Book Description

"Do Maine Coon cats have snowshoe feet?"
"What ever happened to rust-colored Coon cats?"
"Are Coon cats related to raccoons?"
"But really, what is a Maine Coon cat?"

With humor and wisdom, Marilis Hornidge has answered these and other oddly difficult questions in That Yankee Cat, the best reference guide to the first truly American breed--the Maine Coon cat. This newest revised edition includes up-to-date breeding facts, new stories, old legends, color photos, and other information essential to anyone who has fawned over a cat with ear tufts, a neck ruff, "britches," or a glorious banner-like tail. You'll also find an updated appendix listing a variety of additional resources about the Maine Coon, and a comprehensive manual of cat care helpful to any cat owner, no matter what breed they fancy. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

That Yankee Cat: The Maine Coon
A thorough definition of this spectacular breed, is brilliantly explained by this author. This book confirms for me, what I already believed. The Maine Coon breed is SMART SMART SMART (but not snobbish)!

More General Cat Info Than Maine Coom Info
A very fine book for generalized cat information and care, there is little specific about the Maine Coon that is not in any breed book. As a new Maine Coon breeder, I had hoped for in depth information on problems and care, grooming, birth, genetics, etc, specific to the breed.

That Yankee Cat
Once again Marilis Hornidge has created one of the best books ever written about the Maine Coon Cat. This newly updated edition has many interesting facts about this wonderful breed and dispels many of the myths. And, you'll soon understand why a true Yankee cares for his Maine Coon as carefully as he cares for his last dollar!

That Yankee Cat is an excellent choice for cat lovers of all ages.

Another EXCELLENT Edition!!
A fine book by a fine lady. This is a must have for any Maine Coon owner, breeder or fancier.

Robert Call
Catcall Maine Coons
Summerville, SC

The Cat with 'Boondocker' Paws
"That Yankee Cat" is 'the' complete reference guide to the Maine Coon cat, and well-written to boot. I also read "Maine Coon Cats" by Carol Himsel Daly, and "Guide to Owning a Maine Coon Cat" by Abigail Greene (et al) and "That Yankee Cat" is by far the most interesting and the most specific to the breed. The author, Marilis Hornidge even spends some print on the characteristics of Maine Coon owners (although, for some reason she leaves out the fact that we are all totally loveable):

"Maine Coon people, more than any other group in the fancy, seem to enjoy word games in naming organizations, catteries, and their cats."

In Chapter 5, "Tales of the Cat", Hornidge gives full rein to Maine Coon-related word play, although she doesn't explain why some owners chose the names they inflicted on these big, shaggy beauties, e.g. Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines, Absorbine Jr., Commodore Perry, and Surfer Dude. ...

Breed characteristics are discussed in terms of 'boondocker paws', 'Elizabethan ruff', 'rectangularness', "SMART, SMART, SMART (but not stuck up about it)", 'a dry sense of humor', and 'the Medium-sized Cat in the Large Fur Coat' - not quite CFA-standard language, but easy to visualize! The photographs in this book demonstrate the great variety of the breed, not just your typical big, brown tabby. There are pictures of red mackerel tabbies, cameo tabbies, and splotched tabbies, and even a Black Smoke and a 'tuxedo cat' or two. I only wish more of the photographs could have been in color. It's very difficult to distinguish a brown mackerel from a red mackerel in a black-and-white photograph.

The book also has clearly written sections on genetics and coat color, 'peaceful coexistence' (if you own any cat at all, you'll know what that means), grooming, and first-aid.

The author has even composed a sub-chapter called 'Pot Purry' which I will leave to your imagination.

And speaking of word games and Maine Coon owners, shouldn't a Maine Coon Cattery be called a 'Coonery'?

Read "That Yankee Cat" if you're even thinking about getting a kitten. Or not. It's a hundred-and-one pages of sheer delight for those of us who are actually lucky enough to be owned by one of these gentle, shaggy down-Easterners. ... Read more

Book Description

Chickens are bewitching birds: lush plumage, gleaming feathers, perfect thighs. But few meet the standard of perfection of the American poultry show, the beauty pageant of the barnyard and the true test of poultry pulchritude. In The Fairest Fowl, photographer Tamara Staples celebrates the champions of the chicken world at their best. Dozens of stunning portraits capture the quirky personality and undeniable grace of these noble birds as you've never seen them before. Location photography of the shows, details of the judging process, strategies from poultry farmers, and profiles of each prize breed set the scene and offer insight for the discerning chicken aficionado. And an appreciation of Staples' photography by public radio's Ira Glass of This American Life explores the finer points of chicken portraiture. Finally, chickens receive the respect they're due. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

what lovely chickens
These are lovely chickens, and despite their fine pedigrees, they do not seem to be the least bit snobbish. I'm sure many of them are Republicans, and some may even drive SUV's, but that is no reason not to purchase this book, and revel in these birds' awesome beauty.

Not all chickens can be activists, you know. Some chickens are destined, by their extraordinary plumage, unusually-shaped beaks, and - dare I say it - their discriminating taste in corn and various seeds, to be singled out as simply the loveliest and finest chickens the world has ever seen.

