Book Description
Thrilling action, an intuitive feeling for animal life, a sense of justice that often works itself out through violence: these are the qualities that made Jack London phenomenally popular in his own day and continue to make him, at home and abroad, one of the most widely read of all American writers. "The Call of the Wild," perhaps the best novel ever written about animals, traces a dog's education for survival in the ways of the wolfpack. "White Fang," in which a wolf-dog becomes domesticated out of love for a man, is an unforgettable portrayal of a world of "hunting and being hunted, eating and being eaten, all in blindness and confusion." In "The Sea-Wolf," the primitive takes human form in the ruthless, indomitable Wolf Larsen, captain of a crew of outcasts on the lawless Alaskan seas. Set in the Klondike, California, Mexico, and the South Seas, the short stories collected here--many for the first time--show London as one of the great American storytellers.
Customer Reviews:
An American Master..........2007-06-07
You can't lump too many people into the same sphere with London...Twain, Poe, and Lovecraft are a few that spring to mind. He's an American Titan, and he gets the fawning treatment you'd expect from the Library of America in this exemplary, extraordinary, green-registered book.
Call of the Wild is a page-turning yarn about a dog that becomes a wolf. It's listed on the MLA 100, but any competent kid of ten could tackle it...and enjoy it.
White Fang is a canine bildungsroman that inverts the plot of Call of the Wild, with the wolf becoming a dog. Also a page-turner, also something a kid would read without having to be coerced, and possessed of a truly classic scene where White Fang fights a bulldog.
The Klondike Short Stories are all superb--some people think London's metier was the short story rather than the novel--with Batard being a personal favorite.
The Sea-Wolf is a work of genius...until it all comes crashing down with the introduction of Maud Brewster, and the escape to Endeavour Island. What had heretofore been a truly transcendent work of art transmogrifies into a clunky, melodramatic, and tedious chore, where London's love of sailing jargon threatens to overwhelm the reader.
The Selected Short Stories show that London wasn't just a Yukon guy...he had some other arrows in his quiver. A few stories demonstrate his--at the time--devout socialism, which lasted up until he himself got rich. The Apostate is the weakest of these, but The Strength of the Strong is a pretty good allegory for fin-de-siecle capitalism, with all its gory excesses. London also writes convincingly about such diverse topics as boxing, South Sea cannibals, and straight-up science fiction.
This book of books is excellent, and any American who fancies himself a lover of literature would be remiss in not reading it.
Amazing on multiple levels!.......2007-02-24
Novels and Stories was the first of a two volume set that I scored for cheap on ebay a few years ago. The second, Novels and Social writings concentrates on his political/social novels and essays while this one is comprised of his Alaskan and sea bearing adventure stories.
This book weighs in at over 1000 pages and includes three GREAT novels in Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf and White Fang as well as multitudes of his short stories.
I can't say enough about how much I love Londons writings and how much admiration I have for him as a man as well. I've read Call of the Wild about every two years or so since the first time I read it as a child and I get more out of it every time I re-read it. His adventure stories on one level are just great red blooded adventure stories that anyone who has any heart or spirit would enjoy and there is a deeper level to London as well. His stories are highly spiritual if you are able to look at them on another level. Although thats something that you have to "feel" from within I suppose.
Call of the Wild.......2005-05-17
This book was really good, but I believe that White Fang was better. Many settings took place, but I will start with the main ones. The first setting in this book was Judge Millers Mansion. The second is the dog breakers place, in which Buck (the main character, a dog,) learns the "law of Club and Fang." The third place is where Buck learns the method of husky fighting, and because the other dog died, he lived a long and well-lived life. The first major event in this book is when a person steals Buck from Judge Miller, and he is starved and strangled and is thrown in a shed to wait for a train to the dog breaker. There, he is introduced to the primitive law of club and fang. After that, he, and a Newfoundland, are taken to Alaska. There, he is introduced to the method of Husky Fighting, and then is put into the harness, and is put to work on the mushing sled. The next major event is when Buck is taken of his first mushing trip in the wild. There he learns how to keep warm in the harsh winters by digging into the snow and having your body heat heat up the space. The next area is when Buck and Spitz finally fight to the death, and Buck takes the position of lead dog on the mushing track. Finally, the last major setting is when Buck finaly turns to the wild, and he attacks the YeeHats with a vengance, because they had killed his LOVED master. The conflict in this book is Buck is a spoilled rotten dog, until he reaches the North and finds that he has wild ancestors. They eventually take over Buck and he lives with the wild.
