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kklask's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome book! If you love animals you'll love this book.
coloradocarrie's review against another edition
5.0
WOW WOW WOW...Just like the cover says...you will never look at a zoo the same way again. Shows the good and bad sides of zoos and conservation.
dcliz's review
5.0
"Zoo Story" is actually two books in one. The first is what I expected when I checked this book out of the library: an examination of the inherent conflict of the modern American zoo striving to conserve the planet's biodiversity while uncomfortably existing as an entertainment venue. I was surprised that I hadn't heard of any of the trials and tribulations happening in Tampa, since I was certainly hearing about and being personally affected by other events chronicled, most notably the San Francisco Zoo's tiger killing a visitor. (I was personally affected because this happened as I was being trained as a volunteer at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, and our training was actually changed in response--for instance, we were never able to go behind the scenes of certain exhibits due to safety concerns).
Thomas French portrays both sides of this inherent tension well, although his personal perspective certainly creeps in. For instance, he describes a newly acquired black bear as "captured in the wild as an orphaned cub," whereas a more neutral description might be "a non-releasable black bear that had been orphaned in the wild."
The last third of the book chronicles the downfall of the Zoo's executive director in the wake of the deaths of two animals. Having volunteered and worked for non-profit institutions for most of my life, this part struck uncomfortably close to home: the my-way-or-the-highway attitude of the Zoo's director; the complicit board ("Any of these directors could have stepped outside their comfort zones and wandered the zoo on their own and talked quietly to the staff"...but they of course did not); the staff who understood that they weren't valued at all: "the zoo had no trouble hiring replacements" for the minimum wage keepers, and failed to understand the the significant value of retaining staff for their institutional knowledge and expertise.
I found the book to be a real page-turner and recommend it to anyone who enjoys visiting zoos.
Thomas French portrays both sides of this inherent tension well, although his personal perspective certainly creeps in. For instance, he describes a newly acquired black bear as "captured in the wild as an orphaned cub," whereas a more neutral description might be "a non-releasable black bear that had been orphaned in the wild."
The last third of the book chronicles the downfall of the Zoo's executive director in the wake of the deaths of two animals. Having volunteered and worked for non-profit institutions for most of my life, this part struck uncomfortably close to home: the my-way-or-the-highway attitude of the Zoo's director; the complicit board ("Any of these directors could have stepped outside their comfort zones and wandered the zoo on their own and talked quietly to the staff"...but they of course did not); the staff who understood that they weren't valued at all: "the zoo had no trouble hiring replacements" for the minimum wage keepers, and failed to understand the the significant value of retaining staff for their institutional knowledge and expertise.
I found the book to be a real page-turner and recommend it to anyone who enjoys visiting zoos.
endless30's review against another edition
3.0
interesting book about the tampa zoo. although some good animal stories, the author doesn't take a side on the morality of zoos.
donnaadouglas's review against another edition
2.0
This is a biography of a zoo above anything else, and whilst it has some moments which leave you captivated, on the whole the writer writes in an overly dramatic manner which just doesn't lend itself well to the written word.
leosaumure's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing. It follows the series of events of a zoo in Florida who acquire a group of African Elephants. It also discusses many of the other animals in this zoo.
The book doesn't really pull any punches and it doesn't seem to be biased on the ethical implications of having wild animals on display in simulated habitats. In fact at the end, you might have a clearer picture of what both sides have to say about the issue, but it doesn't direct you in any ethical direction; it leaves that up to you.
In addition to the stories of the animals, it also tells some great stories about the people involved as well; the animal keepers, the activists, the game reserve owners and the CEO of the zoo.
I read this pretty quickly, which is rare for me as I'm usually a very slow reader. So that should demonstrate how great this book was.
The book doesn't really pull any punches and it doesn't seem to be biased on the ethical implications of having wild animals on display in simulated habitats. In fact at the end, you might have a clearer picture of what both sides have to say about the issue, but it doesn't direct you in any ethical direction; it leaves that up to you.
In addition to the stories of the animals, it also tells some great stories about the people involved as well; the animal keepers, the activists, the game reserve owners and the CEO of the zoo.
I read this pretty quickly, which is rare for me as I'm usually a very slow reader. So that should demonstrate how great this book was.
jkkb332's review against another edition
5.0
I was starving for a book worthy of more than three stars, so it's no surprise that I devoured this in two short evenings. Although I did finish [b:Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show|6704682|Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show|Frank Delaney|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276043365s/6704682.jpg|6900439] the night before, and gave it four stars, it was not the kind of book you read with any haste if you want to appreciate its depth. This book, however. This book... the fact that I read this in two nights, and Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show in about a week, says nothing negative about either book. This one is a quicker read, but that doesn't make the story shallow. There were moments of serious levity and just plain seriousness. It was well balanced, both in the emotion it portrayed and in the facts it gave regarding the great zoo dilemma (love them or hate them?). It was captivating and educational. French assumes an intelligent audience, guiding his readers to a conclusion without spelling it all out for them. He allows the reader to like or dislike at will the man who catapulted this story into existence, understanding that he's as polarizing a character as any French could have created.