Sure they are pretty, but I have it on good confidence that the chickens depicted herein are also fine, upstanding members of their community. What could be better? You should buy this book today!

All hail the pretty chickens!

A champion book
I was absolutely charmed by this book. The text and beautiful color photos take you into the world of unusual chickens and the people who breed and show them. If you are fond of barnyard animals, you will love this book.

The Fairest Fowl
The Fairest Fowl is a lovely book. It is a delight to see a book which actually presents good birds in good condition to the public. These are not your "run-of-the-mill" chickens, but rather well-bred, high quality birds who are a tribute to "the fancy." As a poultry exhibitor myself, I only wish the book had been more complete in its coverage of all the Classes of poultry (for example, no Langshans or large Cochins) since they are so beautifully presented.

There's Nothing Foul about These Fowl!
This was a book that I purhcased by chance, just because I am beginning my own chicken flock.
The book is mostly beautiful images of various breeds of chicken, from Japanese bantams to silver laced wyandottes. Each photo is accompanied by the breed, gender, and a little information about the breed. Whether you're an amateur chicken owenr like me, someone who shows their birds, or just a fan of beautiful photos, this book should definitely be considered!

The most beautiful chicken book ever written
This is an amazing book. Anyone who has ever dealt with chickens would be amazed by these pictures. They are portraits (a portrait of a chicken? I would have thought it impossible)of the most amazingly beautiful birds. I just page through the book over and over again, transfixed by the beauty of these little farmyard creatures. ... Read more

Book Description

Living, buzzing, breeding, and renewing, the natural world is all around you. It's the papery moths that dart about your porch light, the nibble-marks on your shrubbery, the audacious bird song that puts a bounce in your step on a spring day. Modern comforts tend to isolate us from fully appreciating the wonders just outside our own "cocoons" -- but that need not be the case!

Inspired by Gerlad and Lee Durell's 1982 classic, this engaging new book makes nature accessible to everyone. Biologist and National Geographic television host Nick Baker brightly urges a new generation to look, investigate, and enjoy being in touch with our wild surroundings. Great scientific knowledge is not required, the author points out. Rather, it is interest and experience that make a naturalist. And in these beautifully illustrated pages, he goes about showing you how.

Fact-packed entries introduce the fundamentals of nature study: basic skills, equipment, and rules of conduct that protect the natural world while giving you the best experience. Baker advises on the "quitest" clothing for wildlife watching, some useful tools you can make inexpensively, and the one piece of equipment you absolutely should splurge on.

Chapters on animal groups -- Birds, Mammals, Fish, Reptiles and Amphibians, and Insects -- reveal fascinating insights into wildlife behavior and the best ways to observe it. Learn to spot a butterfly who's about to lay her eggs...avoid a certain talent that many toads posess...detect the identity of the animals that gnawed a pinecone...and, if the dinner was a squirrel, read clues to its right- or left-handedness!

Photos and diagrams show you everything from interpreting tracks to identifying plants to piecing together skeletons -- the ultimate model kit! A warm foreword by Lee Durrell sets the stage, and every chapter suggests experiments for all ages that are safe, enlightening, and eco-friendly -- including a foolproof recipe for raising tadpoles.

So get started! Go outside, get your hands dirty, look, learn, and enjoy -- and let The Amateur Naturalist guide your adventures. ... Read more

Book Description

A highly anticipated revision of the classic guide to Aussies

The Australian Shepherd has a devoted following. Highly desired for its versatility, the Aussie is an intelligent, athletic, and very people-oriented herding dog. In this second edition of the popular and respected The Australian Shepherd, Aussie expert Liz Palika has updated the material to reflect the breed’s booming popularity, including the dramatic increase in performance records. She explains in clear, accessible language how readers can determine if an Aussie is the right dog for them and, if so, how to choose an appropriate puppy. Featuring 65 black-and-white photos and line drawings that beautifully illustrate the breed, this guide is a must-have for both potential Aussie owners and longtime breed enthusiasts. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

great aussie book
Liz Palika did a wonderful job writing this book. I've been breeding, showing, and training aussies for 12 years and this is one of the best books written on them. I really enjoyed the pictures of the dogs in the 1st edition from the Bayshore bloodlines.

Excellent for the economic value
This book has it all, and more importantly, it was written by someone who HAS Australian shepherds (most books out there are not written by those whom actually live with them). A nice overview of the breed and the possibilities it holds. Great work.

Great book
This book is an up to date look at Aussies . You have to have it in your library. I especially liked the description of the Aussie shadow tendancy. She writes do you mind scooting your chair back and bumping into the dog? My Gwen is under the chair as I'm writing this. This is the book I lend to my friends who are thinking about getting an Aussie. The pictures are beautiful. I did notice a couple typos.

