Book Description
Chickens-why not? Tens of thousands of people in all areas of the country enjoy raising these birds, whether for food or companionship. You can, too, with this indispensable guide. Then again, you may want to read Living With Chickens just for the sheer joy of it.
Straightforward prose and dozens of clear, detailed illustrations gives any future chicken farmer the tools he needs to get started, from step-by-step instructions on building the coop to a brief background on chicken biology ("gizzard talk"); from hints on getting high-quality eggs from the hens, to methods for butchering. Vermonter Jay Rossier draws on his own experiences and those of his fellow poultrymen in discussing how to keep marauders from the chicken coop, the benefits of homemade grain versus commercial, and how to live (and sleep) with a rooster in your midst. Personal anecdotes, interesting facts, and lush, full-color photographs of the birds and their landscape round out this comprehensive book.
Customer Reviews:
coffee table book.......2007-09-21
The book has information about keeping chickens, but all the glossy pictures of chickens and the writing style made it seem like a coffee table book about chickens instead of a practical guide.
The best overall chicken book.......2007-07-05
This is by far the best overall chicken book.I tried Story's guide, wow was that boring and dry. This was very easy to read cover to cover.This will tell you everything about raising them from A-Z. The best part is there are pictures and examples. I would recommend getting Choosing and keeping Chickens by Chris Graham to get a more in depth view of each breed, size, personality and it has great pictures. As a beginner I found I needed both books.
Living with Chickens: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock.......2007-03-18
I have just finished reading this book. I loved it. It includes some general information and directions for finding out other needed information. In the back it includes hatchery and cooperative extension information for most states. It is full of wonderful pictures of the chickens doing their own thing. I feel that anyone that is not already raising chickens should at least read and enjoy this book. If you don't enjoy anything else about the book you will love the pictures and the stories that go along with them.
Nice book! Recommended highly.......2006-02-17
Friendly style, full of information, & tons of special, vivid photos-- I read this cover to cover in a day and really enjoyed it. A GREAT book for the person who is thinking about starting a small backyard flock. One of my favorites. (The layout is unique, too- engaging and easy to read.)
I would strongly recommend this book.
Great book for the beginning chicken owner!.......2005-05-30
I read this book cover-to-cover the first day and next morning that I got it from the library. Very clear and easy to understand even for a kid. The book is written with a touch of humor that makes it especially fun to read! There is BEAUTIFUL photography in this book. If you are thinking about getting chickens like I am, or already own them, you won't want to pass this book up! Happy Reading!
Book Description
A unique guide to sheep, for would-be farmers and people who simply love animals and the outdoors.
Customer Reviews:
Even a moron could raise sheep after reading this book!.......2007-10-04
In "Living with Sheep: Everything You Need to Know to Raise your Own Flock" the author covers exactly what the title implies, EVERYTHING you will need to know to raise sheep! Mr. Wooster writes in a very relaxed, and often humorous way. It's kind of like having coffee with a friend who's giving you pratical and essential instruction from 1st hand experience with sheep. Let me also say that the photo's in this book are excellent- bravo to Geoff Hansen!
Amongst topics covered by this book are: Sheep history, picking your sheep, things you should think about BEFORE you even get sheep, how to handle sheep, the various type of sheep breeds (meat, wool, dual-purpose and heirloom), land support, sheep shelter, fences, hay, how to properly feed your sheep, pasture rotation, raising lambs, organic lamb meat, butchering, wool production, rams and sheep health. This book also has a wonderful Appendix section in the back. Among the Appendix list is: Ewe gestation charts, tools & equipment you will need, summary month-by-month of a shepard's year, and a listing of state sheep sources and breed associations.
That being said Mr. Wooster really knows his sheep! I would invest in a hardback copy as here on Amazon it is cheaper than most retail paperback editions. The paper stock is thick, semi-glossy, flexible and will survive through repeated reading.
A solid 5 stars!
loved this book.......2007-06-05
This is a wonderful book for beginning shepherds (more experienced too). Very entertaining and informative.
What a great book.......2007-03-22
If you are a newcomer to living on a small farm and are looking for information on livestock to keep on your small acreage, this is a great book.
The author is very detailed yet understandable about every aspect of sheep raising and care.
It is also written for people from every angle. If you want to raise your own lambs and slaughter them or, like me, you don't want to use them for any other purpose other than as pets who keep the lawn down, this is just the book for you. The author covers everything you will need and makes you look forward to getting your first flock.
Really enjoyed it.
Great Photo's.......2007-01-23
I liked this book it has great glossy photos in it. Lots of storys and good advice. I would buy Storey's Raising Sheep book as a basic book but this one was a real nice read.
