Reviews (2)

Peacock is the ticket
Doug Peacock knows more about grizzly bears than the next 10 writers combined. If you want jive-Hollywood-stories, read the other books. If you're interested in the real thing, go for Peacock. And for Edward Abbey fans, Doug's "Walking It Off" is a must read.

Refreshing
. . a breath of fresh air for those of us interested in bears and their fate. Shake off the heavy coat of mind boggling conflicting advice about how to act in bear country and read Doug Peacock's book.He tells it to you straight. "Don't travel into grizzly country reeking of bad karma or old tuna fish." This book leaves others behind with new knowledge and experiences unwritten to date. Doug and Andrea go straight to the heart of the problems and joys of having gizzlies on earth and exhibit hope that people can learn how to behave before we kill or love all the bears to death. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals / Pets    3. Bears    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Nature / Bears   

Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Individual Species Of Mammals    3. Mammals    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    7. Nature / Bears    8. Polar bear    9. Polar bear - Pictorial works   

Reviews (6)

Simply a stunning book!!
I found Tom Mangelsen's gallery in Jackson a few months ago, and while I was there, I had a chance to see many of his just downright stunning images. The best book of the best nature photographer
I discovered the work of Thomas Mangelson about ten years ago in Jackson, Wyoming, when I stumbled across a gallery devoted to his work.The most famous image there, the one of two grown polar bears "dancing," is on the cover of this book. Essential, wonderful personal story, captivating photos
This is an essential book for polar bear and nature photography lovers alike. There are over 250 photos of polar bears, and arctic wildlife captured in the beautiful frozen world they live in. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Individual Photographer    3. Individual Species Of Mammals    4. Photo Essays    5. Photography    6. Pictorial works    7. Polar bear    8. Polar bears    9. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    10. Arctic regions    11. History of other lands    12. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    13. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (19)

------Amazing adventure story------
Although, a little slow to start, this book took off and became a fascinating read.It's the true story of Ruth Harkness, a sophisticated New York dress designer.Ruth's husband, Bill was from a wealthy family which enabled him to live the life of an adventurer.His desire was to bring a giant panda back from China. He ventured out early in their marriage and headed for China.Unfortunately, Bill became ill on his trip and died in China. This story is how Ruth adopted Bill's dream and had her own expeditions to China in search of the illusive panda.
THE LADY AND THE PANDA
Knowing the author (Vickie Croke) made this all the more special for me. The book is easy to read, her research is thorough, and the true life drama is made so REAL. It is hard to put it down and get back to work!

PAGE TURNING TRUE ADVENTURE
I am an avid reader of all types of books, fiction and non-fiction. This is by far, one of the best books I have read in a long time. The author did her research well and wasted not a word. This book is a bittersweet story of life. I didn't want it to end. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Animals    3. Bears    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Giant panda    8. Harkness, Ruth    9. Mammals    10. Reference    11. Women    12. Zoological Gardens    13. Biography & Autobiography / Women   

Subjects:  1. Animal Ecology    2. Animals    3. Bears    4. Description And Travel    5. Endangered species    6. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. Human-animal relationships    9. Mammals    10. Nature    11. Travel    12. Nature / Bears   

Reviews (1)

An exciting essay on bears in nature. Extreme Photography
Kennan Ward:''Grizzlies in the Wild": This is the stuff that gets a"couch potato" out to the campsites! Nature at it's extreme,Indian legend, bears so huge and unique that that they are known far andwide by their names alone. Carniverous and dangerous, the author respectsthem all. The tenacity of Ward's pursuits and his dedication as aphotographer, brings us one of the most inspiring and picturesque booksthat i've read in a very long time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Arctic regions    3. Bears    4. General    5. Individual Species Of Mammals    6. Mammals    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Photography / Nature & Wildlife    10. Pictorial works    11. Polar bear    12. Travel    13. Ward, Kennan    14. Journeys    15. Nature & Wildlife    16. Photographs: collections    17. Photography    18. Wild animals   

Reviews (17)

Bear attacks
This is a must read for anyone who intends to be on the ground in grizzly country or in black bear country. It contains many carefully researched bear attack accounts, interviews, reconstructions , etc. No made up stuff.No anthropomorphism. No touchy feely wishful utopian stuff.This guy is a realist and cautious. He wants to save lives.If only the suicidal psychopath from Malibu (or better yet his girl friend) had read and understood this book (the key is understood!) we might not have that fascinating movie to talk about. Like Bob Golden, thechief biologist for David Brower for 15 years once told me.."Grizzlies are utterly incompatible with human beings."

Very informative
Not badly written.The author knows his subject very well.The book is about bear attacks, of course; and so I do not see how anybody can protest that the book is too gory.None of the gore is gratuitous.The author is not out to scare anybody excessively, is not anti-conservationist, and has no irrelevant political agenda.