Reality or Fantasy... Which one is it?.......2003-05-18
After reading this book for school, (not that I was forced to) I gave it a 4/5 star rating. It was excellent when it came to the setting of the story. Even though it is a very short, it crams alot of suspensfull and interesting moments into 100 some odd pages. This book is quite good and page turning. I highly recommend it to readers who like a mix of reality and fantasy in one. Masterful piece of writing.
THE GREATES.......2002-09-17
Jack London was one of the greatest American writers. I love everything he wrote and I wish I could write as well as he did.
Customer Reviews:
Wolf's Rain.......2005-06-18
I tell you now from the words of Red Moon, from the great spirit was born the wolf and man became his messenger, in other words the human race was created from wolves, or so says the author of the Book of The Moon.
Man is the real killer........2005-01-10
Brother Wolf: A Forgotten Promise starts off with an emotional "letter" from wolves to men, focusing on how humans and wolves used to live together in harmony, and how men are now killers, of wolves and other creatures. The letter ends with 'I do not think I know you anymore.' It is highly emotional, and nearly made me cry!
After that, the book switches to its true form...a book with captivating text and even better photos of wolves, taken ina areas where they are very elusive and have lots of foliage to be hidden among.
Jim Brandenburg, a very well-known wildlife photographer and the author of multiple wolf books, even goes far enough to explain his first encounter with wolves and how he felt at that time. The book is highly educational, but also very touching.
Overall, the book has great text with even greater photographs, and is definitely a good read. The high price, however, is quite a problem. But if you like wolves, and if you're willing to pay the price, definitely buy this book. It's excellent.
We are the Wolf!.......2002-12-21
Jim Brandenburg succinctly captures the essence of the wolf. The wolf has been so unfairly persecuted throughout our history; due on no small part to ranchers. Incredible photographs, this book will make you a wolf lover if you aren't already. Incredible text and photos!!!!
wonderful book for wolf lovers.......2001-06-23
This book had drown my attention at the very first sight, as I had been trying to find a good book with lots wolf photos for ages and fail at almost every bookshop I went to. The photos in the book are magnificent, also other then wolves, there are wonderful photos of landscape and other wildlife.
I'm really excited to read this book!.......2001-01-05
I know this isn't really a review, but I'm so excited to read/look at the pictures in this book (I just ordered it) I just had to say something. Wolves are my favorite animals and it always makes me a little angery when people talk about them as vicious man-eaters, because they're not. This book really looks like it sets the record strait. I'm really looking forward to reading this book!
Book Description
Wolfdogs A-Z: Behavior, Training & More is exactly what it implies; a comprehensive guide to living with a wolfdog. Wolfdog "owners" (or those who are owned by wolfdogs!) know that these canines can be a lot more of a challenge than the average dog. Nicole Wilde has worked with wolves and wolfdog mixes in a rescue, education and training capacity for over fifteen years, and generously shares her knowledge. Covered is everything from teaching basic behaviors to dealing with fear issues (see too "Help for Your Fearful Dog" by Wilde for a comprehensive guide to dealing with fear issues), dominance challenges, "Winter Wolf Syndrome," myths versus reality, and much more. No one who shares their life with a wolfdog should be without this excellent guide.
Customer Reviews:
Wolfdogs A-Z.......2007-08-23
The most helpfull book, easy reading and full of information that you cant do without, if you have a wolfdog puppy.
Whether you own or just want the truth about wolfdogs - this is it!.......2007-06-02
I loved Nicole Wilde's book! It is very apparent that she is not only very experience but very knowledgeable in working with wolfdogs and her techniques applies to dogs as well. I especially appreciate the positive and down-to-earth approach she takes in tackling everyday situations sometimes associated with owning wolfdogs. In addition, she has a whole section dedicated to nutrition - whether you have a dog or cat! With the recent discoveries of poison in some dog and cat foods, she provides a crucial alternative to feeding packaged foods!