The effect of these things is that this quickly becomes a "stay up far too late reading this one night" (as I did last night) "and far too late thinking about it the next" (as I'm sure to do tonight) book. It's mesmerizing. I was lucky enough once, in middle school, to spend the night at a zoo. I would love to do that now - to be given the chance to observe, to learn, to understand the zoo's behind-the-scenes routines and habits. I've wished that before since reaching adulthood, but more so now after reading Zoo Story.
I've accepted for some time that while I feel that I should have some moral indignation towards zoos, I just don't. In fact, while I understand that animals should be free and not subject to man's egotistical entertainment, I rather enjoy zoos. I love animals and I love the chance to observe them up close. I can't imagine a world in which a person could go their entire lives without ever seeing an elephant, or a lion, or an otter, or a python in person. I also agree with French's point that it is unfair to force the human idea of freedom onto nature. In a zoo, animals trade independence and free will for regular meals and consistently comfortable routine in a human-controlled environment. Which is better for the animal? Who's to say? These are among the questions French poses in this unbiased examination.
One thing is for sure: after reading this book, I'll never be able to go to the zoo without it in mind. And that right there - not just the behind the scenes info, not just the heartbreaking moments, not just the animals who are at times surprisingly full of personality, not just the intricately woven history of the zoo - that makes this book five stars.
The effect of these things is that this quickly becomes a "stay up far too late reading this one night" (as I did last night) "and far too late thinking about it the next" (as I'm sure to do tonight) book. It's mesmerizing. I was lucky enough once, in middle school, to spend the night at a zoo. I would love to do that now - to be given the chance to observe, to learn, to understand the zoo's behind-the-scenes routines and habits. I've wished that before since reaching adulthood, but more so now after reading Zoo Story.
I've accepted for some time that while I feel that I should have some moral indignation towards zoos, I just don't. In fact, while I understand that animals should be free and not subject to man's egotistical entertainment, I rather enjoy zoos. I love animals and I love the chance to observe them up close. I can't imagine a world in which a person could go their entire lives without ever seeing an elephant, or a lion, or an otter, or a python in person. I also agree with French's point that it is unfair to force the human idea of freedom onto nature. In a zoo, animals trade independence and free will for regular meals and consistently comfortable routine in a human-controlled environment. Which is better for the animal? Who's to say? These are among the questions French poses in this unbiased examination.
One thing is for sure: after reading this book, I'll never be able to go to the zoo without it in mind. And that right there - not just the behind the scenes info, not just the heartbreaking moments, not just the animals who are at times surprisingly full of personality, not just the intricately woven history of the zoo - that makes this book five stars.
midwinteraz's review against another edition
2.0
While this was a decent book, it never really grabbed me. The events of the story should have been compelling, but it all fell a little flat.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve always felt conflicted about zoos. On the one hand, I enjoy seeing the animals up close and personal. On the other hand, I always feel guilty. No matter how big or “friendly” their habitat, I still feel a bit melancholy when I see magnificent wild animals living their lives in such an unnatural way. Then I try to make myself feel better by telling myself that they might be better off in a zoo—safe from poachers and other dangers found in the wild. In short, like many others, I have a love/hate relationship with zoos. So when I saw journalist Thomas French’s book, Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives, that purported to give an inside look at Tampas’ Lowry Park Zoo, I snapped it up immediately.
In addition to my curiosity about the inner workings of a zoo, I was also drawn to this book because we visited Lowry Park Zoo several times, and I always enjoy reading about places I’ve been to in real life. I was able to picture many of the places he described—and remember watching the baby elephant whose conception and birth is described in the book.
This book tells many stories—including the rise and fall of the zoo’s controversial CEO Lex Salisbury to the reign and tragic ends of the zoo’s “king” and “queen” (Herman the Orangutan and Enshalla the Tiger). The book opens with the transport of a group of elephants from Swaziland, Africa to Florida. Using the acquisition and journey of the elephants to highlight some of the issues and controversies surrounding zoos, French highlights the reasons why so many of us are conflicted about zoos. He tells how the elephants are losing their native habitat through their own voracious appetites and why this perilous journey might be their best hope of survival, yet he contrasts this with the way the zoo markets the elephants and may not really have their best interests at heart. In addition, French’s account of the death of a young Lowry Park zookeeper at the hands of a captive elephant gives the reader pause about whether keeping wild animals in a zoo is really the best decision for all involved.