Fully fleeced in the NW.......2007-01-12
Geoff Hansen's guide to raising sheep is an honest and oftentimes humourous look at the joys and sometimes sorrows of raising and better yet "living" with our fleecey friends. I found the section dealing with lambing to be excellent, easy to follow and informative. I also like that Mr. Hansen takes the time and trouble to look at all aspects of living with sheep and not just his own preferences. I highly reccomend this book for anyone at any level of experience as it reads like you have a friend standing next to you offering sage advice and useful information in a language that all can relate to.
Book Description
Draw into the lives of wolves through the experience of Jim and Jamie Dutcher and the wolf pack they lived with for six years.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Wolf Photography Book.......2007-03-21
As a huge wolf freak and artist, I always found it difficult to draw the beautiful bodies of wolves from tiny little pictures shoved in the corners of other books. Although the info was great, I always felt a tad sad to see such a lovely picture shrunk down. In this book, the photos are huge, and beautifuly detailed. I treasure this book and reccemend the Wolves at our Door book by Jim and Jamie Dutcher as well as their two documentaries: Living with wolves and Wolves at our Door
Outstanding.......2007-01-10
I have always loved wolves and had watched the Sawtooth pack since they were first formed. Now the originals are all gone. The pictures in the book are magnificent and tells their story.
Kids Can Read This Book, too!.......2006-09-25
(My mommy is typing this for me but she wrote down everything I wanted to say on a piece of paper first.)
Hello. My name is Jordan Elizabeth and I am 8 years old. I really, really love wolves and I have read about 20 books for kids about wolves. Wolves are very special creatures but a lot of people don't know that. A lot of people think wolves are mean and want to hurt people but actually they don't.
Of all the books I have about wolves, "Living With Wolves" is my favorite even though it's more like an adult book. While searching for more wolf books with my mommy on her computer, I saw "Living With Wolves" on this website and wanted to say what I also think about this book because not many people wrote their thoughts here yet.
I got this book in New York City where my family flew and we went to a museum to see and meet the Dutchers. This was the greatest time of my whole life! I've never actually met a movie star before until I met Jim & Jamie. I've seen their dvds about a hundred times and I think it's so cool that they actually lived with wolves! After they were done speaking we bought this book.
The next day we got on a plane to fly home and my mom and dad let me take out the book. They didn't want me to wreck it because it is the nicest wolf book and it is very heavy with amazing pictures. On the plane I started to read the book. My mom helped me with some of the bigger words but not a lot. The pictures are really beautiful in the book and there are some of the wolf pups that are so adorable, too! In the beginning I couldn't wait to read what the Dutchers had to say and I just started reading the book all by myself. Usually I love to find all the pictures first but this time I didn't.
I think this book is great for everyone and I am writing this because the Dutchers write a good book that even kids will like and teaching us about them. My parents weren't really interested in wolves before they got me the Dutcher's dvds and now they love them, too. The book even came with a CD stuck inside that has just wolves howling and I love listening to their sounds!
So that's what I think. I hope the Dutchers can live with the wolves again sometime so I can learn more because they are kind and caring and really great teachers.
Bye.
Living With Wolves.......2006-02-23
Absolutely awesome photography and story!
Some of the best wolf photography I have seen.
This book is very well done with the photography and the story; the vocalization CD certainly completes it. One can listen to the howls, look at the pictures, and feel like a part of this wolf family.
EXCELLENT book for wolf lovers.......2005-09-01
This is the best book of its type about wolves. Jim and Jamie Dutcher's photography catches the full range of experiences and emotions. The photography alone is worth 5 stars in my opinion.
I was also glad to see that half the book was NOT taken up by pictures of dead wolves and wolf pelts. The slaughter of wolves at the hands of humans NEEDS to be stopped, yet I look for books which celebrate the beauty of the LIVING wolf instead of showing page after page of dead animals. This book is a "must buy" for all wolf lovers.
Average customer rating:
- good doctor book
- Wonderful!
- Not All Doctors Are Bad.