An outstanding book on an exceptional breed.
The Australian Shepherd, Champion of Versatility, written by Liz Palika and published by Howell Book House should be required reading for anyone interested in the breed. Mrs.Palika has included everything you should know about the Aussie before you deside, and you will, to add one or two to your household. ... Read more

Book Description

Ann Daum’s earthy and elegant memoir begins in the present then moves into the past, as Daum tells her story as an independent rancher raising sport horses on what’s left of a 30,000-acre spread. In 16 essays, she writes about the connection to land, family, and animals that is so much a part of everyday life in the West, and tells why she chose to stay in a place that is not for the weak or fearful. the Prairie in Her eyes is a Bloomsbury Review Editors’ Favorite Book of 2001. Orion ... Read more

Reviews (22)

A Book to Reinvent Our Goals
Alan Weisman, a journalist hired by NPR to investigate solutions for environmental crises, spent years collecting information in a tiny, remote village at the eastern edge of the war-torn country of Colombia. That village was Gaviotas; this book is his result.

I read this book on a recommendation from Daniel Quinn, author of "The Story of B" and "Beyond Civilization." Quinn's entire philosophy rests on two ideas: living in a sustainable manner, and allowing the reader to come up with their own solutions for doing so. Gaviotas is a community where people did just that - through ingenuity, creativity, and hard work, the residents of this planned village created a place where water is pulled from the ground using pumps attached to children's see-saws, heat is provided by the sun, and electricity by the wind.

It's a progressive's dream come true, and an experiment that has succeeded in all possible ways. This book lays out the history of Gaviotas and its unique founder, Paolo Lugari, and places it within the context of the ongoing struggles in Colombia. In the wake of the World Trade Center attack, I decided to re-read Gaviotas to remind myself that not only is there hope for humanity as a whole, but hope that individuals will begin to take responsibility to begin freeing ourselves from the confining forces of our self-imposed prisons called "civilization," but still manage to retain the good things, too.

Every person on earth should read and re-read this book. If you haven't, buy it now or start hoofing it to the library.

Wonderful, Inspiring, Hopeful!
It was one of the best books I've ever read.
Go get it right now!

Gaviotas is an inspiring story of hope and success
Gaviotas the place is amazing! I can't believe how many good ideas were put into practice in one community! Incredible. All working/aspiring engineers, city planners, architects, etc. should having a working knowledge of the theories and practices Alan Weisman describes in this book.

Humans CAN be part of a non-destructive, even a positive, productive relationship with their surroundings. We CAN prosper without decimating everything with which we interact. Gaviotas is a good start--a good example for the rest of the world.

READ THE BOOK! BUY THE BOOK!

Hope Floats
I read this book after one of my Colombian friend recommended it. I could not put it down once I started reading it. It is not an easy reading and it requires you to think about how everybody in the western world takes life and facilities for granted which people in countries like Colombia strive hard to achieve.

This book is a fantastic tale of individuals who don't take no for an answer, who had a dream and they worked to achieve it and in the process created an outstanding example of the fact that 'life and nature can co-exist' because that is how they were before we made discoveries and inventions to conquer nature.

The book ends with a final message...If you have a dream then pursue it...you will meet people along the way who share your thinking...Hope floats.

A vision of humanities existence
Gaviotas

I can honestly say that this book completely changed the way I look human existence and relation to nature. Not only are the people of Gaviotas innovators, but visionaries aided by the studies past and present technologies. While reading this tale I was not only amazed by the resourcefulness of a few people, rather what the implications are to the human family as a whole. It seems that the people of Gaviotas have given themselves an education that no classroom can offer. In fact quite the contrary, they are scholars of the laws of nature.
One thing that I learned from this book is that it is easy to get stuck thinking within the parameters of modern society. It seems that every technology around us is based purely on the short term and hard resources. However it is the natural dynamics of Earth which run the resource base for the natural world, the wind, hot, cold and ultimately the sun. ... Read more

Book Description

In her New York Times bestseller Animals as Teachers and Healers, Susan Chernak McElroy movingly explored the wide and enriching horizons of human relationships with animals. In this new volume of reflections and true animal stories, she invites us to broaden and deepen that relationship.

While living with her husband and animals on a farm in Oregon, McElroy pondered the ancient bonds that connect humans and animals: the healing gifts of animals, the genius of people who talk to them, and the power of animal messengers. She also asked herself the tough questions that engage every true animal lover. How can we soothe our anguish and guilt when a loved animal suffers or dies? How do we atone for our mistakes? When are animals prisoners and when are they fulfilled? Is it moral to eat other beings? And how can we go about transforming our relationship with animals?

Through daily experiences with the animals around her and those in her dreams--along with compelling true stories sent to her by readers--McElroy began to find answers. She discovered that animals are guides in the development of our souls. A frail llama teaches lessons of joy and unconditional love; a barn cat proves that service need not be imprisonment but fulfillment; a mortally injured hawk infuses a cancer patient with renewed strength and faith; an attentive rabbit awakens an abused child from a trance of sadness; and a skinny white horse does more for a damaged six-year-old boy in one hour than any human has done in six years.

In this deeply personal yet universal testament to the profound connection between animals and humans, there is wisdom and blessing. As the author reminds us, the fingerprint of God is often a pawprint.
... Read more

Reviews (10)

This book has lovely stories and heartfelt insights.
If there's anything animals can teach us, it is not to be cynical. Even a dog, abused and abandoned, can be rescued and learn to love again, something too many humans cannot grasp or accomplish. This book has deep insight into the place animals take in our spiritual life, something ancient people took for granted. We have lost sight of this fundamental truth, and books like this will help us rediscover it. Remember, humane means treating animals well, too.

