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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD narrated by Simon Vance
3.5***
Subtitle: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures
Alternate Subtitle: The Powerful Story of One Man's Battle to Save a Species
Lawrence Anthony has been called the Indiana Jones of conservationism. He certainly lives up to that moniker in this memoir of his efforts to save the last remaining Northern White Rhinos in the wild.
Anthony went to great lengths to plan a rescue of these magnificent beasts. But he was up against a growing market for the illegally gotten rhino horns (which are nothing more than keratin … the same basic material that makes up our fingernails), the increasingly military-style training and equipped poachers, the inane bureaucratic hoops he had to jump through (repeatedly), and a civil war with one of the most feared, ruthless rebel groups, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Still, he would not give up. The stories of his meetings with official leaders, and then with LRA generals are fascinating.
Of course, he also writes about the animals … from rhinos to elephants to bushbabies to spitting cobras. No living creature will be killed by man on his reserve, Thula Thula in Zululand, South Africa. I only wish that more of the book was focused on the animals rather than on the negotiations with government officials and rebel group leaders.
Simon Vance does a wonderful job of narrating the audiobook. He really brings this memoir to life; I felt as if Anthony, himself, were telling me about his adventures.
3.5***
Subtitle: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures
Alternate Subtitle: The Powerful Story of One Man's Battle to Save a Species
Lawrence Anthony has been called the Indiana Jones of conservationism. He certainly lives up to that moniker in this memoir of his efforts to save the last remaining Northern White Rhinos in the wild.
Anthony went to great lengths to plan a rescue of these magnificent beasts. But he was up against a growing market for the illegally gotten rhino horns (which are nothing more than keratin … the same basic material that makes up our fingernails), the increasingly military-style training and equipped poachers, the inane bureaucratic hoops he had to jump through (repeatedly), and a civil war with one of the most feared, ruthless rebel groups, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Still, he would not give up. The stories of his meetings with official leaders, and then with LRA generals are fascinating.
Of course, he also writes about the animals … from rhinos to elephants to bushbabies to spitting cobras. No living creature will be killed by man on his reserve, Thula Thula in Zululand, South Africa. I only wish that more of the book was focused on the animals rather than on the negotiations with government officials and rebel group leaders.
Simon Vance does a wonderful job of narrating the audiobook. He really brings this memoir to life; I felt as if Anthony, himself, were telling me about his adventures.
suebrownreads's review against another edition
5.0
I so loved this book, and it makes me sad that I have finished all three of Lawrence Anthony's books. I wish he was still alive to continue his good work, and to write more books about it. He was an amazing and dedicated conservationist. He cared about this world and all of the animals that are a part of it including the human animal. I know he must be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
hollylou9's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Lawrence was an absolute phenomenal human being and I wish there were 1000's like him. This is such a great read with so many jaw dropping stories.
linda_v's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written, shows the fight to try and save the last rhinos in the wild. Really interesting!
lsinfield's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic. Just as amazing as The Elephant Whisperer. Now I desperately want to find his first book. I am so very sad to hear that Lawrence is no longer with us, but am glad his family is keeping up the fight, and I truly hope to visit Thula Thula someday.
zarahmitchell's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
barkylee15's review against another edition
3.0
This one is my fault, I think. Or my relation to the narrator. I remember his voice form the Millennium trilogy and also remember only truly listening about 1/3 of the time. Not sure what it is about his voice.
This probably would have been better read by me, though I do think I expected more about the rhinos and less about the politics or him trying to playing middle-man there. Oh well! I would maybe still read the elephant book by him, because honestly they played a bigger part in this one than the rhinos did.
^ bad review, I know. I’m on an early flight ugh.
This probably would have been better read by me, though I do think I expected more about the rhinos and less about the politics or him trying to playing middle-man there. Oh well! I would maybe still read the elephant book by him, because honestly they played a bigger part in this one than the rhinos did.
^ bad review, I know. I’m on an early flight ugh.