Amazon.com

Want to learn how to speak the language of critters, large and small? Easy-to-read and understand, Ted Andrews's bestselling Animal Speak shows readers how to identify his or her animal totem and learn how to invoke its energy and use it for personal growth and inner discovery. Nature lovers will love this insightful compendium, chock-full of touching stories about animals, natural history, and animal folklore. Readers will also learn magical animal rites and how to read omens. Animal Speak includes a dictionary of bird, animal, reptile, and insect totems, which describe each creature's meaning. For example, if a person's totem is dragonfly, he or she was most likely excessively emotional and passionate in early years, learning with age to balance it with mental clarity and control. If a dragonfly suddenly shows up in your life, it means you may need to gain a new perspective or make a change. --P. Randall Cohan ... Read more

Reviews (53)

One of the Best Books About Totems Available
In the last few months, I have discovered my animal totems in meditations I do. I first came across this book in a local book store and would rush over there to look up an animal I saw and its meaning every time I saw a new totems. I finally broke down and bought the book and consider it money well spent. It's nice to have it to refer to when a new totem appears before me. But besides being a very comprehensive dictionary of totems, there's also the philosophy behind them and how man needs to work more with nature to truly understand its power in our lives.

I've come to be aware of and am thankful for the totems in my life that are helping me through my life's journeys. I feel this book would be very helpful to those (who don't already have it) that are interested in learning more about how animals speak to us, both symbolically and in nature, as well as shamanism and Native American culture. One recent morning I dreamt about a racoon that rushed by me and then that night saw one running through my back yard. His expression seemed to indicate he had something to tell me. Without having read this book, I might have shrugged it off but it to me is a perfect example of what animals can teach us. The message? Most likely to be a little more guarded in my dealings with others.

I liked too how the author compared the "country" with the city, pointing out that even in a city environment you can still find parts of nature around us. It truly is everywhere, whether we acknowledge it or not.

How animals can help you learn about yourself
In this book, you will discover how much the "animal world" and the "human world" intersect. Much more than making us feel good about being surrounded by nature, animals have much to tell us about ourselves and our relationship to the earth and to other living things. Andrews has divided the book into 4 parts - 'Symbols in the Natural World' (including chapters on the roles of nature, spirit totems, predators and prey, omens in nature, and the meaning of landscapes); 'Winged Enchantment' (bird totems and bird medicine); 'Understanding Animal Medicine' (animal rites and totems); and 'The Exotic Language of Insects and Reptiles' (totems). Each animal or bird or insect or reptile included in this vast inventory is described thoroughly - it's behavioral patterns and natural habitat, its mythological characteristics, AND its symbolic importance to humans. I have used this book repeatedly to help me interpret dreams in which animals were central, and to investigate why a certain animal or insect, etc. showed up in my life on a particular day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is open to non-traditional but very ancient beliefs about animals and their magical and mysterious powers.

Couldn't put it down
If you are into animals and nature, or want to learn more about them on a spiritual level, this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down from the moment I began reading it. And it's not a small book by any means!
You really begin to look for the animals around you more closely and attentively. Especially when going hiking or camping, you become aware and note down what animals you saw and under what circumstances, and then look it up later in the book. It is surprisingly accurate, and fun on top of it!

Great "how to" book on animal guides
Loved this book. It covers so many animals, you'll be hard pressed not to find your familiar, guide, etc. described in these pages. The book gives you the quick reference in it's "keynote" which is in bold at the top of each animal description. For example, the bear says "Keynote: Awakening the power of the unconscious", and then proceeds to give a page or so description of each of the animals symbolism and power points as well as what the animal may be trying to tell you about yourself.

There is of course a section on finding your familiar (animal guide) as well. I have performed this "ritual" slightly tweeked to my own style, and it worked incredibly well for me. My familiar at that time was a Blue Jay and believe me, when I say this is to find your familiar, there is no mistaking it when this mystery animal comes to call. That Blue Jay, on several occasions flew right down in front of me and chirped it's head off a mere five feet away - maybe that far - to get my attention. FYI, my use of the word "ritual" is for lack of a better word. This is not a complicated endevor. Andrews style is straight forward and easy to use "magick".

I strongly recommend this book for anyone wanting to connect with animal guides or is curious about some animal who seems to be showing up in their lives in an unusual manner - maybe they are trying to tell you something!

Love this book
This book is packed full of information. The only thing i dislike about it, is how it is written. I wished Ted Andrews handn't have written this book in such a boring manner. It makes my eyes heavy... ... Read more

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Oliver Sacks calls Temple Grandin's firstbook--and the first picture of autism from the inside--"quite extraordinary, unprecedented and, in a way, unthinkable."Sacks told part of her story in his An Anthropologist on Mars, and inThinking in Pictures Grandin returns to tell her life history with great depth, insight, and feeling. Grandin told Sacks, "I don't want my thoughts to die with me. I want to have done something ... I want to know that my life has meaning ... I'm talking about things at the very core of my existence." Grandin's clear exposition of what it is like to "think in pictures" is immensely mind-broadening and basically destroys a whole school of philosophy (the one that declares language necessary for thought). Grandin, who feels she can "see through a cow's eyes," is an influential designer of slaughterhouses and livestock restraint systems. She has great insight into human-animal relations. It would be mere justice if Thinking in Pictures transforms the study of religious feeling, too. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

