaska so far
June 30, 2014
THE BEAR BIBLE
My review is here: http://www.billdahl.net/articles/the-...
Epistemology is defined as "the study of the nature of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity." ( I stole that definition off the web). Translation: Epistemology is the study of the process and context regarding "how we come/came to know what we claim/claimed to know." Epistemological inquiries are multi-dimensional. These dimensions include - but are not limited to - time, people, places, myths, beliefs, literature, norms, attitudes, values, mores, prejudices, fears, beliefs, belief systems, practices, orally transmitted stories passed from one generation to the next - and the means and methods through which the aforementioned are transmitted within and among sub-cultures --- and the broader cultures they inhabit. In every sense of the word, these types of inquiries are a journey through a multi-dimensional maze. Oftentimes, the written results of epistemological inquiries insult and inflame the passions of those who hold most militantly to a particular perspective populated by living, breathing, adrenal, beliefs, life experiences, opinions and "knowledge" that is threatened by the guide assigned to illuminate the complexities of the entire matter. For the author, it can be a grizzly challenge.
Translation: "What we think we know is momentary. It exists in the time, place and space we inhabit. If the history of human civilization demonstrates anything – it is the fact that what we think we know is momentary. It’s temporary. It is “Knowmentary.” Knowledge, beliefs, values, attitudes, fears, perceptions, observation, mores, practices, memes and norms are all perishable (thank heaven!). Even emotions appear and disappear in terms of their actual behavioral expressions by humans. What we think we know is embodied in terms like certainty, truth, love, affection, accepted practice, guidelines, policy and procedure, rejection, questions, doubt, fear and confusion - they all morph, evolve, ebb and flow as emotional states, practices, and language expressed in human existence.
Enter author Nick Jans of Juneau (now Haines) Alaska - our guide through this particular "Grizzly Maze." A story that baits the reader to enter into an environment with the subtitle - " Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Attraction With Alaskan Bears." Honestly, I would NEVER have selected this book to read without being curious about the sub-title - and- in the spirit of full disclosure - that the death of Timothy Treadwell and his companion Amie Huguenard actually occurred in 2003. Finally, I recently read Jans book "A Wolf Called Romeo" and was both enthralled by the story and indelibly impressed with this particular writer's amazing acumen to craft a compelling, compassionate, riveting, real-life treatment of an actual life experience.
As a hiker in the "lower 48" who enjoys spending countless days exploring wilderness areas every year, a fisherman, and a photographer - Nick Jans work "The Grizzly Maze" is, in my opinion, THE BEAR BIBLE. To treat this work as solely an in-depth analysis of what led to the deaths of Treadwell, Huguenard and and two Alaska Grizzlies - would be unfortunate, at best. This volume is, much, much more than that - albeit Jans treatment of the central story/sub-title is expansive, poignant and fair - it is amazingly well-balanced. To treat this book as an educational tool limited to Grizzly bears - would also be a miscue. The treatment that Jans provides regarding bears in general, black, brown, Alaskan and lower 48 species is, once again, practically beneficial for anyone who journeys into areas inhabited by bears. I am better prepared having read this book.
I confess that I never watched any of the number of video/movie/documentary productions about Timothy Treadwell, The Grizzly People, Alaskan Grizzlies or otherwise - prior to reading this book. Yes, I recall the national media attention in 2003 that accompanied the deaths Treadwell and Huguenard. Yet, that's about all the foreknowledge I had before I picked up this book.
A few observations about the author Nick Jans: He's a craftsman - weaving prose, research, interviews (with innumerable sources) - into an outstanding literary work. He has the ability to capture the reader on page one and keep you turning pages through page 251. Jans life experiences - including living in Alaska for 25+ years - provides a unique depth that thoroughly enriches his ability to manufacture marvel for the reader. A first class writer. A sage of a story-teller. A lion with language. Yet, having said all that, as a reader you feel like you're being guided through a maze by a guy you can trust, somebody you can depend on, someone who illuminates the questions without pretending to possess all the answers (particularly when there are none). He is honest, forthright and fair. Jans writing is refreshing, informative, appetizing --- and keeps the reader yearning for more. His treatment of the myriad of subjects and story-lines contained within this story is expansive - without crossing over into boredom for the reader. For me, Jans style is enthralling and engaging. Frankly, Alaska might do well to recognize writers like Jans.