Great Book for Wolfdog Owners!.......2004-09-05
This book is the second by Nicole Wilde on the subject of wolfdogs. I think this one and her first, Living with Wolfdogs, are must-have books for any wolfdog owner. Practical advice from someone with experience, entertaining stories, lots of good photos. This book is an easy and fun way to learn more about your wolfdog and how to be a better wolfdog owner.
Indispensable !.......2001-03-15
If you share your life with wolf-dog crosses, or have an interest in knowing more about wolves and wolfdogs, this book is absolutely essential reading !!! ... Dog owners can also benefit tremendously from the behavioral insights and postive training advice offered.
New owners and long-time owners alike will delight in reading the sections on "Principles of Positive Training" (including how-to's), "Dominance Challenges", "Fear Issues" as well as "Enrichment" (great ideas throughout the book), "Veterinary Care" and much, much more.
I strongly suggest that if you are a breeder, or are involved in rescue that you lay your paws on a number of copies of this book to give to your prospective buyers or adopters. Make it part of your educational program :-) Better yet, combine "Wolfdogs A to Z" with the author's other book, "Living with Wolfdogs" for an all around excellent source of practical advice and information.
Enjoy the photos too !
An astounding sequel to the 'wolfdog owners bible!'.......2001-03-10
Wolfdogs A-Z is the most authoritative in-depth book ever written on the subject of wolfdog behavior and training. Once again, Nicole Wilde (author of Living With Wolfdogs) combines her years of hands on experience in working with wolfdogs and her positive training approach as a professional dog trainer to produce sound practical methods that achieve astounding results with these sometimes difficult to train canines. I have personally tested the easy to fallow step-by-step methods outlined in the book with my own wolfdogs with fantastic results!
The chapters devoted to understanding wolfdog behavior provide the most down to earth in-depth and precise information available in writing anywhere. How often have you wondered "Why does my wolfdog do that?" You'll find those answers here. The detailed discussions on avoiding undesirable behaviors are invaluable for the first time owner as well the practical tips and advice for modifying behaviors even the most experienced will appreciate.
Added to the books credits are excellent chapters on natural feeding (what is often referred to as BARF: Bones and Raw Food) Fun, safe toys and activities for keeping your companion busy, dispelling the numerous myths regarding these animals and much, much more.
Wolfdogs A-Z is an absolute must have for all wolfdog owners and also highly recommended for people who have one of the more challenging canines of any breed.
Book Description
In this 1996 Minnesota Book Award winner, Kent Nerburn draws the reader deep into the world of an Indian elder known only as Dan. It’s a world of Indian towns, white roadside cafes, and abandoned roads that swirl with the memories of the Ghost Dance and Sitting Bull. Readers meet vivid characters like Jumbo, a 400-pound mechanic, and Annie, an 80-year-old Lakota woman living in a log cabin. Threading through the book is the story of two men struggling to find a common voice. Neither Wolf nor Dog takes readers to the heart of the Native American experience. As the story unfolds, Dan speaks eloquently on the difference between land and property, the power of silence, and the selling of sacred ceremonies. This edition features a new introduction by the author. “This is a sobering, humbling, cleansing, loving book, one that every American should read.” — Yoga Journal
Customer Reviews:
Neither Wolf Nor Dog.......2007-09-15
I can't really add anything more that hasn't already been said here. I just wanted to note that I too think this is a truly beautiful and very important book. I will carry it's message with me always.
Keepers of the Fire.......2007-08-11
There are many books by do-gooders claiming to advance the wisdom and worldliness of Native American elders, but such books tend to glamorize the mythical past and/or simplify belief systems through the eyes of an amazed know-it-all white person. Another side-effect of the American media's obsession with Native American history is that it ignores the people's modern travails while focusing on how noble and pure everything was before the white man arrived. In this generally outstanding book, Kent Nerburn tries to avoid these weaknesses of white-generated coverage of Indians, and is mostly (though not always) successful.