- Check-up
- Book review for The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor
|
The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor (First Time Books(R))
Stan Berenstain , and
Jan Berenstain
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Fiction
| Bears
| Animals
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Visit the Doctor
| Health
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Berenstain, Jan
| ( B )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Berenstain, Stan
| ( B )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Berenstain Bears
| Book Characters
| Popular Characters
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Issues
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fiction
| Bears
| Animals
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Berenstain, Jan
| ( B )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Berenstain, Stan
| ( B )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Issues
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Berenstain Bears
| Book Characters
| Popular Characters
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Health
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Visit the Doctor
| Health
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist (First Time Books(R))
-
The Berenstain Bears Go to School (First Time Books(R))
-
The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners (First Time Books(R))
-
The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room (A First Time Book)
-
The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (First Time Books(R))
ASIN: 0394848357
Release Date: 1981-10-12 |
Book Description
It's time for a routine check-up with Dr. Gert Grizzly. Sister Bear is brave about her booster shot, and Brother Bear is fine, but--achoo!--is that Papa Bear sneezing? "A light-hearted approach to the subject with straightforward information."--Appraisal.
Customer Reviews:
good doctor book.......2006-11-03
This book was the favorite book for my young children (now grown) when we
were preparing for doctor visits. It is still beloved by my retarded son
who is now 31, and I have bought many copies for him through the years. It
covers all the important topics: anticipation (dread), waiting room, routine
exams, and possible shots. All of this is with pictures and words.
Wonderful!.......2005-12-15
The world lost a real gem of a writer when Stan Berenstain passed on November 29. Together, Berenstain and his wife, Jan, and eventually their two sons, created books featuring lovable but flawed characters who tackle just about every real issue that faces families.
All kids have fears of the doctor, and why shouldn't they? Most doctor's visits for young kids involve lots of uncomfortable poking and prodding, and, more often than not, shots. Yikes! However, going to the doctor is still necessary, we all have to do it. This book will help open a dialogue to let your child discuss their fears, and let you discuss why visiting the doctor is so important. Kids will enjoy the gentle humor and honest portrayal of a doctor's visit (yep, Sister Bear has to get a shot!) and the consequences when you don't go to the doctor (Papa gets sick). A great conversation starter!
Not All Doctors Are Bad........2002-09-12
Most children are afraid of going to the doctor (well a lot of adults are, too, but for completely different reasons). When the word doctor is mentioned to kids images of needles, blood, bandages, and strange looking objects come to mind. Reading THE BERENSTAIN BEARS GO TO THE DOCTOR may help relieve some of the fears that children have when they know they are going to the doctor.
In the story, Brother and Sister Bear have to go to Dr. Gert Grizzly to have a checkup. Brother isn't too bothered by the whole thing, but Sister is a bit worried. The next day Sister is able to help out some frightened younger cubs while she is in the waiting room and sets an example for all the children to follow.
Overall, a delightful little book that helps relieve children's fears of going to the doctor and gives them a broader perspective about life.
Check-up.......2001-07-21
Its the cubs time for their first check-up. Sister is VERy nervous, but both of them are worried because they thing that they might get a shot.
It is a good book to read to your kids if they are going to be going for their first check-up or anytime.
Book review for The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor.......1999-12-02
The berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor is a great book.I especially like how it has the cubs (brother and sister) going to the doctor for a check-up. They ended up not finding anything wrong with them and getting a shot anyway so they don't get sick. It turns out that papa, whose convises them that he never gets sick, gets sick. This is a really good book and fun to read. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Amazon.com
Did you know that neither temperature nor hunger sparks bird migration? That many species migrate at night? That some birds migrate more than 5,000 miles in a single, uninterrupted flight? "We are such stodgy, rooted creatures," observes the author of this fascinating book. "To think of crossing thousands of miles under our own power is as incomprehensible as jumping the moon. Yet even the tiniest of birds perform such miracles."
For anyone curious about the lives of migratory birds (and, incidentally, those of bird-obsessed humans), this book is a great nest of information. The author has traveled all over the world banding and observing birds and talking to the experts--amateur birders and ornithologists who have made many of the important discoveries about bird biology. From Alaska to Lake Erie to the limestone forests of Jamaica, Weidensaul reaches not only for the scientific particulars but for the universal stories and humanizing, descriptive turns of phrase that keep this book from bogging down in statistics and jargon. By book's end the reader is unable to resist the heart of this compelling story, a plea for the conservation of habitat to keep these miraculous creatures on--or at least circling--the earth. --Maria Dolan
Book Description
Bird migration is the world's only true unifying natural phenomenon, stitching the continents together in a way that even the great weather systems fail to do. Scott Weidensaul follows awesome kettles of hawks over the Mexican coastal plains, bar-tailed godwits that hitchhike on gale winds 7,000 miles nonstop across the Pacific from Alaska to New Zealand, and myriad songbirds whose numbers have dwindled so dramatically in recent decades. Migration paths form an elaborate global web that shows serious signs of fraying, and Weidensaul delves into the tragedies of habitat degradation and deforestation with an urgency that brings to life the vast problems these miraculous migrants now face. Living on the Wind is a magisterial work of nature writing.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding and thoroughly enjoyable popular science work on birds .......2007-06-16
_Living on the Wind_ by Scott Weidensaul is a very ambitious book, one in which the author tried to convey both the science and the drama of bird migration in the Western Hemisphere, traveling for six years from Alaska to Argentina and speaking to experts as well as viewing close up an amazing variety of birds from the Arctic tundra to Central American rain forests.