"The Grizzly Maze - Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Attraction With Alaskan Bears" is an outstanding example of the value of humans called to write - to tell our stories - the stories of others - and the creatures we inhabit this planet with. For people who enjoy the outdoors, The Grizzly Maze is THE BEAR BIBLE. Buy it! Devour it! Digest it! Learn from it! The next time you or others around you seem absolutely certain about something subjectively, think “Knowmentary.” See if it changes the way you perceive life, self, creatures and others – for the better.
I'll close with a pertinent quote from the pen of neuroscientist Dr. Robert A. Burton M.D.:
“Certainty is not biologically possible. We must learn (and teach our children) to tolerate the unpleasantness of uncertainty.” (1)
Nick Jans epistemological treatise "The Grizzly Maze - Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Attraction With Alaskan Bears" confirms this.
Trust the talents of Nick Jans. You won't be disappointed. Trust me.
(1) Burton, Robert A. M.D. "On Being Certain - Believing You Are Right - Even When You're Not." St. Martin's Griffin;NY,NY Reprint edition (March 17, 2009) P.223.
My review is here: http://www.billdahl.net/articles/the-...
Epistemology is defined as "the study of the nature of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity." ( I stole that definition off the web). Translation: Epistemology is the study of the process and context regarding "how we come/came to know what we claim/claimed to know." Epistemological inquiries are multi-dimensional. These dimensions include - but are not limited to - time, people, places, myths, beliefs, literature, norms, attitudes, values, mores, prejudices, fears, beliefs, belief systems, practices, orally transmitted stories passed from one generation to the next - and the means and methods through which the aforementioned are transmitted within and among sub-cultures --- and the broader cultures they inhabit. In every sense of the word, these types of inquiries are a journey through a multi-dimensional maze. Oftentimes, the written results of epistemological inquiries insult and inflame the passions of those who hold most militantly to a particular perspective populated by living, breathing, adrenal, beliefs, life experiences, opinions and "knowledge" that is threatened by the guide assigned to illuminate the complexities of the entire matter. For the author, it can be a grizzly challenge.
Translation: "What we think we know is momentary. It exists in the time, place and space we inhabit. If the history of human civilization demonstrates anything – it is the fact that what we think we know is momentary. It’s temporary. It is “Knowmentary.” Knowledge, beliefs, values, attitudes, fears, perceptions, observation, mores, practices, memes and norms are all perishable (thank heaven!). Even emotions appear and disappear in terms of their actual behavioral expressions by humans. What we think we know is embodied in terms like certainty, truth, love, affection, accepted practice, guidelines, policy and procedure, rejection, questions, doubt, fear and confusion - they all morph, evolve, ebb and flow as emotional states, practices, and language expressed in human existence.
Enter author Nick Jans of Juneau (now Haines) Alaska - our guide through this particular "Grizzly Maze." A story that baits the reader to enter into an environment with the subtitle - " Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Attraction With Alaskan Bears." Honestly, I would NEVER have selected this book to read without being curious about the sub-title - and- in the spirit of full disclosure - that the death of Timothy Treadwell and his companion Amie Huguenard actually occurred in 2003. Finally, I recently read Jans book "A Wolf Called Romeo" and was both enthralled by the story and indelibly impressed with this particular writer's amazing acumen to craft a compelling, compassionate, riveting, real-life treatment of an actual life experience.
As a hiker in the "lower 48" who enjoys spending countless days exploring wilderness areas every year, a fisherman, and a photographer - Nick Jans work "The Grizzly Maze" is, in my opinion, THE BEAR BIBLE. To treat this work as solely an in-depth analysis of what led to the deaths of Treadwell, Huguenard and and two Alaska Grizzlies - would be unfortunate, at best. This volume is, much, much more than that - albeit Jans treatment of the central story/sub-title is expansive, poignant and fair - it is amazingly well-balanced. To treat this book as an educational tool limited to Grizzly bears - would also be a miscue. The treatment that Jans provides regarding bears in general, black, brown, Alaskan and lower 48 species is, once again, practically beneficial for anyone who journeys into areas inhabited by bears. I am better prepared having read this book.
I confess that I never watched any of the number of video/movie/documentary productions about Timothy Treadwell, The Grizzly People, Alaskan Grizzlies or otherwise - prior to reading this book. Yes, I recall the national media attention in 2003 that accompanied the deaths Treadwell and Huguenard. Yet, that's about all the foreknowledge I had before I picked up this book.