The story that French is trying to tell is complex, and I think that both helps and hurts the book. On one hand, the reader gets to view the zoo from many different perspectives. We meet various keepers, the animals, and the zoo’s management. We get a glimpse of how a modern zoo must balance financial health, conservation efforts, and the well-being of the animals. In the case of Lowry Park Zoo, we also get an insider’s look at the controversy surrounding Lex Salisbury, who was both loved and reviled within the zoo. On the other hand, juggling so many different stories means that none of them get enough attention. I often found myself getting caught up in a particular story line and then being disappointed when I didn’t get more depth or follow-up. French has a wealth of material, and I wished he had written a longer book. Too often, I felt like the individual stories were given short shrift.
Despite that, I found the book to be interesting and eye-opening. Although it did little to help me settle my own misgivings about zoos in general, the book provided me with lots of food for thought. If you’re interested in learning more about zoos, I think this book does a good job highlighting their pros and cons. (And it would be a great Z book if you are doing the A to Z Title Challenge.) A word of caution though: If you are reading this book mostly because you are interested in animals, you might be disappointed. Although French takes the time to discuss various animals, he spends considerably more time on the various political machinations that affected the zoo during Salisbury’s stewardship.
In addition to my curiosity about the inner workings of a zoo, I was also drawn to this book because we visited Lowry Park Zoo several times, and I always enjoy reading about places I’ve been to in real life. I was able to picture many of the places he described—and remember watching the baby elephant whose conception and birth is described in the book.
This book tells many stories—including the rise and fall of the zoo’s controversial CEO Lex Salisbury to the reign and tragic ends of the zoo’s “king” and “queen” (Herman the Orangutan and Enshalla the Tiger). The book opens with the transport of a group of elephants from Swaziland, Africa to Florida. Using the acquisition and journey of the elephants to highlight some of the issues and controversies surrounding zoos, French highlights the reasons why so many of us are conflicted about zoos. He tells how the elephants are losing their native habitat through their own voracious appetites and why this perilous journey might be their best hope of survival, yet he contrasts this with the way the zoo markets the elephants and may not really have their best interests at heart. In addition, French’s account of the death of a young Lowry Park zookeeper at the hands of a captive elephant gives the reader pause about whether keeping wild animals in a zoo is really the best decision for all involved.
The story that French is trying to tell is complex, and I think that both helps and hurts the book. On one hand, the reader gets to view the zoo from many different perspectives. We meet various keepers, the animals, and the zoo’s management. We get a glimpse of how a modern zoo must balance financial health, conservation efforts, and the well-being of the animals. In the case of Lowry Park Zoo, we also get an insider’s look at the controversy surrounding Lex Salisbury, who was both loved and reviled within the zoo. On the other hand, juggling so many different stories means that none of them get enough attention. I often found myself getting caught up in a particular story line and then being disappointed when I didn’t get more depth or follow-up. French has a wealth of material, and I wished he had written a longer book. Too often, I felt like the individual stories were given short shrift.
Despite that, I found the book to be interesting and eye-opening. Although it did little to help me settle my own misgivings about zoos in general, the book provided me with lots of food for thought. If you’re interested in learning more about zoos, I think this book does a good job highlighting their pros and cons. (And it would be a great Z book if you are doing the A to Z Title Challenge.) A word of caution though: If you are reading this book mostly because you are interested in animals, you might be disappointed. Although French takes the time to discuss various animals, he spends considerably more time on the various political machinations that affected the zoo during Salisbury’s stewardship.
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
4.0
"Zoos argue that they are fighting for the conservation of the Earth, that they educate the public and provide refuge and support for vanishing species. And they are right. Animal-rights groups argue that zoos traffic in living creatures, exploiting them for financial gain and amusement. And they are right. Caught inside this contradiction are the animals themselves, and the humans charged with their well-being.”
This is an incredibly thought provoking book about the animals in zoos, where they come from, who cares for them and the relationships that exist between the animals, each other, and their keepers. It makes me want to visit a zoo and eradicate zoos all at the same time.
The book lost a little steam for me towards the end as the focus shifted from the animals at Lowry Park Zoo to the investigation and removal of the park's CEO but otherwise it was a really interesting look at all sides of the zoo picture. I'm still very conflicted about all of it.
This is an incredibly thought provoking book about the animals in zoos, where they come from, who cares for them and the relationships that exist between the animals, each other, and their keepers. It makes me want to visit a zoo and eradicate zoos all at the same time.
The book lost a little steam for me towards the end as the focus shifted from the animals at Lowry Park Zoo to the investigation and removal of the park's CEO but otherwise it was a really interesting look at all sides of the zoo picture. I'm still very conflicted about all of it.