The book is divided into three sections. "Southbound" focused on the fall migration as well as topics on migration in general.
Weidensaul stressed that one shouldn't view migration as moving away from something unpleasant, such as the cold, but rather as moving towards something beneficial, mainly an area where food is plentiful. Viewing migration as a simply north-south issue clearly shows a North American bias; birds in southern South America fly north to their wintering grounds, tropical birds fly relatively short distances but on migrations nonetheless in response to among other things the ripening of fruits or the blossoming of flowers, and many ocean birds undergo complex and intricate perambulations of entire oceans on an annual basis (the greater shearwater breeds in the South Atlantic but covers a 13,000 mile route every nine months, a route that includes going up past South America to Canada, then over to Europe in autumn, and then returning down the coast of Africa). Not all North American birds winter in the Americas; the bristle-thighed curlew nests in western Alaska but winters as much as 5,000 miles away in such Pacific islands as Tahiti, while the bar-tailed godwit winters 6,800 miles away from its Alaskan home in New Zealand (flying nonstop for up to five days).
The reader learns some birds are "complete migrants" (they entirely vacate their breeding grounds at the end of nesting season) and some are "partial migrants" (a portion of the population remains year-round). Most birds other than hawks migrate at night, partially to avoid predators (like hawks), to free up daytime hours for finding food, because the atmosphere is less turbulent at night, and because the chillier and damper night air can help cool overheated migrating birds and work to stem moisture loss. Thanks to human activity, many birds winter farther north than they once did, whether due to backyard birdfeeders in the case of finches or specially maintained refuges for waterfowl; this phenomenon is known as "shortstopping."
The author spent a good deal of time discussing how birds find their way on migrations. A fascinating discussion, migration involves a genetic program, a time of migratory restlessness when the daylight diminishes to a certain point and the urge to fly in a certain direction sets in, coupled in some species with a innate time-distance or time-and-direction (or vector navigation) program, a set of genetic instructions that instruct the bird to fly a certain direction for a specific length of time, change heading, and then precede on another for a preset period of time. Those directions are determined mainly by celestial and magnetic orientation but research has shown that infrasound (extremely low-frequency waves of the sort generated by ocean surf, which can travel for thousands of miles) may play a role as well.
Modifying this program though are a "hierarchy of orientation clues," which serve to refine a bird's navigation on subsequent flights, often enabling a bird to find specific breeding and wintering grounds with stunning accuracy. Clues such as learning geographic landmarks, olfactory, infrasound, and local magnetic clues help the migrating bird.
The second section, "Hiatus," focused on birds and their wintering grounds, from stay-at-home year-round resident birds alongside frozen Hudson Bay to birds of steamy rainforests and the Argentine pampas. Many birds like warblers and tanagers really are tropical birds to begin with; an oriole might spend four months in its temperate breeding range but seven months in the tropics, while some Canadian warblers spend less than three months there. Some birds migrate only as far south as southern Canada or the northern U.S. to winter. Others, such as the northern finches, follow an erratic and very unpredictable pattern of migration known as an irruption, a pattern tied to seed production in their normal range that in bad years may send birds as far south as the Gulf Coast.
The author discussed research on how faithful birds are to their wintering sites, debates over whether or not they are benefited by disturbed habitat, how flexible they are on their wintering grounds with regards to food and habitat, and how some species have completely different diets and habits on their wintering grounds (in some species the males and females will winter in different areas).
Threats to wintering birds were well discussed, covering such topics as the use of pesticides in Latin American countries (tens of thousands of Swainson's hawks have died from pesticides in Argentina), habitat destruction, changes in coffee-growing practices (shade-grown coffee plantations still have a great deal of habitat for birds but sun-coffee or technified farms are "biological deserts"), and disease (wetland destruction has forced waterfowl and shorebirds into overloaded federal and state refuges, what one researcher called "bird ghettos").