An enjoyable read
The editorial review gives an excellent description of this book. McElroy has a way of bringing poignancy to her writing that I enjoy, sort of wistful. One story that engaged me was the distress she felt for her next-door neighbors' dog Tisha. They found Tisha in a bag on the side of the road and brought her home. But because she could escape any fence, the neighbors cabled her to a tree all day long. McElroy's initial reaction was hatred for these cruel neighbors. But coming to know them, exchanging eggs and vegetables and conversation over the fence, she found they were kind people. Her challenge was to find a way to help Tisha while living in harmony with her neighbors who believed differently than she.

I am saddened that this wonderful author, who loves and regards animals so highly, still condones their slaughter and serves them up on her table. I hope some day she sees her way to realize that these animals are not ours to dispose of for our appetite or fashion. I'm glad I read it and do recommend it for the lessons it offers, but it won't be staying in my own library. Once is enough.

Moving
This is a very moving book, buy it, and don't judge the author for eating meat. Some of the purest, most beautiful and loving souls I've ever met (my animals) eat meat. We vegetarians aren't superior beings, and we have no right to judge others.

Very disappointed.
I ended up returning this book, and this is why: I read the first 100 pages and really enjoyed it. The writing wasn't necessarily academic or of the highest standard, but the stories were very nice and touching, and I envied the author for having the financial means to purchase her own hobby farm. However, on about page 110 or 120 she talks about how she ISN'T a vegetarian. I was totally shocked. I understand many animal advocates aren't, but everything the author writes about - about the spirituality of animals, how we should serve them more, about their intelligence - it didn't make any sense and I think it is very hypocritical. The author attempts to justify it by a weak argument along the lines that animals serve people in various ways, and some animals give up their lives so that WE can eat them (the WE bothered me, since I do not eat animals). She talks about how animals serve us and how people should serve (help) animals more, saying that seeing-eye dog trainers probably don't also volunteer at the local shelter - implying that they should and that somehow this is related to her weakness of eating animals (it wasn't very clear). She mentioned a number of times how she had changed her diet after having had cancer (making me think that "of course" she's a vegetarian now). She also is educated enough to know about how animals are treated in slaughterhouses and on big farms (she mentions this), and she has the financial means to eat vegetarian (sometimes it can be more expensive). Not everyone can leave the city to purchase a hobby farm, but she certainly could end her "struggles with vegetarianism" and stop eating the beings she publically praises so much. She also writes quite a bit about the influence her religious upbringing had on her - putting animals at the bottom of the hierarchy of life. In conclusion, everything she writes up until about page 110 prepares the reader for her to NOT say that it is okay for animals to be killed for some humans to eat. Everything she writes prepares the reader to believe that she believes that animals shouldn't die just so that humans can eat them. I am still very grateful for her healing work with the animals and any new awareness she has brought into this world through her writing, but the contradiction of her diet and her words was huge enough for me to be done with this author. In place of this book I purchased When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals. The author mentions he's a vegetarian right out front, and I am really enjoying it. His writing is of the highest standard, is very logical, interesting, humorous and poignant.

Heartwarming
I laughed, I cried, my husband looked at me like I was crazy more than once. I loved the stories about Brightstar Farm, and the stories of other animals that had been relayed to the author. I probably could have done without the extraneous commentary aout whether or not she eats meat and the like, but still... this is a very worthy read for animal lovers! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A focal point of all turkey research
I purchased this book in anticipation of answering some self generated questions about wild turkeys. Not only was ALL of my questions answered, but it provided information beyond my needs. I would highly recommend it to any biologist or hunter.

Excellent reference book on the wild tukey
This book reveals valuable information about wild turkey biology and behavior. Naturalists, wildlife biologists, and hunters would find this book useful. Scientific research is presented so that everyone can understand the data. ... Read more

Book Description

Former Disney animator offers expert advice—with over 700 illustrations—on drawing animals both realistically and as caricatures. Use of line, brush technique, establishing mood, conveying action, much more. Construction drawings reveal development process in creating animal figures. Many chapters on drawing individual animal forms—dogs, cats, horses, deer, cows, foxes, kangaroos, etc. 53 halftones. 706 line illustrations.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Great Book On Animal Drawing
This is one of the best books I have found on animal drawing. The caricature sections are one of the highlights of this book because the author is a former Walt Disney artist. Highly recommended!

A Real Gem
Originally published in 1950, these drawings remind me
of the old Disney cartoon classics animals. Ken's animals
express emotions, movement, and come to life. Ken keeps
writing to a minimum, sharing excellent insights and tips;
while the majority of the book speaks for itself in his
drawings. I found this book to be truly helpful in
improving my own animal drawings. His insights can be
very useful, and solved some problems for me. His drawings
range from very simple to very impressive work. This is
definitely a book worth studying.

Outstanding !
Excellent guide for sketching animals....great attention to the ever popular art subject...the horse. PLUS!....some outstanding techniques for the big cats !

Give your art a breath of life
Are you tired of drawing animals that seem flat and lifeless? Then this book is definately for you. Ken Hultgren does more than merely teach you to draw, he teaches you how to draw with the illusion of movement, and how to put life into the image.

