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34 reviews for:
Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind
David Quammen
3.92 AVERAGE
34 reviews for:
Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind
David Quammen
3.92 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Really good coverage of disappearing predators around the world. Quammen does a great job of examining declining predators and the people who live near them. Although some of his more philosophical thoughts on our relationship with large predators and man-eaters didn't really strike much of a chord with me, I thought he succeeded in thoroughly exploring all the issues surrounding the continued existence of these creatures.
Quammen studies four predators - lions in India, crocodiles in India and Australia, bears in Romania and tigers in Russia. He discusses their history, interviews ecologists in the field as well as the people who live close to these predators and are most affected by them. He examines the economics as well as the ecological impact of their decline or their resurgence. Even a chapter on the teeth of the various predators was much more interesting than I initially expected.
A fascinating and informative read.
Quammen studies four predators - lions in India, crocodiles in India and Australia, bears in Romania and tigers in Russia. He discusses their history, interviews ecologists in the field as well as the people who live close to these predators and are most affected by them. He examines the economics as well as the ecological impact of their decline or their resurgence. Even a chapter on the teeth of the various predators was much more interesting than I initially expected.
A fascinating and informative read.
A charming, meditative book that ambles through reporting on how modern societies live near alpha predators with wanderings through philosophical, historical, and sociological musings.
I normally prefer my non-fiction focused and clear, setting up a hypothesis or story and, straightforward, setting about proving it with rigor and education. Quammen works differently, taking the reader on the journey with him, asking questions he's not sure the answer to, leading you through the twisting paths of the scenic route.
You're left with a sense of wonder, a sense of the marvel and hugeness of nature, and with a beautiful discourse that fosters a sense of discovery.
It creates a solid foundation that you feel could run off in so many directions, and leaves you with a strong sense of appreciation of people, animals, and exploration.
I normally prefer my non-fiction focused and clear, setting up a hypothesis or story and, straightforward, setting about proving it with rigor and education. Quammen works differently, taking the reader on the journey with him, asking questions he's not sure the answer to, leading you through the twisting paths of the scenic route.
You're left with a sense of wonder, a sense of the marvel and hugeness of nature, and with a beautiful discourse that fosters a sense of discovery.
It creates a solid foundation that you feel could run off in so many directions, and leaves you with a strong sense of appreciation of people, animals, and exploration.
Whether through an error in my judgement or misleading advertising, this book wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting an exploration of the role and symbolism of alpha predators in religion, mythology and culture throughout history - certainly to me that is what the title implies. And the early chapters seemed to promise this, discussing the frequent references to lions in the Bible, the sacred roles given to bulls, crocodiles, lions in Egyptian hieroglyphs, shark worship on Pacific islands. But other than this all too brief exploration, with an occasional asides to discuss the Biblical Leviathan, Beowulf's Grendel, Humbaba in the Epic of Gilgamesh and, curiously, the alien in the Alien series, the rest of this book is devoted to exploring the relationship between a handful of native cultures and the alpha predators they share a landscape with.
So whilst I was disappointed this book wasn't what I'd been hoping for, I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. Quammen is an engaging writer and I enjoyed his recounting of his own adventures tracking Australian saltwater crocodiles, Indian lions, Romanian bears and Siberian tigers just as much as I enjoyed the insights into the cultures that exist alongside these predators. Mainstream urbanised humanity has become all too detached from the ecosystems of which we are a part - how many of us, after all, think of ourselves as being part of the food-chain? In the pyramid of alpha predators, by and large Man is most firmly at the top. But remove our technological advantages, remove our guns and our vehicles and our scientific understanding, put us alone and on foot in a predator's territory, and our pretensions to Alpha status prove all too hollow. We become Prey.
However, as Quammen investigates, the cultures and societies that live most closely alongside alpha predators often develop a respect and an accommodation for them, despite frequently competing with them for food and territory or clashing over livestock depredations. The biggest threat to these creatures is not the individuals who live in closest proximity to them, but the voracious consumption of resources by the increasing encroachment of civilisation. The last few pockets of territory in which these creatures, lions and tigers and bear (oh my!), can live wild and free is rapidly shrinking. And another concern, as Quammen points out, is that those native culture may vanish right along with them.
So a good book, but not the book I was hoping to read. If you're looking for an in-depth investigation of the deep-rooted fear of alpha predators in the human psyche or an exploration of how these fears have been expressed through the millennia via religion, literature and art, you'll enjoy this book certainly but it won't quite be the book you're looking for. Too much of the present and not enough of the past for me. I'm glad I read it, and I'm sure I'll read more of David Quammen's work, but for now I'll keep looking.
So whilst I was disappointed this book wasn't what I'd been hoping for, I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. Quammen is an engaging writer and I enjoyed his recounting of his own adventures tracking Australian saltwater crocodiles, Indian lions, Romanian bears and Siberian tigers just as much as I enjoyed the insights into the cultures that exist alongside these predators. Mainstream urbanised humanity has become all too detached from the ecosystems of which we are a part - how many of us, after all, think of ourselves as being part of the food-chain? In the pyramid of alpha predators, by and large Man is most firmly at the top. But remove our technological advantages, remove our guns and our vehicles and our scientific understanding, put us alone and on foot in a predator's territory, and our pretensions to Alpha status prove all too hollow. We become Prey.
However, as Quammen investigates, the cultures and societies that live most closely alongside alpha predators often develop a respect and an accommodation for them, despite frequently competing with them for food and territory or clashing over livestock depredations. The biggest threat to these creatures is not the individuals who live in closest proximity to them, but the voracious consumption of resources by the increasing encroachment of civilisation. The last few pockets of territory in which these creatures, lions and tigers and bear (oh my!), can live wild and free is rapidly shrinking. And another concern, as Quammen points out, is that those native culture may vanish right along with them.
So a good book, but not the book I was hoping to read. If you're looking for an in-depth investigation of the deep-rooted fear of alpha predators in the human psyche or an exploration of how these fears have been expressed through the millennia via religion, literature and art, you'll enjoy this book certainly but it won't quite be the book you're looking for. Too much of the present and not enough of the past for me. I'm glad I read it, and I'm sure I'll read more of David Quammen's work, but for now I'll keep looking.