I was amazed both by the devotion of a random South African conservationist and the Iraqi zoo workers, and the surprising connections the American solI was amazed both by the devotion of a random South African conservationist and the Iraqi zoo workers, and the surprising connections the American soldiers and other military crews made with the desperate animals. I wouldn't have expected such an "anything for the animals" attitude in the midst of a warzone. The zoo never would have survived without the numerous random acts of generosity. There is also the flip side, with the general population of Baghdad pushed to such a point of chaos and desperation that they would kill and eat anything that didn't eat them first, and take absolutely anything that wasn't nailed down (and hack apart anything that was). The degree of creativity and perseverence required, both in the physical reconstruction of the zoo (How do you decrease looters? Make them scrub down months-neglected carnivore cages in urban desert insects and heat) and the delicate politics (given any workers could be arrested or shot for being associated with either side of the conflict) were incredibly impressive. And I am always blown away at clueless people who come charging in trying to be heroes without any regard to the actual situation at hand (Liberate Hussein's pet lions! Send them back to be free in the wild! Nevermind that they're declawed, they need to be free!). I could have done without the final chapter of random "save the planet" soapboxing, but overall this is an in-depth account of success among the innumerable forces at work in a volatile situation....more
Johnson essentially uses an 1850s cholera outbreak in London as a stepping point to explore the history of both human cities and medical thought. SomeJohnson essentially uses an 1850s cholera outbreak in London as a stepping point to explore the history of both human cities and medical thought. Sometimes the digressions make the story a little hard to follow and time can get a little confused, but it does a wonderful job of telling the story of that particular outbreak and tying all its parts into their historical context. I was particularly fascinated by the exploration of how medical and scientific consensus can be so ingrained and self-reinforcing that new (and later obvious) concepts may struggle for decades to break through. The efforts of Snow and Whitehead in defeating cholera are mind-boggling.
It's an easy and thought-provoking read and gives a surface treatment to a vast number of issues. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the book group for this one, it has excellent discussion potential. ...more
Beautiful book about both exotic and domestic animal training (with particular insight into the differences), with an emphasis on circus acts. Though Beautiful book about both exotic and domestic animal training (with particular insight into the differences), with an emphasis on circus acts. Though he may be one of many who claim to be the first to train animals through patience, understanding, and reward rather than cruelty, Brick's insights are excellent. This is one of the few books on the subject that actually details step-by-step basic training for several exotics (such as training a big cat to seat itself on a ledge and stay there). The whole book is a wonderful read, but the eloquent first chapter alone (What a Trainer Should Know) makes it worth finding....more
I didn't know it was possible to write about vanishing species in a humorous way, but Adams manages it. He somehow manages to treat the subject with rI didn't know it was possible to write about vanishing species in a humorous way, but Adams manages it. He somehow manages to treat the subject with respect and convey real information, but at the same time, the entire book is hilarious. Who else could present a megapode in the same light as a computer geek? I have a whole new respect for Adams as a writer. ...more
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