A very good book for beginners and exprts in animal drawing
The book covers several animals (with special detail in the part about horses ). It contains skeleton drawings and muscles of most animals covered.The book also has a few drawings of animals caricatures. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

good
i had to read this book for my ecology class in college. it was probably the first text outside of literature class that i actually enjoyed reading; it didn't seem like homework. it made me laugh too. i don't even like science that much, but i really enjoyed reading this.

What is YOUR view of nature?
David Quammen's Song of the Dodo led me in search of his other writings. The first reward of that quest was this book. A collection of essays from an illustrious writer with keen perception, Quammen casts his perceptive eye on a range of topics from arachnids to zoology. While an anthology lacks Song's comprehensive view, these articles are timeless. Quammen's writing evokes many levels of emotional and intellectual response.

The Introduction sets the tone: "A Mouse Is Miracle Enough". From this opening we tour the wonders of nature, with a couple of side trips to observe that strangest of animals, Homo sapiens. Quammen's gaze never ceases surveying the landscape in presenting us with things we didn't know or aspects of viewing we've not considered. While the very squeamish may balk at close examination of black widow spiders, spoon worms or scorpions, Quammen is adept at taking us gently to these confrontations. As he does, he asks us to reconsider our viewpoint of these and other creatures. We must learn to deal with "faces unlike ours" and shed prejudices even if shedding the fears is more difficult. Changing fear into respect is the first step in acknowledging our sharing this planet with other creatures and stepping back from the destructive role we've adopted.

Respect for life is the underlying theme of all Quammen's nature writings. His "sidelong view of nature" takes us along remote jungle and desert paths to watch and record life's activities. While we like to set ourselves apart from the rest of life, Quammen, with facile pressure, pulls us along with him to observe our cousins. And ourselves. Deserts, it seems, are a haven for more than scorpions and Beaded Lizards. Among the many nocturnal animals hiding from the desert sun is a bipedal hominid. In this instance, the animals are groups of refugees seeking sanctuary in a hostile environment. Quammen's account of Guatemalan refugees and their mentors, also intelligent chimpanzees risk much to support and succor them. It's not a pleasant story, nor one any American can read without remorse. Quammen has made a sharp turn here from his usual investigations of nature's secrets. Refugee running is every bit as much a secret as nature offers, but with what humans are pleased to call a "moral issue". Quammen relates how well we've addressed that issue.

Great Book
These personal essays are a delight to read. Quammen takes some serious scientific information and then filters it through his humorous perspective and draws some interesting conclusions. All the essays are short but they are provocative and well written. Gee, how come I never had a biology teacher like this!

QUAMMEN IN KING-
Technical, yet understandable to anyone; Informative, yet wild and entertaining. That is how I would describe Flight of The Igauna. A friend gave this book to me in Glacier National Park last summer and I never got the chance to thank her for it. Dave Quammen takes takes the reader to his journey through the Okefenokee Swamp to a description of the interesting mating rituals by African bedbugs. He has a cynical voice but a compassionate heart. Nature is so fragile, complex, beautiful. We humans must realize this. A great book. You'll love it, a I did! Promise!

A WELL WRITTEN JOURNEY THROUGH OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
A COMPILATION OF SHORT STORIES THAT BOTH ENTERTAINS AND INFORMS. QUAMMEN DOES A FABULOUS JOB OF EXPLAINING THE WORLD AROUND US AND IT'S INHABITANTS. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best of class!
Third Edition: A thorough compendium on feeding most types of livestock. Nutrient needs of most classes of farm livestock can be found in many sources, but I bought the book especially because of the information dealing with feeding dogs, cats and rabbits.

I recommend the book to anybody interested in producing domestic stock or wanting to understand nutritional needs of their pet dog or cat.

I hope a future edition will include game and exotic stock, such as elk, deer, reindeer, mink, ostrich and emu.

Great book to supplement lectures
Truly helpful in clarifying points in the lecture of a feeds and feeding class. Could, however, use examples of ration formulations. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 50 photos that capture the beauty and spirit of Greyhounds and Italian Greyhounds.

Hounds in gorgeous black-and-white photography.
The perfect gift for greyhound lovers.

Be they Iggies (Italian Greyhounds) or Greyts (Greyhounds), these elegant dogs have been the subjects of artists' gazes for more than two thousand years. Sleek and slim, they've got the looks and bearing of supermodels-yet all it takes is a lopsided grin, a poke of the nose, or a whimsical head tilt to see that they are playful clowns at heart.

Greyhounds of all sizes bring gentleness and grace into the homes of those who love them. Greyhounds Big and Small celebrates these affectionate and beautiful creatures with over fifty photographs that skillfully capture the essence of 'greyhoundedness.' ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Adam's Task
If you are interested in exploring deeply the underpinnings of our attempts to share meaningful relationships with animals, don't let the previous negative reviews dissuade you from reading this beautiful book. If you personally have a deep relationship with an animal or animals, you know what she says is true.