What to expect when you're expecting to be mauled
This is the single greatest academic look at bear attacks.Herrero is so exhaustive in his efforts to describe every type of bear attack that after a while you wonder how you can possibly survive a night outside. It seems that in every situation, no matter what you do to avoid a mauling there is a story where it leads to a mauling.But his complete look at all types of maulings comes to two conclusions.First there are basic strategies that work in almost all situations and second, bears are unpredictable so there is no magic answer for all situations.
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Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Nature / Bears   

Editorial Review

When naturalist Kilham was asked to take in two orphaned black bear cubs, the conventional wisdom was that he would end up with 200-pound brutes too dependent to leave home. So Kilham decided to try his own unconventional method--he raised them in their natural habitat, surrounded by the wild bear-filled woods of New Hampshire. As their bear mother, he was given an unprecedented look into the lives of bears and what he observed turns bear stereotypes on their head. Black bears exhibit behaviors thought to be found only in humans and great apes, such as an intricate system of communication and cooperation, insight, planning, deception, and even ethics, like fair play, empathy, and altruism (qualities not found in apes). Kilham, who has now raised 26 cubs, is an intrepid bear mom, and a humble and delightful storyteller. This is an irresistible story of some of the most endearing rogues ever encountered. Read more

Reviews (8)

Among the Bears: Raising Orphaned Cubs in the Wild
I'm only half way through the book but I can tell you it is difficult to put down. As a wildlife Rehabilitator I find Benjamin Kilham's book informative yet fun to read.

Black Bears are great
I just finished reading Among the Bears and I think Benjamin did a great job at describing the bears body language, and his explenation of what their sounds and gestures meant are superb,,,I have seen a lot of bears in the last 40 years and have seen several of these gestures..This book starts out a little slow but soon picks up and then Icould not stop reading, This book does tell it like it really is in thebears world good and bad

Benjamin Kilham is a complete idiot - He actually supports bear hunting!!!
I've never been more disappointed in a book and I think this is the first book I've ever actually returned.I didn't want this man to get a single penny from me.My concerns were immediately raised when I read that he was a gunmaker and when he made the comment "I reached out to poke the radio on to a country western station.I like to listen to songs with lyrics I can understand".So I immediately look up bear hunting in the index and am soon horrified to read that he supports hunting and even bear hunting and tries to justify it as a valid wildlife management technique!How he could ever raise cubs and yet still support murdering them for fun is beyond me.Torturing and/or killing animals for pleasure is a classic sign of being a sociopath.So if you love wildlife and bears like I do and if you're an intelligent person then you will avoid this book like the plaque.If you want to read an amazing book about bears and two amazing people then get "Grizzly Heart" by Charlie Russel and Maureen Enns.Unfortunately, for some reason this book isn't yet available in the US and you must order it from Canada but its worth the extra trouble. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Bears    3. Behavior    4. Black bear    5. Black bears    6. Kilham, Benjamin    7. Mammals    8. Nature    9. Nature / Field Guide Books    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Wild animals    12. Zoology & animal sciences   

Reviews (32)

Interesting and informative, but preachy.
When the author went out of his way to preach his own bias about the relationship between bears and mankind, his book lost a little of its luster in my view.I am not of the opinion that man is the bad guy, and that we should give way to the bears.Bears are not man's equals.

If you like bear attack stories, then you will enjoy this book...
I enjoyed the book overall, I found it to be very entertaining and informative.
The best bear attack book I have read!
I have read three bear attack books altogether, but this is my favorite by far.Actually, the first story is the best of the whole book.The author did a superb job in getting in depth interviews with the victims, the victims families, and park rangers about the attack.
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Subjects:  1. Bear attacks    2. Bears    3. Grizzly bear    4. Mammals    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Wildlife    8. Nature / Bears    9. True crime   

Reviews (2)

Accurate, easy to read book on black bears.
I'm the author of Backcountry Bear Basics: The Definitive Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters, and there aren't many books about bears I can recommend, but this is one of them. It doesn't portray black bears as demons or Disneyland characters. It's 100% accurate and the writing is topnotch: very engaging. If you can only buy one book about black bears, thisis it. If you can buy two books, add A Shadow In The Forest: Idaho's BlackBears, by two Idaho biologists.

Excellent detailed content along with wonderful photographs
Granted, this is not the type of book one would normally 'just happen upon'. However, if you are looking specifically for information on "Ursus Americanus", the American Black Bear, this is the one you want.I have been involved in black bear research for over 10 years.This is the most detailed, well photographed, and up to date book I have found.Did I mention it is also enjoyable to read?!The combined effort of the researcher and author resulted in an excellent book.While reading this book, you'll come to learn the behavior, life cycles, lauguage and habitat of the black bear.Take advantage of others' years of experience, and photography; take their knowledge. You'll come away with a complete understanding of black bears that you will not get from any other resource ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals / Pets    2. Bears    3. General    4. Mammals   

Reviews (1)

Reguired reading for anyone going to the McNeil river.
Awsome pictures of Alaska's brown bears at the McNeil River.This book is essential for anyone going or planning a trip to photograph the bears on the McNeil river. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Animals    3. Bears    4. Environmental Conservation & Protection    5. General    6. Individual Species Of Mammals    7. Kodiak bear    8. McNeil River State Game Sanctu    9. McNeil River State Game Sanctuary    10. McNeil River State Game Sanctuary (Alaska)    11. Nature    12. Nature/Ecology   