The third section, "Northbound," tracked the surge of migrants through the American Southwest, Great Plains, and the Gulf Coast. Topics of discussion often center on threats to migrating birds, including loss of hardwood forests along the Gulf Coast, a vital source of nutrients for migrating birds (increasingly usurped by industrialized pine plantations and beach homes), the loss of native grassland (a trend that is "nearly apocalyptic;" Iowa only has one-tenth of one percent left, while Minnesota has one percent left) which has caused grassland birds to decline faster, longer, and over a wider area than any other type, and the tremendous threats to breeding woodland birds due to forest fragmentation, opening up formerly deep woods to predators such as cats and also cowbirds, which are rapidly expanding their ranges and numbers and are a huge threat to eastern birds with no experience with brood parasites.
A keeper for birders.......2007-04-16
The detail and fluidity of this book amazes me. The author's passion for his love of birds shines through on every page. It's a work of love.
I didn't begin to "bird" until my days in New Jersey (2000-2004) when I'd drive to the beautiful Jersey Shore and watch water fowl and migratory eagles, falcons and osprey nest along the banks of the braggish waters. I've been fascinated by raptors ever since, and the chapter "River of Hawks" had me longing for more.
The author traveled all over North and South America, mixing in some travelogue with his more scientific paragraphs. His descriptions of Patagonia, AZ (p. 59) and Monterey, CA (p. 93) were right on target even for the non-birder.
The time he spent researching, traveling, meeting with locals is astounding. He traveled to Mexico, Argentinia, Alaska, Canada, Jamaica and various places within the United States to watch the birds himself.
The book ends on a melancholy note, citing the need to preserve and conserve what natural habitat we have left in the world, not just for our feathered friends, but for fish and humans. No work on nature would be complete without a passage of hope that natural nesting areas and a habitat free of toxins will prevail.
This book is a must-read. Like a few other reviewers have stated, my only recommendation would be perhaps a picture, even a black-white picture, of the many birds mentioned in this book.
Vivid and poetic language.......2004-11-10
The information on bird migration is absolutely engrossing. However, the language Weidensaul uses is even more enjoyable. I kept the computer dictionary next to me while reading the book to check the beautiful language used to describe bird behavior and their habitats. This book is inspiring and thought provoking even for non-birders like me (I am likely classified as a computer geek).
A Wonderful BookI.......2003-04-30
If you enjoy nature reading you will love this book. I am not a birder, but nevertheless found this book to be an eloquent and fascinating read. Weidensaul introduces and explores a world that occurs around us every day but that few of us know anything about. He writes extremely well. Overall, a wonderful book.
Tales of migration that read like a Crichton novel..........2001-06-06
This is absolutely one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. Not only backyard birding enthusiasts, but anyone who has ever had even a passing interest in birds will love this book. Scott writes about birds in an understanding yet scientific manner that lends itself to wonderful readability while providing vast amounts of information. Beginning in Alaska, moving down the hemisphere to the pampas of Argentina, and back again, he takes the reader on a amazing journey that literally follows the paths taken by millions of birds each year. He combines personal field experiences with well assembled accounts of scientific research and ornithological history to paint a vivid picture of the swirling patterns of avian movement across the globe. If you have ever looked twice at a bird passing overhead, I highly reccomend picking up this valuable addition to any naturalist's library.
Book Description
Since the very first issue of Country Living Gardener, writer, artist and naturalist Sharon Lovejoy has created the award-winning “Heart’s Ease” column for the magazine. Through this collection of delightful essays and beautiful illustrations, she shares with her readers the boundless joys of a country garden. Lovejoy has chosen to focus on animal life in the garden, including hummingbirds, caterpillars, and dragonflies, but her informative and witty prose also covers traditional plant care. The very titles of her sketches convey pleasure in the vibrant country landscape and the life that teems within it: “The Bumble Bee Rumba,” “Faeries in the Fuschias (sphinx moths),” “Holiday Feasts for the Birds and the Beasts,” and “Conversations with Sunflowers.” This compilation truly is—to borrow another of her titles—“Something to Crow About.”
Customer Reviews:
Delightful Reading.......2007-05-07
Ms Lovejoy's collection of gardening essays presents a book of relaxing and delightful reading. It is sprinkled with a collection of gardening ideas that will be appealing to both the beginner and experienced gardener, especially if you are interested in living with nature. I have already borrowed some of her ideas for my backyard wildlife habitat.
A Blessing of Toads.......2005-12-11
I have collected an entire gardening library so besotted am I with this gender of reading and gardening. This book is a treasure! Clearly the best reflection on nature in your garden I have ever had the pleasure to read. Amusing and full of directions and advise this book should never be put away but left out to consult and muse over. Get it and give it! You cannot miss!! Susan
Book Description
In this acclaimed work, the anthropologist Piers Vitebsky offers a unique account of the Eveny, nomads who live in intimate partnership with an extraordinary animal. For centuries reindeer have provided the Eveny with food, fur, transport, and spiritual sustenance, enabling them to survive in the world's coldest inhabited region, the Siberian taiga, where winter ice freezes six feet thick and the temperature drops to ninety-six degrees below zero.