The life and times of Temple Graindin
... The book Thinking in Pictures involves the evaluation, from the first person perspective, of a life with autism, and delves into the complicated world of an autistic person. The book provides a clear explanation of almost all the problems that plaque a person with autism, and additionally shows the way an autistic person's mind works and
the way the world affects their thinking. The book conveys information primarily through the view of author Temple Graindin, but also makes references and comparisons to animal science and, thus provides an almost parallel theme to the
book.
While parts of the book do diverge from the subject, the book provides an excellent summary of the life of an autistic in a non autistic world. Because the book is written from the first person, there is a personal touch to the book that draws the reader in and helps them to better experience Temple's world. The comparisons to animals also prove to be effective as they further emphasize how different an autistic person's
mind works as compared to our's. It, then as a result, further shows how an autistic person's world is completely different, yet the same to our own. The book at times, however, sometimes goes too in-depth with the descriptions of animal science and
sometimes reads like a cattle-dairy science textbook. Much of the book also deviates from the main topic of autism into her own philosophies of life. Finally, much of the information about the drugs is very tedious, and while it does provide much useful information, does not contribute much to the overall theme of the book. On the whole, the book is very interesting and helps to show the pictures of the autistic world.

Well-Written View Of Autism From A Real Insider
Temple Grandin accomplished many things with this book. Technically, it is a very well-written book, with good flow, an extensive display of vocabulary (without sounding pretentious), a logical structure, and only a small amount of repetition (which is an accomplishment for an autistic person).

"Thinking in Pictures" explains autism from the inside-out. Oliver Sacks, in "An Anthropologist on Mars" gave an excellent description of autism (and Temple Grandin) from the outside, but this book gives the inside view from the very same subject. After reading the DSM-IV and many textbooks, I was still having trouble fully grasping what autism was. After reading Sacks' books, I was much clearer on the subject. "Thinking in Pictures" went three steps further in helping me to understand the various forms of autism. I also have a much greater understanding of what sensory integration treatment is all about, even though I had listened to two in-services on sensory integration by sensory integration therapists before reading this book.

I also learned much about the cattle and beef industry in this country, which was surprisingly interesting. I'm glad that there are people like Dr. Grandin in that business working to make it as humane as possible.

Temple Grandin is in an unusual situation and was able to give a perspective on what it means to be a "normal" human being that few people could give. Being a very bright but autistic person, she is almost the "flip-side" of "an anthropologist on Mars": it is as if she were a Martian anthropologist visiting Earth and trying to understand humanity. Her thinking, feeling, and sensory processes are so different from the average person, that she can almost view humanity from the outside.

"Thinking in Pictures" teaches the reader much about autism, the cattle industry, and humanity. What might surprise many people is that, with all that teaching going on, this book is also thoroughly enjoyable. I hope that I can someday meet Dr. Grandin, as I am sure it would be an interesting, unique, and memorable experience.

Christian McCallister, Ph.D., L.P., Clinical Psychologist

Thinking in Pictures
I have no connection with autism. This book was recommended to me because I cannot think in pictures; my mind works with ideas and words. Temple Grandin has written a book about a way of thinking that is so alien to me she might as well be from a different planet. Absolutely amazing. I did not know that the world could be seen from this perspective. This book has changed the way I try to see the world. No TV program or lecture will cause you to shake your head in bewilderment like this book.

Temple Grandin is the Helen Keller of the 21st Century. Only her words can describe the world she lives in. Or maybe pictures.

An excellent primer for understanding autism
I borrowed this book from a parent of an autistic child when I began working with autistic students in the public school system. It was invaluable to my understanding autism. Ms. Grandin gives an inside look at autism and not only outlines the challenges, but also gives possible benefits. If you are a parent of an autistic child, work in the public school system, or merely wish to understand autism better; I highly recommend this book.

Great insights into the autistic mind
In some passages, Ms. Grandin reflects on her humanity, her mortality and directly addresses her difficulties. I cannot wait to read her other books. Just wonderful. ... Read more

Book Description

Temple Grandin's Animals in Translation speaks in the clear voice of a woman who emerged from the other side of autism, bringing with her an extraordinary message about how animals think and feel.

Temple's professional training as an animal scientist and her history as a person with autism have given her a perspective like that of no other expert in the field. Standing at the intersection of autism and animals, she offers unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas about both.

Autistic people can often think the way animals think -- in fact, Grandin and co-author Catherine Johnson see autism as a kind of way station on the road from animals to humans -- putting autistic people in the perfect position to translate "animal talk." Temple is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. Not only are animals much smarter than anyone ever imagined, in some cases animals are out-and-out brilliant.

The sweep of Animals in Translation is immense, merging an animal scientist's thirty years of study with her keen perceptions as a person with autism -- Temple sees what others cannot.

Among its provocative ideas, the book:

• argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness -- and that animals do have consciousness

• applies the autism theory of "hyper-specificity" to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they "can't see the forest for the trees" -- a talent as well as a "deficit"

• explores the "interpreter" in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much of the reality that surrounds them -- a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearly

• explains how animals have "superhuman" skills: animals have animal genius

• compares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even see

• examines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future

• reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals

• maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid

Temple Grandin is like no other author on the subject of animals because of her training and because of her autism: understanding animals is in her blood and in her bones. ... Read more

Book Description

This updated and expanded edition offers current knowledge of nutrient metabolism and the formulation of diets from an array of available feedstuffs. Discusses animals' role in ecological balance, environmental stability and sustainable agriculture and food production. A new section on life-cycle feeding of individual animal classes features chapters contributed by authorities in their respective fields of animal nutrition. These new chapters include cattle, poultry, rabbits, sheep, swine, horses, cats, fish and exotic animals. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (75)