This book is based on Nerburn's very rocky and uncomfortable friendship with an old Lakota man named Dan, who has led a long life of hardship on the reservation while striving to preserve his tribe's culture and customs. Refreshingly, Dan and Nerburn quickly dispense with historical myths and focus on where Indians stand in the present, with modern social problems combined with a need to understand a history far more painful and destructive than even the most sympathetic White Americans could imagine. Nerburn cannot always avoid sappy cultural ruminations and Dan is not always a likable person - but this all works to the book's advantage because both are revealed as complex humans with realistic strengths and weaknesses. The text occasionally gets uncomfortable as Dan delivers hard-hitting soliloquies on the continuing differences in the worldviews of the two peoples, but his opinions on matters of history and culture can be highly illuminating, as are Nerburn's struggles to understand without becoming the type of exploitative writer that he loathes. In the end, this is an extremely thought-provoking book and is essential for anyone interested in the culture of Native Americans - yesterday and today. [~doomsdayer520~]
Amazing Book!.......2007-05-15
I am in the process of reading this book for the third time, and it still catches and holds me like very few other books can. If you are a reader interested in obtaining a dramatic and unadulterated view of America through the eyes of those who lived here prior to the European invasion, this book will give that to you. If you want a viewpoint beyond the white-written history books, in which battles won by Indians are "massacres" and battles won by whites are "victories," this is the book for you. After all, this was a country in which people and societies existed before Christopher Columbus showed up. I will warn you to be prepared; you will never view "American" history in the same manner again!
A must read for America's Moral Compass.......2007-01-04
A fantastic, insight into a reality we share with native americans - Our country and lands, democracy, religion expanded just behind our destruction and sanctioned genocide of the American Indian. A gripping reminder that 150 years, in the collective memory of a people,is but a blink of an eye and that this struggle that most White Americans relegate to old hisotry is still well alive for Native Americans. This history,our own history, if held to contemporary american moral compass would be the cause of great outrage. As I read I found my patriotism humbled by they hyprocracy of our own history. And yet, the message of the book also faces the reality of the past and looks to a better future both for Native and White Americans. Simply a great read and great insight.
Awesome Read.......2006-11-21
This book was very deep and realistic. Few books have I read twice - this was one of them. I applaud the author - Nerburn. Reading this book was a gift. Thank you for taking on this project.
Book Description
Understanding how spinning works, building a simple spindle, spinning on a treadle wheel, choosing a wheel, preparing fibers, carding, twisting, and plying are explored in fully illustrated detail.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent tutor.......2007-01-12
This is an excellent book for learning to spin yarn. A lot is covered in this book, but it is not cumbersome. While taking spinning classes, I found it very helpful as added explanations to what I was learning - like my own personal tutor. This book was recommended to me and I, too, would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn to spin wool into yarn. It would also make a great reference source to someone who has learned to spin. Patterns are included to knit items with the yarn you spin.
Hands on Spinning.......2006-07-09
The book is very educational. I learned alot about different methods of spinning. I also learned how to process yarn and storing it. The book also has many different projects you can do after you are done spinning the yarn. It is a good book to have around the house. Glad I purchased it.
Great for beginner's.......2006-05-30
I should've bought this book about a year ago or so when I first became interested in spinning. Don't know why I didn't but it really is a good starter book. It touches on a good variety of subjects and had I bought it previously, might not've made some of the choices I did.
Hand Spindling.......2002-08-02
I did not find this book as helpful as I had expected to. I guess if I was using a wheel, it would be better. But the instructions for using a hand spindle were pretty sketchy, I thought.
Very clear and thorough---.......2001-01-08
I had not spun in about 25 years prior to this fall, so I knew that I needed a refresher book to get me going again when I got my spinning wheel. This is an excellent book. It has good photographs, clear text, and very nice projects for novice spinners and knitters intersperced in the text. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in spinning and needs information and confidence building.