A few observations about the author Nick Jans: He's a craftsman - weaving prose, research, interviews (with innumerable sources) - into an outstanding literary work. He has the ability to capture the reader on page one and keep you turning pages through page 251. Jans life experiences - including living in Alaska for 25+ years - provides a unique depth that thoroughly enriches his ability to manufacture marvel for the reader. A first class writer. A sage of a story-teller. A lion with language. Yet, having said all that, as a reader you feel like you're being guided through a maze by a guy you can trust, somebody you can depend on, someone who illuminates the questions without pretending to possess all the answers (particularly when there are none). He is honest, forthright and fair. Jans writing is refreshing, informative, appetizing --- and keeps the reader yearning for more. His treatment of the myriad of subjects and story-lines contained within this story is expansive - without crossing over into boredom for the reader. For me, Jans style is enthralling and engaging. Frankly, Alaska might do well to recognize writers like Jans.
"The Grizzly Maze - Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Attraction With Alaskan Bears" is an outstanding example of the value of humans called to write - to tell our stories - the stories of others - and the creatures we inhabit this planet with. For people who enjoy the outdoors, The Grizzly Maze is THE BEAR BIBLE. Buy it! Devour it! Digest it! Learn from it! The next time you or others around you seem absolutely certain about something subjectively, think “Knowmentary.” See if it changes the way you perceive life, self, creatures and others – for the better.
I'll close with a pertinent quote from the pen of neuroscientist Dr. Robert A. Burton M.D.:
“Certainty is not biologically possible. We must learn (and teach our children) to tolerate the unpleasantness of uncertainty.” (1)
Nick Jans epistemological treatise "The Grizzly Maze - Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Attraction With Alaskan Bears" confirms this.
Trust the talents of Nick Jans. You won't be disappointed. Trust me.
(1) Burton, Robert A. M.D. "On Being Certain - Believing You Are Right - Even When You're Not." St. Martin's Griffin;NY,NY Reprint edition (March 17, 2009) P.223.
July 21, 2025
"...no one will ever say much about the two dead bears. At this moment, their faces are all I see "
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"We have no right," intones Davis, "to impose our own stupid little personal mission on the universe."
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"We have no right," intones Davis, "to impose our own stupid little personal mission on the universe."
December 30, 2025
The haunting story of Timothy Treadwel and his obsession with Alaskas grizzly bears. Interesting read.
May 7, 2022
5 stars. I highly recommend this book for anyone who was captivated by the Grizzly Man documentary or are fascinated by bears. The author is well versed in the Alaskan landscape and it’s grizzly inhabitants, and his insight was engrossing, thorough, well researched, and extremely interesting. He clearly strived to bring a whole and balanced view in telling Timothy Treadwell’s story. I think he did it in a way that brought an honest perspective about what tragically went wrong, while also being respectful. I could not put it down.
May 9, 2010
This book proved to be a very pleasant surprise. Nick Jans engages with the much-publicized story of Timothy Treadwell in a personal, honest, and complex way, seeking to neither glorify nor ridicule him. Treadwell comes across as complex, contradictory, and controversial, as it seems he was. He was passionate about bears but also foolhardy and endangered the very creatures he loved so much. Jans provides some interesting details about Treadwell's several attempts to re-invent himself, until the last permutation (as a bear-activist) took.
I was rather surprised when, just over halfway through the book, the author had finished describing Treadwell's background, the events along the Katmai coast, and the grisly investigation and response to his and Huguenard's deaths. I wondered what else the book might contain, and while some of it did feel like "padding," on the whole it was quite incredible, taking the book in an unexpected direction. Some chapters describe his process of investigating bears and Treadwell's story, which basically allows Jans to provide a travel narrative of time in Alaska, a mode in which this author excels. The last section of the book is one of the most detailed and insightful discussions of bear behavior, the risks of bear attack, and appropriate human responses that I've read, and this is a subject I've read quite a lot of, being someone who regularly backpacks solo in bear country.
I definitely recommend this book, for all three parts!
I was rather surprised when, just over halfway through the book, the author had finished describing Treadwell's background, the events along the Katmai coast, and the grisly investigation and response to his and Huguenard's deaths. I wondered what else the book might contain, and while some of it did feel like "padding," on the whole it was quite incredible, taking the book in an unexpected direction. Some chapters describe his process of investigating bears and Treadwell's story, which basically allows Jans to provide a travel narrative of time in Alaska, a mode in which this author excels. The last section of the book is one of the most detailed and insightful discussions of bear behavior, the risks of bear attack, and appropriate human responses that I've read, and this is a subject I've read quite a lot of, being someone who regularly backpacks solo in bear country.
