|
| The Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild | 
| Author: Craig Childs
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $13.12
You Save: $11.87 (47%)
New (42) Collectible (2) from $13.12
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 13140
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 323
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 031606632X
Dewey Decimal Number: 590
EAN: 9780316066327
ASIN: 031606632X
Publication Date: December 12, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: H20080716212310T
|
| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-10 of 10 | | « PREV | | |
An Engaging Nature book February 11, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
A pleasure to read. I appreciate the author's experiences written in with the natural history of each creature. Nicely done!
A forgotten world January 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I came across Craig Childs in the Sun magazine, where an excerpt from Animal Dialogues, The Ravens, was included. Glued to the short story of his experience with the ravens in a lone area in Utah, I was delighted to find an entire book of such encounters.
Most people, myself included, these days, learn about animals from television cameras on Nature on public television or on the Discovery channel. The author brings these encounters closer to home and reminds us, indirectly, and through the active engagement of reading, that not so long ago, most humans shared the world with animals, learned from them and understood that these earthly companions have important messages to relay, just by their being who they are.
An Adventure December 21, 2007
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
The Animal Dialogues
Uncommon Encounters in the Wild
Craig Childs
ISBN: 978-0-316-06632-7
Little, Brown and Company, 2007
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
5 Stars
Even as a child, Craig Childs was intrigued and felt an affinity with wild life. He took notes and recorded sounds as he walked the fields below the east side of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Childs is a naturalist and adventurer. In his recent book, The Animal Dialogues, he shares a few of his adventures with readers. One section of the book is dedicated to his encounters with bears. I find it fascinating that the bears seem to respect Childs and to see him as no threat. The raccoon was not so pleasant. Childs sought to help the starving animal. When deer mice became a problem, the wisest solution seemed to be a cat. The feline predator formed a "Zone of Death." Few creatures were safe, squirrels, chipmunks, birds and rabbits were his prey. Nothing was safe except the mice.
The Animal Dialogues is written with a unique understanding and respect for animals. Craig Childs has a talent for the retelling of his encounters, weaving in fascinating details to form a tapestry that few can experience. Those who care for wildlife will not want to miss The Animal Dialogues.
Super stories, well told December 18, 2007
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
Reviewed by Al Olsen
Have you ever wondered about the history of the mountain goat in the continental United States? Or why the rancher who is trying to decrease the coyote population on his ranch seems to only get more coyote pups? These two questions and many, many more are explained in this wonderfully written book by author Craig Childs. His usage of the English language is eloquent, to say the least. This is top-quality writing from a sharp observer who describes himself as a naturalist or adventurist.
This book is a collection of thirty-seven essays of varying lengths. They are all personal encounters covering topics from mosquitoes to bears. Most of them are reflections written about these animals in the wild, in varying locations like the Sonora Desert in Mexico, or the Yukon River. He also wrote an interesting piece about birds flying into and out of the twin beams where the World Trade Center once stood.
One of the most distinctive aspects of his style of writing is the way that he plays with words and puts them opposite words that are unusual. Here is an example from his essay on the rainbow trout that clearly shows the fun that he has in describing it. "The motions that followed the length of its body caused great momentum. It moved as if it were solid energy prepared to erupt but satisfied with remaining in one place for a short time. It was as if water had taken a concrete a form and speckled itself with lavenders and reds."
Some of the more interesting pieces of trivia were cleverly disguised in his essay on porcupines. For instance, a porcupine's digestive system is nearly a third of its body weight. Then he goes on to talk about the quills. There is a greasy layer of fatty acid that coats the quill. A researcher discovered that this substance is mostly palmitic acid, which is a strong antibiotic as effective as penicillin. This is fascinating stuff!
This book would challenge high school students to expand their vocabulary-or for anyone who enjoys animals. A fun, educational, and delightful read!
Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended.
Truth is way better than fiction! December 12, 2007
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
Craig Childs has taken his experiences in the wild and brought them to you, but the best part is you can do what he does on your own. He does not try and convince you that a seasoned pro such as himself is the only person to view and be viewed by the wonders of nature. Come get lost in this book and then go get lost in nature. Nothing would make the author more happy. Child's writing style has a flow and credibility to it that few other authors have. Join Craig while he serenades a coyote, scares (although by accident) a mountain lion and does his very best to help (yes help) a bull shark. Happy Reading!
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links
Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |
