Of Wolves and Men
Of Wolves and Men
paperback
Published:
1 September, 1979
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Description
Humankind's relationship with the wolf is the sum of a spectrum of responses ranging from fear to admiration and affection. Lopez’s classic, careful study has won praise from a wide range of reviewers and improved the way books on wild animals are written. Of Wolves and Men explores the uneasy interaction between wolves and civilization over the centuries, and the wolf's prominence in our thoughts about wild creatures. Drawing upon an impressive array of literature, history, science, and mythology as well as extensive personal experience with captive and free-ranging wolves, Lopez argues for the wolf's preservation and immerses the reader in its sensory world, creating a compelling portrait of the wolf both as a real animal and as imagined by different kinds of men. A scientist might perceive the wolf as defined by research data, while an Eskimo hunter sees a family provider much like himself. For many Native Americans the wolf is also a spiritual symbol, a respected animal that can strengthen the individual and the community. With irresistible charm and elegance, Of Wolves and Men celebrates careful scientific fieldwork, dispels folklore that has enabled the Western mind to demonize wolves, explains myths, and honors indigenous traditions, allowing us to understand how this remarkable animal has become so prominent for so long in the human heart.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9780684163222 |
| ISBN10 | 0684163225 |
| Number Of Pages | 336 |
| Item Weight | 451 g |
| Product Dimensions | 187 x 235 x 25 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Simon & Schuster |
| Format | paperback |
Media Reviews
“A remarkable book, both biologically absorbing and humanly rich, and one that should be read by every ecologically concerned American.” —John Fowles
“Animal Kingdom Of Wolves and Men is not only the best popular account of an animal I have read in a long time, but also something new — a bridge between books of the past and those of the future, which, it is hoped, will incorporate and expand the perceptions so eloquently treated here.” —George Schaller
“A splendid, beautiful book.” —Edmund Fuller, Wall Street Journal
“Fascinating....His book has a wealth of observation, mythology and mysticism about wolves that adds a colorful part to the still unfinished mosaic that defines the wolf.” —Bayard Webster, New Fork Times Book Review
“Eloquent....His own patient effort to understand a despised, feared and heavily mythologized beast induces a shiver, of strangeness, the sign of fresh, original work.” —Walter Clemons, Newsweek
“Unusually informative and sensitive.” —Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times
“Haunting....has something of value to say to all of us.” —Boston Globe
“Brilliant...a work of intelligence, dedication and beauty, deserving the widest possible attention not only for the sake of wolves but also for the sake of men.”—Whitley Streiber, Washington Post
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Barry Lopez (1945–2020) was the author of three collections of essays, including Horizon; several story collections; Arctic Dreams, for which he received the National Book Award; Of Wolves and Men, a National Book Award finalist; and Crow and Weasel, a novella-length fable. He contributed regularly to both American and foreign journals and traveled to more than seventy countries to conduct research. He was the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim, Lannan, and National Science Foundations and was honored by a number of institutions for his literary, humanitarian, and environmental work.