Excellent....
I picked this book up one day with no clue as to what it was. After having read it I've concluded that it's the best story that I've read concerning animals (excluding animal farm). It also helped me understand life as a veternarian (at least some fifty years ago!) I've also come to the conclusion that Herriot has created a brilliant novel in his first try that have taken so many others years to complete. Synopsis: A heart-warming true tale of a veternarian named Dr. James Herriot in the late 30s in Yorkshire, England.

classic works!
James Herriot's books stand out in modern writing as absolute classics, evocative of an earlier, more innocent time, and more wonderously, by the skill with which these deceptively simple, entertaining, moving stories are written. Beneath the entertaining text and characters lies absolutely beautiful, artful writing, with craft and skill that ties all these chapters and stories together in a pattern of one country vet's life in England in the 1930's and 40's. These are so much more than animal stories. I am biased; these are my favorite all-time books, read and re-read since my youth. Increasing age has not diminished their charm. History will write James Herriot's name large. If you haven't read these books yet, you owe it to yourself to start with "All Creatures Great and Small". Whether or not you care for animals, you will fall in love with a gentler time, the escapades of a trio of young men, and the laugh-out-loud as well as very tearful events this author writes about so beautifully. Absolutely timeless and a classic.

Best Listening Book Experience Ever!!
James Herriot is a wonderfully gifted writer. The way he can describe a scene with the exact perfect wording and phrase is simply uncanny.

You are THERE on the Yorkshire dales living the lowly daily life of a young vet.

Add to that Christopher Timothy's truly masterful performance and this audio book should be in the hall of fame. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

A breath of fresh air. Genuinely hilarious, heart warming, uplifting.

Give yourself the best gift ever. Listen to this book.

The beginning of magic
This is where it all started with James Herriott for me - a paperback tucked in with 3 or 4 other books I received for my birthday a long time ago. I couldn't tell you what the other books were, but this book, and its sequels, have become dear friends. I can tell you the stories from memory (and from my heart) and I have read the paperbacks so often I've had to replace them with hardbacks just so they'll last longer.
James Herriott was a vet practicing in Yorkshire (England) from the end of the Depression until about 20 years ago.
The stories are charming, happy, glorious, tragic and tear-jerking. It was a wonderful but brutal time to be practicing veterinary medicine. It was before many of the surgeries we have now and Herriott was there for the introduction of antibiotics and many other medicines. Think about it - how often have you had your cat or dog treated for infections - 60 years ago there was nothing to kill the bacteria that brought death to so many. How impossibly hard it must have been for him to lose so many of the animals he treated, and how wonderful when he knew he saved them either for the farmers who needed their stock or the families who loved their pets. And the people he writes about! What characters!
I have pets and love to read the stories about cats and dogs and horses. I teach medical students and use more than a few examples from these books about the PROCESS of thinking which is so essential to any practice of medicine. His stories here and in later books about diagnosing hoof and mouth disease or husk or heatstroke or nettlerash are fascinating reading about the mind of a physician as it works while the seconds of life tick away.
This book is great, the series of books is great - curl up somewhere and get to know them.

A great book
You have to be dead not to enjoy this book. I just wanted to register my five stars. ... Read more

Book Description

The eighth edition of this highly-acclaimed, best-selling book gives an overview of the Animal Sciences; it highlights the significant biological principles, scientific relationships, and management practices of livestock production and management in a condensed but informative manner.Included are chapters on reproduction, genetics, nutrition, lactation, consumer products, and more. It covers the breeding, feeding, and management of beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, sheep, swine, poultry, goats, and aquaculture.Basic and sufficiently simple for those with limited livestock experience, Scientific Farm Animal Production is still informative for those who have a livestock production background; it is an excellent reference work for livestock producers and others desiring an overview of livestock production principles and management. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

perfect pocket knowledge!
You gotta have this little book of wildlife treasures on hand, because you will see most of these creatures if your visit is at least a week!

Another book I read before my visit was "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," one of the most imaginative travel-writing efforts I have read lately. Like an anthropolgical text with far too many tangents, it gathers the best and brightest attractions in Costa Rica to explore in essays the various themes of the country. This means that the selections are as diverse and strange as the points-of-view they represent. Standouts include "House Made of Rain" about a day in the rainforest, "Why No Empire?" explaining why the Spanish Invasion apparently skipped Costa Rica, and "Women Under Tico Paternalism." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Resource
This is one of the best books in the field that I have seen. It is a comprehensive classification of tumors in mice. Figures are excellent. The international authors are the leading authorities. It is well worth the price! ... Read more

Book Description

Transgenic and knockout mutations provide an important means for understanding gene function, as well as for developing therapies for genetic diseases. This engaging and informative book discusses the many advances in the field of transgenic technology that have enabled researchers to bring about various changes in the mouse genome. Equal emphasis is given to both the principles of transgenic and knockout methods and their applications. A clear and concise format provides researchers with a comprehensive review of the behavioral paradigms appropriate for analyzing mouse phenotypes.