For those who don't have such relationships, in particular the aforementioned reviewers, let me just say that you are welcome to persist in your positivist, reductionist, rationalist, anthropocentric world view. Just don't presume to speak for the rest of us who see a bit beyond it, or deny the existence of that which you cannot experience or understand.

She can train them...
What cheap criticism would be complete without a personal attack? I do not like Vicky Hearne for many reasons, but the main one is her pretentious assumptions about the mental processes of the animal. She can have any dialogue she wants running through her head while interacting with an animal, but it is arrogant to the extreme to impose it upon the animal's mind. This seems to contradict her belief that the animal must be approached with a respect for its "moral and intellectual capacities". To further this, she goes on about the contempt that animals feel towards being bribed or patronized. If animals were so morally enlightened, then they would be aware that walking away from a command "with a stiffness expressive of deep disgust" would perpetuate the contempt of the human, and possibly result in some decisive discipline involving a rifle. Hearne also devotes an unusually large amount of words to the topic of mental handicaps in humans. Obviously, she is providing a comparison to an animal's cognitive ability, but her rambling and hedging of the subject is plain annoying. Also annoying is her use of high rhetoric and continual name-dropping of venerable philosophers and writers. Yippee... she can read! Just saying the names "Plato", "Shakespeare", and "Nietzsche", does not exempt one from actually addressing their writings and how they relate to her points. She also disturbingly brings up, then hedges, around the term "Philia" (p 234), trying to define what others interpreted it as meaning, but ultimately going nowhere with it. Hmmm... perhaps something was on her mind at the time?

Sadistic thuggery
How sad to see this bit of sadistic thuggery reissued. This is a book about the poetic joys of torturing dogs. One sample: Hearne describes how she helped her dog dig a hole, while dancing playfully around with the dog, filled the hole with water, still acting playful with the dog, then suddenly, without any warning, forced the dog's head under water and subjected her to near drowning. What the dog must have thought of that hideous and incomprehensible betrayal I cannot even begin to imagine. And yet reviewers prattle on about what a lovely book this is. I think dogs would disagree. The book is also nauseatingly pretentious.

Adam's Task
I would like first to praise Donald McCaig for his entrancing introduction to Adam's Task. As I began the book I soon felt that Mr. McCaig had not read it after all. In the first chapter alone there were seventeen undocumented names scattered through a syncitium of undisciplined prose. Pedantics masquerading as wisdom paint a sorry picture of the writer. Pretentions to culture separate the sheep from the goats (sic.) winning the praises of its worshipers, and alienating the more clairvoyant. I am reminded of a biochemist who lectured biochemistry to physicians, and medical bioethics with biochemists, thus putting himself beyond critical examination by either. Name dropping is not scholarship. Endless, many-branching sentences are not good writing. Hearne is pretentious in both areas, and seemingly grossly ignorant of both. I, too, am an animal. I identify with them. I even believe they are as entitled to souls as are humans. Indeed, American Indians, who saw the life ebb out of each kill, were poignantly aware of that fellowship. Mrs. Hearne has only muddied the waters.

A graceful integration of philosophy and personal experience
This is one of my favorite books of all time.

Vicki Hearne - animal trainer, poet, and philosopher - talks about her relationship with the working animals she trains. She presents her philosophies by illustrating them with stories of animals she has trained.

If you have deep respect for animal intelligence, this book will confirm and deepen your beliefs.

Training, she says, is the creation of a shared language. But language has many ambiguities. For example, trainers haven't a clue what the world smells like to a dog, for whom "scenting" is a primary sense. Yet humans and dogs can learn to work together across the gap of their differences by coming to share the vocabulary of trained scent work.

Animal training, says Hearne, is as challenging for the trainer as it is for the animal. Trainers must learn humility, and learn to communicate in new ways. For example, horses take in information through touch and are extremely sensitive to the motions of the rider. Once a trainer comes to understand this (and other things about horses), she or he can begin to understand the way a horse understands its world and its self.

Of course I don't do justice to the book by summarizing a few of its philosophical points! Hearne writes gracefully, and shows a great mastery of a variety of disciplines - psychology, philosophy, literature, animal training. Her anecdotes make the philosophy much easier to understand, and the philosophy makes the implications of the anecdotes much richer. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The end of the big game - A book to protect today'swildlife
Published in 1965, the book is the most famous book of Peter Beard. The book is shoking as most photos are pictures of dead animals, it is definitely not a book to look at before your safari. Black and white pictures are excellent. Sadly, the last pages are only photos of elephant's carcasses (too much?). The Beard's touch is a book full of old illustration, tiny pics, small and odd drawings and detailed texts - most of them taken from the British Museum. The book is about the Old Africa and text about Mt Kenya, the Man-eaters of Tsavo, Nairobi and Karen Blixen are not easy and you must have a knowledge of Kenyan history to understand them fully. This book is essential for any African collection as it has shocked and marked history.

A sad and compelling book
Having been introduced to his work at a gallery exhibit in New York, I bought this book which contains pretty much the same sad pictures. Really an amazing point of view of wildlife in Africa, might shock some with graphic pictures of carcasses, particularly one of a zebra with its hide stripped off. What I cannot figure out ultimately is where Peter Beard stands on the issue - although the big message appears to me that he opposes the killings, which is why he films the hideousness of it all, he seems to have personally participated in the hunts that he photographs, killing the same animals. He is very elusive about his personal viewpoint, seems kind of snobbish to me.