Amazon.com
Since the dawn of history, no other living thing (save, possibly, the snake) has been as reviled by humankind as the wolf. Still, wolves and people have been drawn to each other since the beginning. Canis lupus bounds through our folklore, howls in our dreams, and--occasionally--competes with us on the hunt. As one zoologist imagines it: "Through the cold of winter the wolf made music in the mysterious darkness and sometimes, in curiosity, sat just beyond the dwindling circle of firelight and watched." The curiosity was mutual; this is the feared animal, ironically, that gave rise to man's best friend. Yet only recently has science begun to understand these complex social mammals. Enter biologist L. David Mech. Years of research during the 1960s in Michigan's Isle Royale National Park provided Mech with a level of firsthand knowledge shared by few in the field. In 1970 he compiled his findings (updated in 1980) into the preeminent document of its kind. Thomas McNamee, author of The Return of the Wolf to Yellowstone, calls the book the "best single source of information on wolf biology," and refers to its author as "the undisputed king of wolf research." When government officials in the early 1990s decided to embark on an ambitious project to reintroduce wolves into their former range of Yellowstone National Park, they called on Mech's expertise. All this is to say that, if you want to learn about wolves, you cannot ignore this seminal work or its author. Chapters cover wolf evolution, range, and physiology; society and pack behavior; reproduction; hunting and predator-prey relationships; and the species' uncertain future. Like any self-respecting scientist, Mech includes all the hard data, but he presents his work in an engaging manner that is accessible to a broader audience, drawing heavily on anecdotes and personal experience.
"Many people strongly dislike the wolf," Mech writes, "others rush to its defense. But no one denies that the animal is strong, powerful, intelligent, keen, and dynamic." While persecution by man has severely restricted its current status, the tide is turning, thanks to education and conservation efforts. After all, a night without a howl echoing somewhere across the landscape would surely be a colder, less alive night. --Langdon Cook
Customer Reviews:
Dedicated to Mojo........2006-01-24
Listen. If you interested in this subject, this is the book to get.
It's soft cover, black-and-white, dense text. The book is laid-out like a research paper. The writing is scientific, yet clear and readable. There are photographs, charts, tables, maps, and graphs. There is a comprehensive bibliography.
The information presented includes biology, as well as information on individual behavior, pack behavior, and the social life of wolves. So much learning to do.
If you love wolves or canids, this is the book.
A Good Resource for anyone interested in wolves.......2004-04-11
This was the first book I studied before I bought my wolfdog. It's a great general reference book on wolves, factual and not biased. It's especially useful for understanding wolf behavior and body language, which one must aquaint one's self with before considering getting a wolfdog. Some of data is outdated, such as showing the wolf and domestic dog as separate branches on the canine family tree, but by and large it's a good reference book.
Aaawwwwoooooo!.......2004-01-27
I simply wish to echo what was said in the previous two reviews of this book. If one wants a primer on wolves for lab, classroom or at home reading this is the one to get.
It is a highly enjoyable book easy to understand for a wide ranging audience. It is my hope this book will inspire it's readers to probe deeper and consider reading further on the topic, for example: Wolves of Minong: Isle Royale's Wild Community (Ann Arbor Paperbacks) by Durward Leon Allen.
Fantastic, informative and 'A MUST READ'.......2003-01-08
For anyone with a serious interest in Wolf Ecology or Dog Psychology this is a'Must Read!'. In the book Mech draws on his own observations of wolf behaviour, as well as those of other influential wolf researchers. Full of information and observation on the ecology, sociology, behaviour and communication of wolves, I have found this book invaluable in my research into Dog Physcology, and have even applied some of what I learnt from its pages to the training of my Inuit pup.
fascinating book with many, well researched details.......2000-05-10
This book fascinates every wolf lover even more of this species, and those, who haven't decided yet what to think about wolves, might start to love them and "fight" for the recovery of this species. It gives many details about behaviour, ecology, and conservation of wolves. Despite being written in the 90ths most of its information is still up to date. This book is used by many students, but is equally suitable for the interested public as Mech manages to describe the facts in clear, understandable words. It is highly recommendable for people who want to learn more about wolves.
Customer Reviews:
Kavik.......2007-08-28
I read this book when I was about 12 or 13, it was soo good that I actually read it 3 times. I highly recomend this book to anyone who likes adventure.
The Greatest Book I've Ever Read..........2007-06-06
This book is about a dog named Kävik who gets in a air plane crash and survives but the crude doesn't and a boy named Andy finds this wolf-like dog abandon from the plane crash and saves him but Kävik is very badly injured with broken rids and his back left leg. The doctor of the town called Copper City fixes Kävik.