What's Wrong with My Mouse? explains the differences between transgenic knockout mice and their wild-type controls, while providing critical information about gene function and expression. This volume recognizes that newly identified genes can provide useful insights into brain functioning, including brain malfunctioning in disease states. Written by a world-renowned expert in the field, the material also covers:
* How to generate a transgenic or knockout mouse
* functions (open field, holeboard, rotarod, balance, grip, circadian activity, etc.)
* Sensory abilities (olfaction, vision, hearing, taste, touch, nociception)
* Reproductive behavior, social behavior, and emotional behavior

Researchers in neuroscience, pharmacology, genetics, developmental biology, and cell biology will all find this book essential reading. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Valuable Book
"...this valuable book is currently the most complete overview of behavioral procedures available...it is a must have and a must read book..." (Genes, Brain, and Behavior, 2002)

Essential Book
"I would recommend that every behavioral scientist has at least two copies, one for their own use and one that will be on permanent loan to their students, post-doctoral students and colleagues in molecular biology." -- TRENDS in Pharmacological Sciences (Gerard R. Dawson, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories)

Expert Review
"[T]his volume succeeds as a useful introduction to the realm of behavioral phenotyping for those interested in creating or using the large and increasing number of promising targeted mutant mice." -- TRENDS in Neurosciences (John K. Belknap, Oregon Health Sciences University)

Review
It is a much prized addition... and fulfills a heretofore unmet need for a comprehensive sourcebook of mutant mouse literature and procedures. In addition to its reference utility, Dr. Crawley's text can exert a valuable influence on the future of transgenic and knockout mouse research by standardizing behavioral phenotyping methods according to the present state-of-the-art. --Stephen C. Heinrichs, Ph.D., Boston College

an excellent resource
Very timely given the increasingly recognized importance of providing behavioral phenotypes of mutant mice. I would recommend the book with enthusiasm. --Eric Nestler, Yale University School of Medicine ... Read more

Book Description

An entertaining, practical, reader-friendly guide to commonplants, animals, and the physical environment of the NC/SC coast. Fullyillustrated -- over 100 color photographs, plus additional diagrams anddrawings with in-depth information on each subject. A beachcomber'shandbook, a valuable companion for seaside explorers of all ages.Scientifically accurate, yet written in language the lay public canunderstand. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Serviceable and Entertaining
My goal in purchasing this book, which pulls together information about birds, shells, dune plants, and fish was to be able to pack one slim volume instead of the bag of field guides I usually took to the Outer Banks. After two trips to North Carolina in the last year, I have found that I still need to carry a couple of other references because this is not comprehensive in any one of its categories--and how could it be at 148 pages? However, Meyer's guide does manage to cover many of the specimens commonly found along the Carolina coast. Furthermore, it is written in a graceful voice that keeps you reading long after you've put a name to the beastie you found on the beach. It is not childish or simple at all, but it can be used by the entire family. It stirs wonder.

Interesting guide...
Being a transplant from Michigan, I had little knowledge of coastal animals and plants. I purchased this book to satisfy my curiosity. I'm not knowledgeable enough as the other reviewer who found the inaccuracies in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The information is presented in a very interesting way and all the photographs are in color. I can't wait to spend more time on the coast and see some of the creatures myself. I'll definitely have this guide on hand. I also enjoyed the respect the author has for nature.

Some SERIOUS problems in the plates, otherwise ok
Overall an ok book for a beginner. If you come into this as a naturalist you will likely be disapointed. There are some other serious problems that I was able to spot straight out.

Plate 40. "Auger Shells" One of the 'augers' is not only NOT an auger and it's not even from the Carolinas at all. It's the Common Vertagus (a certh) from the Indo-Pacific (likely from the Philippines).

Plate 54. "Oyster Drills". Contains several Murexes in addition to the drills.

Plate 59. Sundials. The figured Sundial is not The American Sundial (Architectonica nobilis) but rather the Clear Sundial (Architectonica perspectiva) also from the Indo-Pacific.

The substitution of shells from the other side of the world really shows sloppy work in this guide. The other major problem I have with the book is that it just isn't complete enough; it only shows a small fraction of the plants and animals that one finds on Carolina coasts. The naturalist who trys to depend on this book will likely be frustrated and will find that they need other guides. As an introduction for a beginner it is ok, short the above noted plate problems.

Incredibly accurate with astonishing photos
For the past four years I have had a place at the beach. Dr. Meyer's book has become our bible. Using it, shells, shorebirds and seaside flora are easily identified by my family, friends and renters. Being an amateur photographer, I am in total awe of the skill of the other physician who took the pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

There are two kinds of math: the hard kind and the easy kind. The easy kind, practiced by ants, shrimp, Welsh corgis—and us—is innate.

What innate calculating skills do we humans have? Leaving aside built-in mathematics, such as the visual system, ordinary people do just fine when faced with mathematical tasks in the course of the day. Yet when they are confronted with the same tasks presented as "math," their accuracy often drops.

But if we have innate mathematical ability, why do we have to teach math and why do most of us find it so hard to learn? Are there tricks or strategies that the ordinary person can do to improve mathematical ability? Can we improve our math skills by learning from dogs, cats, and other creatures that "do math"? The answer to each of these questions is a qualified yes. All these examples of animal math suggest that if we want to do better in the formal kind of math, we should see how it arises from natural mathematics.

From NPR’s "Math Guy"—The Math Instinct will provide even the most number-phobic among us with confidence in our own mathematical abilities. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first comprehensive guide to the unique wildlife of theGalápagos, encompassing the birds, mammals, and reptiles a visitor to theseextraordinary islands might encounter. The innovative, simple-to-use format of thepocket-sized volume will help beginners and experts alike to identify with confidence thestriking and charismatic Galápagos fauna.