Old Africa brought to life
An excellent book for those that can handle the truth. It shows what will happen when nature is left to manage itself and what happens when men don't control themselves. It's about hard times and history-a way of life long forgotten. If you are a product of the spoonfed Disney age, then you'll find this book shocking. It may well be your first taste of truth about wild animals,wild places, and the true spirit of man. This book is about Old Africa and should not be judged with today's politically correct eye. It is an account of things happened in a forgotten time, and a lost way of life.

Old Africa-brought to life
It's a very real look at Old Africa. It shows the truth of man's bad luck, bad descisions, greed, and life filled with hard times. It shows nature in it's true self, not some Disney version of happy animals dancing around. This is an excellent book and should serve as a wake up call for the multitudes of Americans who believe the garbage that is spoon fed to them on their televisions. It may be well more than most readers can handle, because the truth is not sugar coated here.

recommended
I, like many of you, read these reviews before purchasing this book. I have little to add to these reviews-- for the most part they are accurate: the book is full of captivating photos and text. And like one reviewer stated, full of pictures of dead animals. One reviewer used the words "racist" and "reactionary" to describe this book. I use the idiom "chip on the shoulder" to describe his comments. ... Read more

Book Description

Revered as a symbol of fertility, sexuality, purity and childhood, beloved as a children's pet and widely represented in the myths, art, and collectibles of almost every culture, the rabbit is one of the most popular animals known to humans. Ironically, it has also been one of the most misunderstood and abused. Indeed, the rabbit is the only animal that our culture adores as a pet, idolizes as a storybook hero, and slaughters for commercial purposes.

Stories Rabbits Tell takes a comprehensive look at the rabbit as a wild animal, ancient symbol, pop culture icon, commercial "product," and domesticated pet. In so doing, the book explores how one species can be simultaneously adored as a symbol of childhood (think Peter Rabbit), revered as a symbol of female sexuality (e.g., Playboy Bunnies), dismissed as a "dumb bunny" in domesticity, and loathed as a pest in the wild. The authors counter these stereotypes with engaging analyses of real rabbit behavior, drawn both from the authors' own experience and from academic studies, and place those behaviors in the context of current debates about animal consciousness. In a detailed investigative section, the authors also describe conditions in the rabbit meat, fur, pet and vivisection industries, and raise important questions about the ethics of treating rabbits as we do.

The first book of its kind, Stories Rabbits Tell provides invaluable information and insight into the life and history of an animal whom many love, but whom most of us barely know. As such, it is a key addition to the current thinking on animal emotions, intelligences, and welfare, and the way that human perceptions influence the treatment of individual species. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A Book for Pet Rabbit Lovers
"Stories Rabbits Tell" continues where R. M. Lockley stopped in "The Private Life of the Rabbit." The authors discribe the behaviors of both wild and domestic rabbits and provided interesting history about the rabbit/human relationship.

This book is exactly what it claims to be. It is a book for pet rabbit lovers by pet rabbit lovers. Those who make profit off of rabbits might be offended by this book. Both of the authors are deeply involved with the House Rabbit Society, a rabbit rescue and education organization.

If you love rabbits as pets and want to learn about wild and domestic behavior, this book is for you. If you want to learn about the rabbit in literature, poetry, religion, and as a cultural icon, this is a good book. If you're hoping to read the glorified version of the rabbit production industry, look elsewhere.

A must for rabbit lovers
A labor of love, this is. Frankly, it's a book I wish I had thought to write! For those of us who enjoy our pet rabbits, David and Demello are kindred spirits who (unlike most "normal," non-rabbit people) don't mind staying up all night to talk bunnies.

Unfortunately, the book starts out a little dry and does run a bit long. But I can't fault them for that. They have such deep affection for the rabbit, it's infectious. They have given me new insight into the rabbit's peculiar place in popular culture, folklore, art and history. The rabbit lives as a symbol of everything from sex to spring, cunning to cowardice -- I'll never look at mine the same way again.

There's also a good attempt at real and fresh reporting on issues rarely touched on by mainstream media: rabbit farming, experimentation, the politics of using rabbits to fight hunger, the tensions between breeders and rescuers.

My favorite section: living with house rabbits. For those of us waiting years for an updated version of the "House Rabbit Handbook," that chapter is a great read, full of real anecdotes, black and white photos, and new information.

Astonishingly beautiful, thorough book
I've lived with rabbits all my life, but it was not until I first picked up a copy of The House Rabbit Handbook in 1993 that it dawned on me that I could really let a rabbit not only into my home, but into my life, my family, and essentially, into my heart. That book was a turning point for me. Stories Rabbits Tell is another such singular, profoundly meaningful book, though it is quite different from the Handbook; it is more academic, and requires a great deal of fortitude and intelligent thinking from the reader (though of course what the Handbook asks of us in terms of necessary bunny-proofing does, too!).

