Thirty-Three Ways of Looking at an Elephant

by Dale Peterson (Editor, Preface)

Elephants have captivated the human imagination for as long as they have roamed the earth, appearing in writings and cultures from thousands of years ago and still much discussed today. In Thirty-Three Ways of Looking at an Elephant, veteran scientific writer Dale Peterson has collected thirty-three essential writings about elephants from across history, with geographical perspectives ranging from Africa and Southeast Asia to Europe and the United States. An introductory headnote for each selection provides additional context and insights from Peterson’s substantial knowledge of elephants and natural history.The first section of the anthology, “Cultural and Classical Elephants,” explores the earliest mentions of elephants in African mythology, Hindu theology, and Aristotle and other ancient Greek texts. “Colonial and Industrial Elephants” finds elephants in the crosshairs of colonial exploitation in accounts pulled from memoirs commoditizing African elephants as a source of ivory, novel targets for bloodsport, and occasional export for circuses and zoos. “Working and Performing Elephants” gives firsthand accounts of the often cruel training methods and treatment inflicted on elephants to achieve submission and obedience.As elephants became an object of scientific curiosity in the mid-twentieth century, wildlife biologists explored elephant families and kinship, behaviors around sex and love, language and self-awareness, and enhanced communications with sound and smell. The pieces featured in “Scientific and Social Elephants” give readers a glimpse into major discoveries in elephant behaviors. “Endangered Elephants” points to the future of the elephant, whose numbers continue to be ravaged by ivory poachers. Peterson concludes with a section on fictional and literary elephants and ends on a hopeful note with the 1967 essay “Dear Elephant, Sir,” which argues for the moral imperative to save elephants as an act of redemption for their systematic abuse and mistreatment at human hands. Essential to understanding the history and experience of this beloved and misunderstood creature, Thirty-Three Ways of Looking at an Elephant is a must for any elephant lover or armchair environmentalist.

Genres: Science

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[TL Thomas]

I had a lot of trouble getting into this book, because all of the early stories are very old history and myths and legends, which are not my thing. But I gave it an extra star for a cool concept and great title. There are many different kinds of stories about elephants once you get deeper into the book, so there is sure to be something that will interest you about them. For me, I wanted more modern stories/current relevance of elephants (or to at least start with some of that so the first 20% had context to today) but everyone will look differently on that depending on their interest in history.

Because it is many short stories, it is an easy read you can do in sections, which is also a nice plus.

[Ria]

great book with, at times, saddening information.

one warning: the editor puts long introductions in front of both of his selections. long, detailed, spoilery introductions. often, he summarizes them in such detail (including the ending!) that it makes reading the actual selections redundant.

so I advise reading the selections first, then his introductions.

I think that he perhaps intended the anthology as a college textbook and the introductions serve as cheats in case they don't actually bother to read the selections.

regardless of that quibble, a book well worth reading. if elephants did not fascinate you already, they will after you have finished the anthology.

[Julia Sundari]

I knew much of elephant behavior and history due to the fact that I studied prior to traveling to an elephant sanctuary years ago. This was good if I hadn’t already done that work I suppose. I did find many sections heart wrenching like the war elephants and use and abuse of waits and circus elephants. A meh. There are better elephant behavior and historical books out there

[Kathy England]

This book is a collection of 33 writings on elephants: fiction, historical, practical, behavioral, etc. Some of it is heartbreaking, most of it interesting.

[isobel]

i love my beautiful girlfriend :)