Highlighting the differences between similar species, the guide focuses on the keyidentification features of each. Information on the status, habitat preferences, breedingseasons, and significant behavioral characteristics is provided for each species, alongwith 78 distribution maps for all resident species. Fifty-three remarkable color platescompiled from a composite of 500 photographic images and 20 illustrations depictvirtually every bird, mammal, and reptile ever recorded on the Galápagos. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Guide
This book is, in the words of my 8-year-old son, "incredible"! The layout is very easy to understand, the photographic plates that show the various species in related groupings are marvelously well-done. The text is informative without being pedantic, and the plethora of full-color photographs and excellent illustrations make the book a joy to use. If you are going to the Galapagos, BUY THIS BOOK! Better yet, buy more than one, because you will wear it out so fast flipping pages and grabbing it out of your travelling companions' greedy hands. If you aren't going, but want to learn about the fauna of this unique archipelago, you will find no better resource.

The best pocket guide to Galápagos land and air critters
Unless you are an advanced nature buff, birder, etc. this book should fulfill the need for travelers to recognize habitats and the land and air critters that inhabit them. Lavishly illustrated, good identification information, and even range maps- all very compact, and accurate. The information is next to the photo, so there's no paging back and forth- a good thing when you have a critter right in front of you. There's even a cross-referenced check-list by habitat! I'll definitely be taking this slender book with its strengthened, plasticized covers on my next trip to the "Islas Encantadas". You'll be glad you got this for your trip.

A Superb Guide for Scientists
A friend bought me this ID guide to take with me on a week-long cruise of the islands. The trip was magical and defies description; this ID guide was very helpful to me. It discusses not only the specific animals but also the ecology of specific vegetation zones of each island and documents sightings of each species. Not strictly for the layperson, because it requires some familiarity with scientific terms. I shared this guide with the National Park guides on our trip and they praised it highly - so I bought them each a copy. How's that for an endorsment? ... Read more

Book Description

With 129 runnings to choose from, these and five other Kentucky Derbys made the cut as the all-time greatest as complied by a panel of horse racing experts. ... Read more

Book Description

Do Dogs Go To Heaven? is a question the author's Mom asked a number of ministers. Hearing each one give different "shallow" answers, Jean Holmes felt this question deserved a better answer. The Bible does answer her Mom's question with an emphatic "YES!"Long held theology that animals lack souls and spirits is soundly refuted with numerous Bible texts.This book addresses hard questions, like why God required animal sacrifices, in loving truth.The role of animals and the relationship Jesus Christ had with animals is illuminating.This book presents a brilliant tapestry of Bible verses, interwoven with animal behavior and intelligence studies, and anecdotal evidence of animals as intelligent, caring companions here and in the hereafter.Bible accounts of animals as healers, helpers and rescuers are laid against modern narratives.Do Dogs Go to Heaven is very readable, yet crafted with scholarly precision.It is already providing comfort to those who have lost loved animal friends. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Exceptionally good book
Well I've got something to shout about and praise God for after reading this wonderful book! There is wonderful teaching and some great preaching and some real important scriptures regarding animal afterlife! I loved the stories about miraculous divine healings and the teaching about why animals were sacrificed in the O.T. Scriptures that show how God loves and restores ALL His creation. And as Jean says "We must explore, prayerfully, what it means to 'preach the gospel to all creation.' If we don't, we may miss God's will, His best." Mark 16:15

I also let Jean speak for herself her when she says "How very poor in joy are those who have never been friends with an animal. Those who become friends with animals are the richest people I know. They have been blessed." And "When I listen to the heart of each animal, I see my Lord." And I also agree with her when she says "For animal lovers, heaven just wouldn't be heaven without their animal friends." Thank you Jean for all your hard work and research to make this book available to us who will appreciate it.

Inspirational, comforting and informative
This book is a must read for all pet owners, and future pet owners. It is inspirational, first and foremost. Then, it offers comfort and solace to the pain of grief. And, there is much information to be had, as well. Worth a try, and you will read and re-read it, as a source of reference and comfort.

Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY
(The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier)

Just Short of Five Stars
As a Universalist pastor and animal rights activist of many years, I have to say that this is an excellent book. The cover is absolutely adorable and worth the cost of the book alone. Much of the material presented regarding the souls and spirits of animals is very similiar to my own, which has been posted on the internet for a number of years, however, to Jean Holmes credit, she presents it in a much less confrontational manner than I usually do.

So, if I like this book so much and love the cover, why have I only given it four stars instead of five? Well, I feel that the author fell short of presenting, of what could have been, one of the most important books of our time. She is knowledgeable enough to discuss "apokatastasis" in her book, which indeed offers evidence of animals and all of creation being eventually being restored, however, I feel she has greatly missed the full understanding of this teaching, as she seems to hold a more traditional view of hell, by stating it is eternal. Of course hell can not be eternal if, as scripture says, it will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Such an oversight is, to me, unfortunate.

Jean Holmes, like myself, has spent a lot of time researching the original Hebrew words of various texts involving animals, I just wish she had done the same for the Greek word "aion", and other Greek words, which are mistakenly translated in English as "Eternal" and not as a "Period of Time", as they should truly be rendered... and perhaps she could have seen the truth of "apokatastasis". Of course if those reading this review also believe in eternal hell and are animal lovers as well, then I am sure that "Do Dogs Go To Heaven?" will be a five star book to them....

A Comfort
After the loss of my cat I was happy to find a book that told about God's plan for the animals. It is reassuring to know that we will be with them in heaven someday.