This book takes place in Alaska. Kävik gets taken away from is loving family. My favorite part of this book was when Kävik finds his way back to his way back up north through impossible Glaciers and rugged trine and had to travel 2000 miles to find his loving family in Copper City. In the book the Theme I personal think its never give up hope cause Kävik never gave up hope on finding his family even with a dislocated hip didn't stop Kävik . I liked all the hard ships Kävik had to go through like fighting another wolf to win his mate (who dies in the book) and traveling 2000 miles I would change nothing.
Justin says - Go Kavik.......2007-03-14
Hi Kavik
I am doing a report on Kavik The Wolf dog. Written by Walt Morey . It takes place in Alaska and Washington State ; the main characters are Kavik, Andy, and George Hunter
Bye Kavik
Kavik the Wolf dog is about a dog that just won a big sled dog race a rich man named George Hunter (who lives in Seattle) he wanted him because he won. A man named Smiley John came to pick up Kavik and put him on the plane. Kavik got put in a big cage. The plane ended up crashing. The men died. But Kavik was still alive, until Andy found him.
Do you like this book?
I like this book because it is full of action like shooting and dog fights. This book is very good. It is sad sometimes. There are parts were you feel like you are right with Kavik like when Kavik was very sick in the first part of the story. This book has a lot of heart jumping parts in it, like when Andy was going to shoot Kavik and Kavik was still alive. Also when Kavik got a girlfriend I think that Walt Morey did a very good job in the middle of the story I liked the middle of the story.
Recommend or not
I like this book because I like dogs and stories that keep your eyes glued to the pages. I would recommend this book to all my friends and give it a five star
Book Review.......2005-10-21
Kavik won the north american and George C. Hunter wated to buy him. So George bought him and put him on a plane. The plane crashed during a storm. The crash killed the pillot and threw Kavik from the plane. An almost dead dog lie there in an iron cage when Andy Evans found him. Andy took him home and nursed him back to health. Kavik was physicaly fit but not afraid of a lot off things.Grorge came back to Alaska for his dog. Andy didn't want to give him up. George took Kavik on a boat across the bay. Kavik was so sad.I enjoyed this book so much but the ending could be better. You dicide.
Wolf Dog.......2004-12-20
This book is the most exciting book I have ever read. It had four things that I loved, the author uses colorful words, I was on the edge of my seat, I wanted to read more books of this author, and last but not least I always have a clear picture in view. I love this book and I hope you will too!
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful book of wolf information and photography........2004-04-21
Any wolf lover is sure to delight in this book. Author R.D. Lawrence, once admittedly afraid of the creatures, is now a wolf biologist and has studied them for four decades. Much of the information here is based on his own first-hand observations. In the introduction he tells us of the incidents that brought him face-to-face with wolves and sparked his keen interest in them. From there on the book is divided into chapters on the definition and evolution of the wolf, the pack structure, hunting, family life, Lawrence's own experiences raising orphaned wolf pups, the interactions of wolves and humans, and the current status of wolves all over the world. Though some parts are outdated (the book was written in 1993), most of the information is still good today. Lawrence's writing is smooth and easy to read, and though a few biases come across, he does a decent job of keeping a factual base.
The book is also a definite visual treat. The pictures within are by a variety of different photographers, but they are well selected. All are clear, full color, and very beautiful. I do, however, wish some of them had been printed in a larger size; while some are full or half page, there are also many rather tiny ones. The pages are all aesthetically pleasing, with plenty of white space in the margins (bordering on too much, in some cases) so that nothing feels cramped. The lines of text are also nicely spaced, to make for unstrained reading. The pages are thick and glossy and give the book an elegant feel. I'd definitely recommend this to any fan of wolves, as it makes a beautiful coffee-table book and also an interesting read.
Book Description
BOOK SENSE NOTABLE BOOK
"By piquing our imaginations, by sparking in us a sense of wonder, Yellowstone's wolves have done much to invigorate our sense of place, even our sense of generosity, rekindling relationships that allow us to again feel at home in the world."