The book presents a gallery of unforgettable personalities, including shamans, psychics, wolves, bears, dogs, Communist Party bosses, daredevil aviators, and the spirits of fires and rivers. Based on nearly two decades of fieldwork, The Reindeer People is an enthralling and moving testimony to a Siberian native people's humor and endurance at the ecological limits of human existence.
Customer Reviews:
I didn't know the Russians sent Reindeer to Alaska.......2007-08-15
I learned here that Reindeer herding for the commercial meat market has been a staple of Artic communities throughout the 20th Century (hence the effort to translpant it to Alaska in the 1920s).
This is an amazing story of a British anthropologist's 25+ years visiting and documenting the life of some of the last indigenous Siberian people to herd domestic reindeer. We meet many keenly individual men women and children, from the university-trained to the descendants of shamans. I was reminded of the Mongul family in the documenary movie "The Weeping Camel," and of Amundson's antarctic expeditions, which used native skills while Scott died using modern mechanical aids. We learn what it was like to live under Soviet rule (when labor camps drove the meat markets); we watch Perestroika as it affects both animals and people, and we witness the region's disastrous ecological and economic decline under Putin's Russia.
Anthropological Fieldwork at its Finest!.......2007-05-26
For someone who has only traveled so far as a few hundred miles in a sedan, my world is mind-numbingly small. Logistically, I rely on MapQuest to get me from "Point A" to "Point B"... and hopefully back in one piece. Without truly comprehending the land and life enveloping me in a "rural-suburban" town located somewhere in the cesspool of Bowash, I sorely needed a wake-up call to the raw emotion and spirit that has been inherently ingrained in the Eveny people, their reindeer, and their relationship to the expanses of Sakhan Siberia. As Vitebsky relives such experiences in The Reindeer People, his strikingly vivid account of living side-by-side with the Eveny not only intrigues, but brings to light the troubles faced by indigenous people that have been perpetuated by the Soviet era as well as its horrendous aftermath. Vitebsky's tale of the inevitable downfall of what was once a pristine way of life for these people offers a poignantly bittersweet glimpse of what is becoming all but history. Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest books to come my way in a long time!
Anthropology that reads like a novel........2006-03-17
Vitebsky's book is a wonderful look at the life, lives and living conditions in an area of the world most of us would consider uninhabitable. While it is an anthropological study, it overflows with human feelings and contact that make this a truly unforgettable read. This truly shows the need for humans to coexist with nature, not rule it.
Read this book.
Tungus life.......2005-12-29
I don't know where exactly to put this book - it is partly a memoir, a travelogue, an anthropological study for the lay reader...
Vitebsky spent a number of summers with different bands of Eveny, a Tungus tribe in mid Siberia. These Eveny were all associated with a 'State Farm', a Soviet era relic that regulates the use of the territory assigned to the bands, shipping of reindeer meat and antlers and bringing in supplies. The Farm was in this case controlled by an incompetent, alcoholic director and his cronies, who had been responsible for a number of disastrous decisions that had a big impact on the region as a whole.
Eveny have been hit hard by Soviet times and even harder in the chaos of the perestroika. They lost their shamans and the number of men willing to spend their winters herding reindeer in the forbidding sub sub zero taiga is decreasing, especially as the women refuse to leave the relative comfort of villages for the traditional nomadic way of life. As Vitebsky trails the herders on their annual migration, he is witnessing the impressive array of skills these people have to survive in one of the most inhospitable regions n this planet; slowly, as he is taken into their confidences, he also sees a part of their life that is hidden from the casual visitor. Although their shamans have all been killed, and the rituals all but stamped out, a number of folk 'superstitions' control all areas of Eveny life. Propitiating spirits of the land, dead ancestors, interpreting omens and dreams all play a central role in Eveny activity. There is a number of striking similarities with NA Indians in the relationship to the land, their respect of silence, mutual assistance and the non verbal communication that happens in that silence. Like the Indians, Eveny don't speak much, but when they do, the words mean something... like the Indians, the Eveny are getting destroyed by alcohol.
Vitebsky is mostly interested in social aspects of contemporary Eveny life - social tensions, alliances, intrigues and gossip. Given the tools he has he does a good job in bringing us a portrait of a native community deep in Siberia. Unlike what one might expect, his eveny are no ignorant herders - these guys have been around in schools, the military, they read astronomy, Wittgenstein and Mme Blavatsky and listen daily to radio Moscow; they seemed to be way better informed about the world situation than your average American (which doesn't say a lot).