Comforting Book
I recently lost both my dogs...one to Cancer,the other to Renal failure. I found this book advertised on the website,Pet Loss.com so I thought I would investigate....I borrowed it from a friend and could not put it down as it was informative and comforting to me in my grief.I firmly believe,despite what friends and relatives say,that someday my pets and I shall be reunited in Heaven! This book only reenforces this idea.It is even more interesting and applicable since the authoress lives in my home state of Oklahoma. ... Read more

Book Description

A volume in the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine series, this second edition has over 40% new material, including the addition of six new topics and many others that are completely rewritten. The book comprehensively covers the biological and disease aspects of laboratory animal medicine while examining other aspects such as the biohazards associated with the use of animal experimentation and factors complicating the bioethics of animal research. ... Read more

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In his third book, Robert Sullivan leaves the wilds of the (Meadowlands and therough whaling waters ofthe Pacific Northwest to take up rat-watching in the alleys of New YorkCity. Sullivan learned to appreciate the rodents during nocturnalstakeouts; a night-vision scope helped him observe rats without scaringthem. As in his previous books, Sullivan uses pointillist details rather thanbroad portraiture to paint his subject, and the details in Ratsare devilish. There are plenty of facts in the book to make your skincrawl, such as a description of the greasy skids rats leave on the pathsthey frequent, and a list of garbage items they prefer to eat. ButSullivan's style is often less that of a nature writer than a historian.In personable, essayish chapters, New York's history is revealed to beparticularly ratty, with tall tales about the rodents' disgustingaccomplishments going back to the city's founding. Although many peoplehave never seen a rat outside a pet store, Sullivan reminds us that theyare our constant neighbors, staring out from dim corners and messycrevices with beady eyes and twitching whiskers. --Adam Fisher ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Ratty enough for me
While I agree with some of the points made by those critical of this book, I believe they are being unnecessarily harsh.The writing is surprisingly rough and awkward in many places, but there is much good writing as well.It seems to me that what the book needed most of all was a good editor.It presents as if it needs about two more editorial sweeps done to it. Although it does have some good notes, a major annoyance for me was the lack of an index and bibliography.This just seems to be sheer laziness or cheapness.

But there is a lot to like about the book.The author appears to be such a strange man.Likeable but strange.For someone who wants to know rats intimately, he is quite timid.There is a mysterious black hole with steps leading down in the alley where he makes most of his observations.He wonders and speculates about it but never gets upthe guts to go down in it.We never really learn what was down there.And when three noisy young people stumble into the alley the author flees for no apparent reason, and peeks back in to see if the young people are still there.They end up peeking back at him.Why is he so timid?Why not go up to the group and tell them what you are doing and get their reaction, their view of rats?And yet I found his neurotic quirks to be endearing in the end.Sullivan is a nice, eccentric guy who would be fun to know.

Other sections or topics just seem to be incomplete.Sullivan does a good job of exposing the antics of the U.S military during the 1950s when it was surreptitiously testing biological weapons on Americans.But he doesn't follow up, and the reader is left asking questions.What ever happened to those people in Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News?Were the tests benign or did people suffer mysterious illnesses, birth defects, etc?Yet Sullivan does well to point out that the monster behind Japan's wartime human testing and vivisection unit, General Shiro Ishii, lived to a venerable old age because he donated his records to the U.S government in return for immunity.There is a lot of good history in this book, even if it is scattered higgledy-piggledy throughout.

And this book is as much about New York, a topic I never tire of, as it is about rats.From colonial and revolutionary times to the paralysis and paranoia immediately following the World Trade Center attack, the reader is steeped in the history and feel of the most interesting city on earth.So while it is not a definitive rat book by any measure, Rats is a quirky, very readable book that I would not hesitate to recommend.

Disappointing
I have rarely found a more poorly-written book on such an interesting subject. Darn shame, as I (like other reviewers below) really wanted to like this book due to its subject.

The author does not move himself to the background. This book is not about rats so much as the author's adventures as he learns about rats. Rats are interesting, Robert Sullivan is less so.

The book is full of distracting misspellings ('They' for 'The' for example) and nonstandard capitalization ('Edens alley' for 'Edens' Alley' throughout). Each page has a half dozen places that brings the reader out of the story and back into the real world.

Further, the author is unable to write in a linear fashion. His description of of the alley is a jumble. I read the entire book and still cannot make a mental map of the place.

All in all, the subject deserves a better treatment than it receives here. An interesting, readable book on the urban rat remains to be written.

Too Bad
I really wanted to like this book.Unfortunately, the author's writing got in the way of what seems like a fascinating subject.Like other reviewers, I put the book down because I couldn't handle the stilted prose any longer.The book got one and one-half stars because I eventually picked it back up and plodded through because there were just enough interesting anecdotes to make it worth my while.
A prime example of my problem with Sullivan is on page 106.He spends a page talking about travelling with a group of exterminators.He sets up the scenario-this place is filled with rats, monster rats leaving two inch droppings.What's going to happen?Here's the payoff: "Something darted down, raced to the floor, where it stopped and looked right at him.IT WAS A BIG RAT." (Caps mine)That's it.Story over.If my 6th graders wrote a sentence like that, I'd give them the paper back.This is only one of many examples of the cringe-worthy writing encountered in the book.You've got to sort through too many rat droppings to make the experience enjoyable.