I definitely recommend this book, for all three parts!
August 1, 2020
Not a bad book but in trying to include everything, it became a bit tedious and too much of a hodgepodge. The chapter on the author’s personal experience with bears was too long and was trying too hard to copy author Jon Krakauer’s structure. And while the information about different types of bears was interesting, all the information about what to do in the event of a bear attack seemed unnecessary; especially, by the author’s own admission, such attacks rarely occur.
The author should have stuck to writing a book about Timothy Treadwell and Amie Hugenart. Especially Amie. The author paints her as a woman so desperate for a boyfriend that she ignores her own instinct and willingly stays where she admits she is afraid. Why? How about some interviews with her family and friends? Was she interested in bears at all? Was she madly in love with Timothy? How about some brief background into her childhood and adolescence? All that is said about her is that she was a physician’s assistant. That’s not enough. She died as well. The author treats the fatalities in order of importance thusly: Timothy; first old, dead bear; second young, dead bear and then Amie.
The author needed to edit the part about himself and eliminate the bear attack information and include more information about both Timothy and, especially, Amie.
The author should have stuck to writing a book about Timothy Treadwell and Amie Hugenart. Especially Amie. The author paints her as a woman so desperate for a boyfriend that she ignores her own instinct and willingly stays where she admits she is afraid. Why? How about some interviews with her family and friends? Was she interested in bears at all? Was she madly in love with Timothy? How about some brief background into her childhood and adolescence? All that is said about her is that she was a physician’s assistant. That’s not enough. She died as well. The author treats the fatalities in order of importance thusly: Timothy; first old, dead bear; second young, dead bear and then Amie.
The author needed to edit the part about himself and eliminate the bear attack information and include more information about both Timothy and, especially, Amie.
August 18, 2019
While finding a near-perfect balance in the Timothy Treadwell and Alaskan grizzly bears story – which has consistently swung from one extreme to the other with little middle ground, Nick Jans presents the authoritative tale on this saga in a rather informative book. As with thousands of others, I continue to be captivated by not only the charisma but maybe more importantly the anti-modern-civilization feelings of Treadwell, as found in both his autobiography and in the 2005 documentary “The Grizzly Man." However, turning back to rational thoughts about his mission and how he actually went about those 13 summers in the heart of Alaska proves to me how dangerous Treadwell’s actions were for himself, the bears, and future generations of human visitors and bears, alike. Jans touches on all thoughts regarding Treadwell and places him among the larger scope of interacting and living with bears worldwide. As an outdoors enthusiast with a good sense of who Timothy Treadwell was and how he aspired to join the world of the bears, I now feel like I have a greater understanding of the greatest creature that calls Alaska “home" and how Treadwell was arguably a tolerated individual of their world.
July 25, 2018
This is a factual and thoughtful account of some of the life of Timothy Treadwell. Though not a country boy, at some point in his life he decided that his mission in life was to live with bears and protect them from poachers. Thus began his life in Alaska's Katmai National Park. Timothy lived within bear country and spent his life documenting their lives. He loved them and by all accounts they loved him, until they didn't. No one knows what really happened that day when Timothy was killed along with his girlfriend. Though there's an abundance of experts that can and do tell us what he was doing was wrong, that he was a criminal in his actions, there's no clear explanation why a life filled with bears became a death sentence.
This is truly an interesting account of Timothy's last years and the biologists who also study bear habitat and behaviour along with the hypothesis of what happened in this particular instance.
I am never living with bears, no matter what they think.
This is truly an interesting account of Timothy's last years and the biologists who also study bear habitat and behaviour along with the hypothesis of what happened in this particular instance.
I am never living with bears, no matter what they think.
October 23, 2020
I chose this partially because I love Nick Jans and everything he has written. As expected, he researched this topic thoroughly and wrote a well-rounded description of "Treadwell" and his motivations. He has been portrayed as a hero and a villian and everything in between. Jans explores each description. The beginning of the book is a bit messy with timeline but not too hard to follow. After Treadwell's story, Jans gives his own bear story and then some history of bear stories. At the end, he gives practical advice from bear experts on avoiding an attack and what to do if you can't. I would recommend this book if you are interested in Alaska, bears, and conservation otherwise, you might find it boring.
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