Nevertheless, given its ambitious title, the book somehow does not deliver what it promises, at least it not for me. 'Living with animals and spirits' was missing something, i guess it was animals and spirits. Above all, Vitebsky is all too careful to approach these except through his informants. Now I also know why I am not an anthropologist. It would be very difficult for me to watch the State Farm director destroy people's lives without getting involved in some way; well, V. is an anthropologist and documents the disintegration that occurs with professional detachment. Still, there is good stuff in there and if you are interested in reindeer, this is the book to read.
Customer Reviews:
A life saver.......2007-03-20
I was freaking out when I found out my new baby(pup) is deaf. "Living With a Deaf Dog" was a life saver. I felt so more at ease after reading the first few pages. I also had family and friends that interact with Kiko read it. Kiko was my wild child and is now on her way to being a well behaved adult.
So much help!.......2007-03-09
This book tremendously helped me understand my 3 yr. old deaf dog, Patch so much better. I didn't understand some of his behaviors and I could not find helpful books at the library. From the author's stories, tips, and advice, I have a much better understanding of what he goes through and why he exhibits some behaviors. I've had him for a year with trial especially with walking him. Since I've read this book, he and I have a much better understanding of each other. He is so willing to learn, the tips the author gave proved to be so useful! Great book! Thank you!
Understanding deafness in dogs.......2006-03-01
This book truelly provides an insight into deaf dogs and ways to assist ones communication problems. At last I have found a book that shares my awareness and provides deaf dogs with a chance in life for survival.
Eh...kind of unnecessary........2005-10-31
If you just adopted a deaf dog, it's nice to know that there are other people who have successfully trained deaf dogs. You'll get that from this book, but otherwise this book is kind of unnessary. There are online resources to get you started with training tips (like getting a deaf dog's attention by flicking the lights). But beyond that, training is just the same as with a hearing dog. I don't want to un-recommend it, but it's just not entirely necessary.
Living With A Deaf Dog.......2005-09-30
Great book! Full of help and hope for owners of deaf dogs. Everything is ready to use and easy to understand!
Product Description
This revised and expanded edition of Living with Wolfdogs has even more information and photos than the original! The book "tells it like it is" about wolfdog ownership, in a down-to-earth, humorous, helpful manner. Includes tips and tricks you won't find anywhere else: how to socialize shy wolfdogs, housebreaking tips, instructions for building an escape-proof pen or enclosure, how to introduce new canine companions, solutions for digging and other problem behaviors, dealing with dominance challenges, and more! A must for those who own wolfdogs or are thinking about adding one to the family.
Customer Reviews:
Living With Wolfdogs.......2007-08-23
a must have before buying a wolfdog puppy, you will not make it with your puppy if you dont buy this book. loved it.
philippe
The Ultimate Wolfdog Primer!!.......2006-10-28
Nichole's book can be considered the ultimate primer for those interested in keeping wolfdogs, or even for those who are just interested in these unique animals. This book, and Nichole's other book, "Wolfdogs, A to Z" should be required reading for animal trainers, behaviorists and veterinary professionals. Mike Lehane, Vice President, Wolfdog Rescue Resources, Inc.
"Fantastic book for Wolfdog Owners or Anyone Considering a Wolfdog!.......2006-05-18
There is not a lot of information available on wolf hybrids, and it seems a lot of what is out there is biased either to suggest that they are great pets for anyone, or
that they are evil creatures who should be banned or euthanized. Wilde's book gives straightforward, helpful information without a bias, although you can tell that she loves these animals. She goes over things you should consider before buying a wolf hybrid like containment, commitment of time and money, and legalities in your area. She gives helpful concrete information like how to build an "escape-proof" pen, how to introduce a new member to your existing pack, nutritional requirements, veterinary consideraitons, and so many other things that you will find yourself referring back to. The book is also written in a friendly tone and is quite humorous in places. I highly recommend it, along with her other wolf hybrid book "Wolfdogs A-Z: Behavior, Training and More."
"Living with Wolfdogs, Second Edition is a must read.".......2006-05-12
"Nicole Wilde, has done it again. She has added new information and guidelines to her already by far, the best book on Living with Wolfdogs. This is a must read for anyone who loves and cares for these magnificant animals. Thank you Nicole"
Michelle Silmon, Founder, Grandmother's Rescue Center, California
A realistic, balanced look at wolfdog ownership.......2005-12-13
I'm not sure what book the previous poster was reading, because this book most definitely gives both sides of wolfdog ownership. (Read the rest of the reviews, they're more realistic.) It outlines both the wonderful things about these animals, and covers in detail the possible difficulties. Wilde covers how wolfdogs can be escape artists, destructive, in some cases not as reliable in training as normal dogs, and a lot more. I like how she maintains a chatty, warm tone that is still very informative. And although she obviously has a great love for wolfdogs she is careful about painting a realistic picture of what living with them is like. I liked the Wolfdogs A-Z book as well and am looking forward to buying the new 2nd edition of Living with Wolfdogs.