Almost perfect
Robert Sullivan relates his experiences as he delves into rats, with the focus being on the role that rats play in history and modern culture rather than dwelling on the nuances of rat behavior. He spends nights in a forgotten alleyway in New York, watching the rats as they emerge from their burrows to take advantage of the local restaurant waste. He spends time with exterminators (or "pest control specialists," as the industry leaders prefer), whether they work for small companies or large ones. And, apparently, he spends time at the library, digging up historical information that is at times so obscure that you wonder how he ever found it as it relates to his subject.

But Sullivan's book, peppered with literary quotes from the likes of Thoreau and Emerson, is ultimately less about rats and more about people. The rats are a fascinating hook, and every time a rodent skitters across the page, Sullivan invites us to squirm along with him. But more often, the reader is treated to quirky episodes in American history, in which the rats play some sort of role.

The black plague, the era of Gangs of New York, the American Revolution, the labor movement, and anti-Chinese sentiments at the turn of the century are just some of the subjects of Sullivan's stories, and he tells them all with a master's flair.

The Good and the Bad:
This is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read, edging out Hillenbrandt's Seabiscuit, and rivaling Kurlansky's Cod and the works of Bill Bryson. Sullivan knows how to tell an interesting story, and he has chosen a subject which rivets our attention no matter how it is presented. Putting the two elements together leads to a lot of compulsive page-turning.

Sullivan has that rare ability to reach deep into the history books and pull out the most engaging anecdotes, and yet find the connection to his story that merits the inclusion.

He also possesses the rare ability to insert himself into the story without dwelling on himself.While much of the book involves his personal interactions with the world, he never strays into the grandstanding that so many authors seem to find impossible to resist.

The book is mostly tangents, and there are footnotes that lead to tangents from the tangents, and endnotes that add yet another layer of side stories. But that's okay, because this is a journey that is far more pleasurable than any destination could be.

If I had to pick a nit about this one (and I like to present a little criticism on everything I read), I would say that I was surprised that there weren't more personal stories about people who aren't related to the rat industry, and their dealings with rats. He relates the rat story of an acquaintance who finds a rat in his bathroom, and it is one of the most entertaining sections in the book. I can't help but think that there are other stories out there that would have been worthy of inclusion.

Similarly, I would have liked to have learned a little more about the rats themselves, as pertains to their social structure and other areas of interest from a naturalist perspective. For example, he mentions a couple of times that a starving rat colony will begin to cannibalize itself, but there's no in-depth description of this phenomenon.

These are small concerns compared to the overall level of success that the book enjoyed. You know a book is good when you don't think anything should be taken out of it; you just want more and more. I'm definitely going to go look up other works by Sullivan now that I've been introduced to his writing.

Disappointment
I wanted to like this book. Witht so much prepress hype and such an intriguing subject matter, I couldn't wait to scurry home with a copy. What a let down. Three times I tried to engage in the book and three times I put it down.

It's rare indeed that I give up on a book before finishing it, especially when it is about one of my favorite subjects. With Rats: Observations..., however, after struggling through the first two chapters, I closed it for good. I found the writing clumsy and awkward and peppered with the occasional mistake. It is doubtful, for example, that a rat can `repeal' an attack as mentioned on page 9; repel, perhaps, but not repeal.

Although this immediately set a difficult tone, I pressed on, though with grave reservations. A dozen pages later, however, I identified a second problem and one that proved too much: the author confuses his fascination with the subject matter as reason enough for readers to be fascinated. It is a fatal flaw. Rats ARE fascinating, but less fascinating is the author's preoccupation with himself. I wanted to read about rats, not about an author writing about why he writes about rats. And doing it poorly! The truth is, I don't really care how he came to be intrigued; in fact, his nostalgic journeys into the halls of his own memories and the constant reminders to the reader that he was writing about rats fixed him as a looming presence in my mind and blotted out the real subject of the book: RAT! It was so distracting that I couldn't move forward.

When I read books about natural behavior, etc, I look for something like Ravens in Winter, by Heinrich, which separates observer from observed and - drawing upon his expertise, reams of data, and discrete information presented in a thoughtful manner - actually teaches me something and leaves me wanting more. Rat: Observations..., on the other hand, is little more than a rambling diary entry, a rat blog.

Other books I have read about rats have been far more successful. More Cunning Than Man by Hendrickson, for example, while often lurid, is highly entertaining and immensely readable. The Story of Rats, by Barnett and Barnett, a slim volume, is packed with facts and feels like a book.

Rats: Observations... seems like an overly long term paper from a self-infatuated high school student chasing a solid 3.0 grade point.

This book belongs in the dumpster, along with the title rats.
... Read more

Book Description

For more than ten years, wildlife photographer Steve Bloom traveled all over the world, roaming through the jungles of Borneo, the African savannahs, and the frozen banks of Antarctica to assemble this dazzling collection of photographs of animals in their natural environments. With an international range that is rare in books of animal photography, the 200 photographs in Untamed bring to life a vast panorama of animal diversity, and of the landscapes, climates, and habitats in which they live.