-- Douglas Smith, Wolf Project Leader
For millions of people around the world, the image of wolves running free through Yellowstone National Park has become the ultimate symbol of the American wilderness. The release of thirty-one Canadian gray wolves in 1995 and 1996-arguably the most controversial feat of conservation in our nation's history-sparked a new-found passion for these remarkable animals and the unbound lands that sustain them.
Few were prepared for the outpouring of emotion sparked by the reintroduction of these wolves, and for the changes that came, both in the land and in the minds of men, with that experiment. For the first time, Douglas Smith and Gary Ferguson recount the first ten years of this historic endeavor. The journey of the wolves themselves and the people who faithfully followed them through the wilds of Yellowstone make for unforgettable reading.
Here are intimate details about the lives of these animals, including wonderful stories about survival and family dynamics. Smith and award-winning nature writer Gary Ferguson weave together never-before-published scientific discoveries with spell-binding tales of the wolves' behaviors. The wolves have not only survived, but completely changed the ecosystem, spilling a fresh measure of wild across the world's first national park. . DECADE OF THE WOLF serves to mark the end of the opening act of this inspired, often tumultuous tale of preservation.
DOUGLAS SMITH, PHD, Wolf Project leader, has studied wolves for twenty-four years and has worked on the reintroduction in Yellowstone since its inception. He lives in Gardiner, Montana.
GARY FERGUSON is an award-winning nature writer whose books include The Great 0 Divide: The Rocky Mountains in the American Mind, Hawks Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone, and The Yellowstone Wolves. He has written for numerous publications including Vanity Fair, Outside, the Los Angeles Times, and Men's Journal. He lives in Red Lodge, Montana.
Customer Reviews:
A terrific book about wolves & wildlife biology.......2007-10-01
I have read over 40 books about wolves over 35 years and this one stands out as one of the very best.
The book has two main themes -- the life histories of individual wolves brought to Yellowstone and their packs, and what wildlife biologists actually do to accomplish a successful introduction and gather the histories of these wolves. Both these themes are covered very well in exceptionally graceful writing.
Missing intentionally is a blow by blow history of the political controversy surrounding the introduction, and I am glad for that -- the focus remains on the wolves and how they deal with the challenges they face. The political history has been covered in other books and is a fairly depressing story of people shouting at each other.
The authors ability to describe in remarkable detail on the histories of individual wolves and their packs was aided enormously by the radio collars the placed on select individuals and the high visibility of the wolves in Yellowstone. The picture that emerges is of an enormously rich, complex, dynamic and tough world. Surviving is a constant challenge for a wolf, even in this prey-rich environment, and few wolves make it past 4-5 years old, much younger than the lives of wolves in captivity.
Their is so much information about their behavior that the wolves emerge as distinct individuals with dramatically different personalities and styles. Packs develop unique cultures (e.g. hunting bison). The static alpha male - alpha female hierarchy so often described in other books turns out to be far more variable with much greater roles in some packs for the alpha female and non-alpha wolves.
The authors note how frequently the wolves' behavior continues to them, particularly social behavior. There are far more ways to organize and "run" a wolf pack then previously thought, and the complexity of the dynamics described resembles human social interactions to a remarkable degree.
There is a lot that can be learned even by well-read wolf enthusiasts from reading this book. Yet, for those who are just beginning to read about wolves, this book is a superb introduction to these animals that get more fascinating the more we know about them.
Those who enjoyed the insight into the life of a wildlife biologist in this book would no doubt also enjoy Craig Packer's Into Africa, an account of his work with the social histories of African lion prides.
Great Book about the wolves of Yellowstone N.P........2007-08-12
This has to be the best book I have read in years about the Yellowstone National Park's reintroduction of the wolves. Entertaining and very educational. I highly advise anyone that would like to further there education on the history of the Yellowstone Wolves to read this book. It was pure enjoyment.
A good wolf book.......2007-08-06
This book was a great read and, despite the rip-off for the CDN dollar by the publisher, I was very happy to recieve this in the mail. It made a good, informative and sweet read for those who love wildlife and wolves. The narrative isn`t borring or scientific which makes it easy to read. Of course there are a few things that bothered me while reading this.