Book Description
Inspired by Robinson Crusoe and Jack London, Michael Modzelewski, jettisoned all baggage accompanying life in the comfortable middle class and set out to find raw, unharnessed wilderness. He found it on Blackfish Sound ("Blackfish" is the Kwakiutl Indian word for the killer whale) in the Inside Passage, the rugged coastline between Seattle and Alaska.
Leaving his home in Aspen, which had become a false Shangri-La for him, Modzelewski settled on a desolate island in the Inside Passage, a place which "after seducing you with beauty would shake you with fear. An unpredictable place that kept you always prepared, honed to the keen edge of life." Here he lived alone for months on end.
Inside Passage describes his experiences in this unspoiled setting, where the sky is his ceiling, mountains are his walls, and physical challenges test him down to the marrow. He also forms unusual friendships with passing yachters, salmon fishermen, Kwakiutl Indians, loners, and the owner of the house he is staying at, Will Malloff, a man of oversized personality -- a healer, builder, woodsman, and thinker. Modzelewski writes with a love for nature and gentle humor about his interactions with the native animals (eagles, whales, wolves), local animals (cats, dogs, "tame" wild boars), and other settlers.
Inside Passage is the powerful story of one man learning the ways of self-reliance in a soul-filled search through the northern wilderness.
Customer Reviews:
Real Deal.......2006-04-25
I live in Alaska and a friend recommended Mr. Modzelewski's book. And now I recommend it to the world. Sure, there's the usual descriptions of animals, ocean, weather and solitude but what makes this book special is the author goes so much deeper into the Spirit behind things. Haven't stopped thinking about his experiences and it's been a month now since I finished the book.
PURE DRAMA.......2005-06-19
I'm an actress and read scripts, rarely books -- but after a producer friend recommended Inside Passage to me, I couldn't put it down! In fact, I read it three times. It was like watching a movie -- that's how vividly Michael Modzelewski writes. Alaska is a far different world than Los Angeles and I escaped completely to a pure and inspiring reality. Thank you, Michael! You are gifted and blessed. And who knows? Maybe we can turn this captivating story into a film, with the author and animals the main characters and could there be a more beautiful setting than the Inside Passage to Alaska -- as evoked so wonderfully in this poetic prose.
Interesting but too idealistic.......2005-04-01
Quick read. Definitely worth it if you have been or are going to be in the region. Some of his scientific stuff is a little off but it's not the right book if you are looking for exacting detail on these subjects. Modzelewski's perspectives were very idealistic and I found it a little difficult to believe that the experiences he relates were quite a spiritual or mind altering as he sometimes makes them seem. The author does pull series of stories or facts together well. The chapters addressed themes - like the tribes, animals, the island's owner, etc. Modzelewski doesn't try to tell you everything there is to know about any of these subjects but selects what he thinks is interesting and relates it briefly. Often the points he makes or the stories he chooses to tell are not ones that you might have expected.
Inside Passage -- Captivating!!!!!.......2004-09-08
A wonderful voyage in mother nature's womb, evoking feelings of awe, and revere at the colossal universe, inhaling the powerful imagery of wilderness through Michael.
Beyond Human.......2004-08-11
Michael Modzelewski writes like a wild animal. If the beasts could speak it wouldn't come out much different than how Michael describes them. The author knows no limits -- extending into and giving shape to all animate matter in super insightful poetic prose.
Books:
- Lovebird Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks)
- Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
- Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
- My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective, and Easy Puppy Training (Book & 60min DVD)
- Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (**)
- Newfoundland (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
- Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)
- One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter
- Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions
- Perl Best Practices
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World
- History: Fiction or Science
- Berlitz Italian Business Cassette Pack
- Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Age
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
- Metamorphoses
- Ether God and Devil: Cosmic Superimposition
- Bed & Breakfast France 2007: Over 650 selected quality hosts offering a great welcome
- Computational Discrete Mathematics: Combinatorics and Graph Theory with Mathematica ®
- The Bookman's Promise
Chickens In Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide
Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care / Feeding / Facilities
Building Chicken Coops: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-224
Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock
The Chicken Health Handbook