Here we see the serene gaze of a gorilla relaxing in the trees, a shark jumping in midair to catch its prey, a Siberian tiger traipsing through the snow in search of food, and penguins congregating on an ice floe. Bloom's anthropomorphic approach reveals rage, tenderness, and even humor in his subjects, capturing those fleeting moments when the gap between animal and human seems to disappear altogether. These amazing images, augmented by a personal account of Bloom's unforgettable career as a wildlife photographer, make Untamed an essential volume for all animal and photography lovers. AUTHOR BIO: Steve Bloom is an award-winning wildlife photographer who also founded his own wildlife stock photo agency and fine print gallery in the mid-1990s. His first photography book, In Praise of Primates, has been published in ten languages. His other publications include Thank You for Being a Friend! and We Are Family! . ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The best of the best
This book is it! I have been tracking for about a year now and i recently baught this book and it is the best i have seen. it is both handy in the field and at home moreover the personal accounts from mark are fabulous and add an important dimension to tracking that illustrates his thinking that most books leave out. I have been studying deer in my area and this book has been by far the most helpful of all the books i have used. Thanks Mark!

National Outdoor Book Award Winner
I am the author of this book. Just a few comments and news:

Mammal Tracks and Sign is the recipient of a 2003 National Outdoor Book Award: Winner in the Nature Guidebooks competition. NOBA's comments can be read in full at http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/books/ and include:
"Mammal Tracks and Sign is one of the most thorough and complete guides to animal tracking ever published...It's a monumental effort and an invaluable reference for anyone who enjoys tracking and viewing wildlife."

I've awarded the book five stars not for myself-although I'm proud of the achievement-but for Stackpole Books, the publisher. When you hold this book, feel its weight, and flip through the 1058 color photos, over 300 illustrations and close to 800 pages, consider the material costs of such an endeavor-the investment and the risk for a publisher. Stackpole committed to creating the most comprehensive guide to mammal tracking in North America, and possibly the world. I think they've done it. It is beautiful and far exceeds previous publications on tracking; it stands as a testimonial to the importance of saving wildlife tracking skills around the globe. My thanks to Stackpole Books for unending support and enthusiasm.

(Funny enough, 115 pages were cut from the initial layout, to address concerns over the strength of the resulting binding.)

Excellent but with a caveat or two
While I agree with most of the praise that others readers of this book have expressed, there are a few oddities. Most of the tracks, etc. are photographed without a scale to give an immediate impression of relative size. Additionally, some of the schematic drawings are sometimes confusingly labeled, though the meanings of each become clear with a few re-readings. I guess I wish that the author had asked less experienced trackers to review the manuscript, as a lot of these minor details would probably have been cleared up prior to publication. That being said, one of the major strengths of this guide is the section that illustates various gaits and the subsequent trails they potentially leave. Very few, if any, other guides out there give this difficult aspect of tracking the exhaustive treatment that this author does; a much-needed treatise, so thank you!

Best wildlife tracking reference yet!
Mark Elbroch is one of the best trackers I know, and this is by far the best tracking reference for North America you can buy. This book is both accurate and FUN, as Mark shares his stories from the field, wonderful photos and detailed research.

As another reviewer noted, the sheer size and weight of this book make it heavy for field work, but it is definitely a must-have for any wildlife tracker or naturalist. It is more comprehensive than other tracking guides, and well laid out. Great reading, too, for those long,stormy winter days when you can't be out tracking. Well worth the price- don't miss this one!!

A scientifically credible look at tracking
Mark Elbroch's new book is a scientifically credible look at tracking

The tracking world has once again gained a great resource in the new book by Mark Elbroch. "Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species" fills a gap in the availability of good quality photographic guides to tracks and sign. This is a book for the serious tracker! At 784 pages, it is the most complete guide available today on the subject. The tracking world has long awaited a book to rival Olaus Murie's "A Field Guide to Animal Tracks," which has been the field standard for years. Elbroch's book covers some new ground, bringing together coverage of subjects that previously were found only in specialized, and not widely available, publications. These include: mammal remains, a large section of sign on vegetation, identification of kills, burrows/beds/lays/nests, and a big photographic section on scat and other secretions. The very complete section on gaits will help you identify those difficult trails. Photos, drawings, measurements, and range maps are included for each species. Throughout the text are sidebars with tips to distinguish between easily confused species. This is especially useful if you have ever found yourself struggling with an identification in the field. The appendices list other tracking resources for further study, including schools, books, web sites, tracking teachers, and more.

The book is a little heavy to tote into the field, but it offers so much information that it may be prudent to buy two; one to haul into the field and bang around, and one to keep at home for reference. Its weight is compensated for by the fact that it has information you would find in many different field guides all in one book, so you can leave the others at home and bring this one along. It sets a new standard for tracking as a science and brings it new credibility that may help increase its use as a tool for wildlife management.

The initial price may be discouraging to many trackers, but in the end, I think you will find it is money well spent. There are many books on tracking out there, quite a few with poor drawings, inaccuracies, or errors. Although those books are much less expensive, and are probably better "mass market" sellers, a tracker needs accurate information, and this book provides it. This book is destined to become one of my favorites, and one I will recommend when people ask me which book to purchase.

I think you will agree that Mark's two new books are great additions to the tracking library, and offer the serious tracker valuable resources, although these are not books that will sit on the shelf and gather dust. They are the books that will become worn and dog-eared from being hauled into the field and used. I look forward to using them in years to come as I further my own knowledge of the unlimited field of tracking. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If you are a Cheesemaker, this is the book for you.
This is the latest edition of the authoritative text on Cheesemaking. Not an introductory or beginners book but if you already have some knowledge of Cheesemaking this will be a valuable reference to new Cheeses to make and improvements to your current Cheeses.

Look for ASIN 0751404179
The book is in the catalog but with a mis-spelled title. Look for

This book is back in print. Please get back to me on....ava
This book is back in print please get back to me on availibility.

Sorry for this obscure method but you make it hard to send email. ... Read more