Firstly, the people didn`t realy explore alternatives to wolves eating livestock, they just kind of shot them and didn`t take the responsibility to practice other non-lethal methods of controling wolves such as the use of guard dgs or deterrents. I was also looking forward to a lot more pictures of wolves, and while the ones in the book were beautiful, they were small and there were few. I really wish that the authors could have elaborated more about the indivdual wolves` that were the founders of Yellowstone`s packs. it seemed that just one peice of each wolf wasn`t enough to capture their intimate lives (and not enough pictures of the wolves themselves). If they ever re-do this book, hopefully more can be placed on pictures and what has happened to the wolves and their packs in yellowstone.
Good for biology of Yellowstone wolves but a disappointment for the larger story.......2007-06-06
This book looks back at the ten years since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. The reintroduction has been a great success, with wolf packs filling up the park and dispersing outside its boundaries.
The authors are well-placed to tell this story. Douglas Smith is a biologist who has been closely involved with the wolf program, and Gary Ferguson is an award-winning journalist who has written on many outdoor topics connected to the American West.
Though it's certainly a good read, the book was nonetheless a bit of a disappointment to me. The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone saw two big pieces of action: the political firestorm before reintroduction, and the animals' success afterwards. The biggest story was probably the former debate, but the book hardly discusses that.
Instead, Smith and Ferguson focus on the wolves since reintroduction. They alternate types of chapters - - a substantive chapter about some aspect of wolves, and then a chapter telling the story about some individual wolf. Intensive radio collaring of wolves in the park makes these histories possible, and it is interesting to see the lives of wolves in this way.
If you want to know how scientific research on Yellowstone's wolves has been carried out, the book is invaluable. If you're interested in the larger human story, especially the political battles, then you should try Martin Nie's _Beyond Wolves_ instead.
Great report for a great project........2006-02-25
I enjoyed "Decade of the Wolf" both for the information given on the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone as for the manner in which it is written. The first-person delivery of the tale is quite engaging and readable. However I would have liked to see more hard data, especially on the dramatic changes brought to Yellowstone ecosystems as a result of the reintroduction of the wolf.
Book Description
Moka is a good dog. But when Michelle, his little girl, reads him a book about wolves, being a good dog suddenly seems awfully boring.Wolves get to run around doing whatever they want. No one ever makes a wolf dress up for a tea party.
So Moka decides to run away to the wild. But what will happen when the real wolves show up?
For any kid who's tired of being good, Moka's antics will be a vicarious treat.
Customer Reviews:
THERE IS A LOT OF MOKA IN ALL OF US.......2006-11-21
This is the story of a little dog, Moka, who has it made. This mistress reads him a book one day about wolves. The idea of being or becoming a wolf strikes our little Moka as a great idea, and so his adventure begings. The art work in this one is great, soft yet quite exciting with the ability to draw a child in and indeed, make him or her laugh. Moka, once he encounters the wild finds that life "on the other side of the fense" is not all he thought it would be. The book does teach good lessons, but more importantly, it simply tells a good story that children seem to enjoy. The author is certainly a good artist as the illustrations are wonderful. This is one of those that certainly deserves a five star rating. I highly recommend this one.
Great job, Kasza!.......2006-06-29
My two-year-old daughter and I love Keiko Kasza's books. When I found out about this book, I made a trip to the library and checked it out right away. This story is really cute and very funny. The illustration is a bit different from Kasza's other books. The pictures look more like a cartoon than those in her other books. It became my daughter's favorite book right away. We have to read it everyday, at least 3 times a day. We once made a record of 7 times in one day. It turns out that she can read the whole book herself. She can memorize every single word. She particularly loves to howl "Haoooooooooo..." just like the dog, Moka, and the wolves. It's such an outstanding book: excellent story and wonderful illustration. Great job, Kasza!
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- Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in an Everyday Life
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- Matters of Honor
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Books Index
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General | Classics | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Jack London : Novels and Social Writings (Library of America)
Mark Twain : Mississippi Writings : Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, Pudd'nhead Wilson (Library of America)
To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics)
Best Short Stories of Jack London
James Fenimore Cooper : The Leatherstocking Tales I: The Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie (Library of America)
