Reviews

The Hidden World of the Fox by Adele Brand

mariahmmm's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.0

A beautifully written scientific novel on the life of foxes and the encroachment of our world into the fox's domain. For a non-fiction book with a lot of information, the author's writing was very lyrical and filled with personal stories of their experiences and encounters with foxes in the UK and around the world. I really enjoyed learning more about foxes and their place in our ecosystems.

readerkat8's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

3.5

Informative book about foxes in general and more specially in Britain. 

The audiobook was well narrated, but I found myself wishing I had the physical version to be able to refer back to stats or facts. 

lisawhelpley's review against another edition

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4.0

If you liked My Octopus Teacher, you'll like this book. I'd, like me, you hated that movie, you will really like this book. The author assigns no human characteristics nor personalities to foxes. She tells us facts and explains her studies to learn more. And it's charmingly written.
Also, I've always wondered why we don't domesticate foxes. Now I know. Let a fox be a fox.

the_neon_poodle's review against another edition

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4.0

A well written book that is equal parts own experiences and observations, physiological science and social issues surrounding the fox.

annetjeberg's review against another edition

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3.0

Loved the topic, but the editing, please! It is very hard for me to read a book with a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. It is just so distracting, and this book just really deserves a great editor, because the writing is fine otherwise!

orchidlilly's review against another edition

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informative reflective fast-paced

2.5

Absolute middle of the road. The writing was fine, if more anecdotal than strictly fact based. It's very heavily Britain centric, and the general cautioning and searches for a solution to a problem specifically relevant to the UK public. It's pleasant enough, but I feel like it would be more successful if it were edited down and published in wildlife magazines and newspapers rather than as a book.

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suria_go's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.25

agingerg's review against another edition

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Topic wasn’t for me. 

piperclover's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

5.0

This was such a good time and such a well written nonfiction. The narrator was perfect. The author is so good at explaining scientific terms, and data collection methods, and descriptions in a clear, easily understandable manner. 

 There are anecdotes and examples that are incredibly funny sometimes. I Googled numerous times because I couldn't believe some of the things she was saying were true like a fox that accidentally lived in a high-rise building or a fox that took a ride on a double-decker tour bus.  There are really sobering anecdote too about foxes that are murdered in cold blood by humans or how some Londoners advocate for fox cullings. 

I think the author does a  good job of giving you those anecdotes in a very balanced way so I never thought the book was too late hearted and therefore omitting crucial information or not grounded in reality but also not so sad as to make you feel like everything is useless. 

 The author is good at giving useful comparisons of other fox populations or how other countries are dealing with contagious or with wild animal attacks.  In particular,  she comments on both Canadian and American happenings in these topics as a foundation for understanding both how England reacts to foxes and to how western countries generally handle animal/human cohabitation. 

 She also breaks down the politicization of wild animals living in neighborhoods, particularly foxes, in a way that is so digestible. She explains how the extremes on both sides of the political spectrums in regards to foxes is damaging and useless. 

The final chapter is a toolkit of how to safely admire wild foxes and I think that is such a fantastic ending. 

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blumbo's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

3.5