It seems to me that the dissenting reviews on this site have a fundamental desire to dismiss anyone who questions possible mistreatment of rabbits -- most of these negative reviews really don't seem to have much of anything to do with this book at all, and I would be surprised if many of the reviewers had actually read it. If they had, they would see that Susan Davis and Margo Demello are quite open about their methodologies, and that they go to great pains to present a balanced view of any topic they present -- even vivisection.

The fact is that almost no Americans know the suffering that animals experience so that we can benefit from them in myriad ways--ways that most people never even consider; Davis and Demello discuss this. In turn, people get upset. It's an upsetting reality -- to paraphrase Pete Seeger, quoted in the book, if it upsets us just to read or hear about it, imagine how much it pains the animals who experience this suffering.

But that is a relatively small part of the book, and I would be very sorry to see readers discouraged from reading this marvelous, rich, and brilliantly researched, argued, and written life/history/cultural review of rabbits. I feel as if I am getting to know rabbits all over again, and for the first time, in some ways--rabbits in the wild, in other people's homes or yards (oh no!), in meat and fur farms (not the 'friendly' or clean facilities you may have imagined, and in isolating research labs. Gazing into the faces of my three house rabbits when I look up from this book's pages, I marvel at the depth and beauty of these creatures -- and I hope that this brilliant book will not only open up the possibility of such a rich and rewarding connection to others, but that it will also allow even those people who have never thought of rabbits at all to know that they are indeed a truly wonderful creature.

I congratulate the authors on their tremendously well-done book, and I urge readers interested in everything from animals to folklore to politics to the medical industry to hunting to history to --well, everything -- to read it. And I thank them for taking the time to write a book I have been waiting to read for many many years without even specifically knowing that this was what I wanted and needed. Regarding the chapters on abuse and vivisection: I am grateful that they were included even though I cried reading them, because sometimes we do have to read things that are painful and difficult, not because we want to, but because they are true, and because it is important that we know the truth, so that then we can make of it what we will and choose our own actions from there.

Finally, this book makes me want to be kind to those around me; it makes me feel even more conscious of and grateful to the rabbits with whom I share my life. It's one of the most special qualities of Stories Rabbits Tell, I think: the intimate attention given to the details of rabbits' quirks, narratives, frustrations, losses, sufferings, triumphs. The authors have taken great care in the way they have presented the lives of rabbits; throughout, they respect and cherish the individuality of each rabbit life, at the same time that they discuss trends in the understanding of and response to/use of rabbits at large. Thinking of each animal as an individual, with real feelings, needs, rights--anyone who has a beloved pet knows what this means in the particular, but how about looking beyond that? Davis and Demello opened my eyes to sights and realities I did not want to see; because I love my own dear rabbits, I cannot ignore the individuality of all other rabbits, of all animals. It is a philosophy that may boggle the mind of those in commercial rabbit industries, or those who wear fur but one that I find to be perfectly respectable and plausible, and even practicle--and certainly well-argued. So now, I'm off to hug my bunnies, and count my blessings that we've found each other.

Buy and read this book -- you will benefit from it immeasurably.

Not What I Expected - But Still a Good book
From the title of the book, I was expecting more of a story book then a reference type book. From my first hand experience, I found the information to be very accurate, despite what some of the other reviews might say. Maybe not all rabbi tries are bad, but the ones I have seen are not in it because they care about their rabbits. The book goes into detail about all the different aspects of rabbits, from the pet industry to fur/meat industry.

Valuable Book about Rabbits
This was a fascinating and helpful book full of valuable information about Rabbits. This book really helps one to understand all about Rabbits. The authors are two very knowledgeable individuals with a wealth of practical and hands on Rabbit experience. They gathered information from others with much Rabbit knowledge and experience also. A must have book for every Rabbit caretaker. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Interesting read but a bit overly technical
The good: The principles in this book are sound, and much of the instruction is common in many other books that I have read on the subject of training a dog to track. The authors are very knowledgable and seem to present the material in a structured and logical fashion. I believe those interested in tracking titles will enjoy this much more than those of us who are intraested in search and rescue.

The bad: If the authors were to write a book on how to drive a car, they would probaby devote the first 4 chapters on how to build a vehicle from the groung up. My point is while the sections about scent theory are mildly interesting, I think they are a bit overblown and unnecessary. A much simpler discussion would have piqued the interest of the reader.

Not abook worth consideration
I WOULD NOT recommend this book to serious trainers wanting to learn more about tracking. The main idea is very blurry and hard to grasp. THe author gives theories and not facts and not very good training for tracking dog. The author has confused the ideal of tracking and air scenting. Even though it says "S&R", this book has a poor approach to it. This book was published in 1982, so much has changed since now in tracking. I truly think this author wanted to make a book more than educate people about tracking.

Very tracking based
I think for the overall comment on this book is " It is VERY tracking based". If you are getting it to help you in search and rescue you won't get what you think you are buying (I don't think). If you are getting it for tracking it will probably be your "bible". I really enjoyed the scent theory in the begining of the book.

One of the best sources of information on canine olfaction.
The first section of this book deals with scent theory and the canine gift of olfaction from a physical and anatomical examination of the dog. This is one of the best references to be found anywhere. The tracking portion ofthe book is a little weaker, but overall an excellent book! ... Read more