Subjects:  1. Animal Populations    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Bears    4. General    5. Individual Photographer    6. Nature Photography    7. Photo Techniques    8. Photoessays & Documentaries    9. Photography    10. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals   

Reviews (1)

This is the most informative book about bears ever!
Anyone who is ever remotely interested in bears should read this book.It is suitible for all ages.I found it to be very informative and easy to understand.Anything you want to know about bears is in this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Bears    3. General    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Reference    7. Mammals    8. Nature / Bears   

Reviews (16)

Still an open question.
Rick Bass challenges us to reconsider the question of whether there are grizzlies left in the wilderness of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.It is a question that is not easy to answer with a "yes" or "no".So what if he or someone else finds evidence as in traces of grizzly hair in scat, or sizes of footprints in the mud, or claw marks on the trunks of aspen trees, or better yet, has a brief encounter with what looks or sounds like a grizzly bear?This may well be the last survivor(s) of a population that is doomed for extinction, whichmany people have prepared themselves to accept or acknowledge.Besides, documenting their existence may bring more intruders (hunters, outfitters, biologists included) to this fragile wilderness, thus accelerating the demise of this once-mighty population.The real issue here is not whether they are still there, but whether knowing that they may still be there is enough for us to respect their right to be left alone, to leave their domain untrammeled, and lessen our own ruination by ensuring a greater natural legacy to future generations.
Needed less pomposity
Author Rick Bass recounts three years of annual efforts to find evidence of grizzly bears in Colorado's San Juan mountains. Each time, he heads into the woods with a colorful cast of characters, most notably Grizzly Years author Doug Peacock. Their goal is to document the presence of the endangered grizzly; success will presumably spark a reaction in the government and conservation agencies to take efforts to protect both the grizzly and its environment. Bass finds what appears to be plenty of evidence, culminating in a terrifying encounter with a large male grizzly from 30 feet away. The centerpiece of the book is on the way that Bass and his companions interact with the environment around them, be it the woods, or the towns and ranches that they visit for one reason or another.
Defining
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of the trail, but as science it dosen't bother to include any. Only the fact that standard conservation biology principles are ridiculed. Unfortunately this population of Ursus arctos horribilus is all but gone. They are at California Condor levels if present at all. They see one bear, but what of the DNA analysis? Bass does not tell us here. Bass's bear is more a vision than a reality. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    3. Essays    4. Grizzly bear    5. Grizzly bears    6. Mammals    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. San Juan Mountains (Colo. and N.M.)    10. Nature / Bears    11. Wild animals   

Reviews (7)

Who says that bears aren't human?
This is an excellent read that I highly recommend to any animal lover or for the individual who has ever had doubts that any animal lacks human feelings and responses.
A GREAT BOOK FOR BLACK BEAR LOVERS
WALKING WITH BEARS IS A GREAT STORY OF ONE MANS LOVE FOR THE BLACK BEAR. TERRY DEBRUYN MAKES YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE WITH HIM IN THE WOODS AS HE WALKS WITH THE BEARS. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I HOPE ONE DAY I CAN BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEARS AROUND MY HOME AS THE AUTHOR DID. I RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LOVES BEARS SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

Fascinating!
If you're at all interested in the natural world around us, and concerned about how much we take for granted in this day and age, this is a sobering and fascinating look at black bears.The author tracks the lives of a family of bears (mainly 3 generations worth) over the course of a year to discuss their behaviors and their seasonal variation.Almost as a by product of this you learn a lot about bears, and the actions and motivations of potentially dangerous wild animals as a whole.I feel a lot safer being outdoors having read some of the explanations for the motivations of aggressive behavior, especially towards humans.I would say more about the book itself but I think it is best left as a surprise.Suffice it to say if you've wondered about bears or the upbringing of offspring in animals, this is a superb book.It's my first book on bears so there may be some others out there which others would suggest first, but I don't see how one could go wrong with this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Black bear    3. Debruyn, Terry D    4. Essays    5. Human-animal relationships    6. Individual Species Of Mammals    7. Mammals    8. Michigan    9. Nature    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Upper Peninsula    12. Nature / Bears   

Reviews (2)

A great book
I absolutely enjoyed this book along with the great photographs and illustrations. It is hard to imagine that the great bear once roamed so much of California, especially in the modern day concrete jungles that sprouted from such pristine wildlife habitat. Ms. Snyder did a great job of putting together and telling the stories of this facsinating animal. Can you imagine, hiking Malibu beach and seeing grizzlies feasting on a beached whale? I was born 100 years too late. If you love grizzlies, or California history, buy this book!!!

A National Monument
While this book is as hefty as a grizzly, and costs as much as a concert ticket (granted, only an upper mezzanine seat), Bear In Mind is *the* book for my coffee table: I want to read it luxuriously, I want to pore over every written word, every detail of art and artifact in its pages. I want my Californian friends to see it. I want to get copies for their homes.This book reclaims the legacy of the grizzly, and ought to replace the bear flag as the symbol of state and national pride and humility. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Art    3. Bears    4. California    5. Environmental Conservation & Protection - Endangered Species    6. Grizzly bear    7. History    8. Nature    9. Pictorial works    10. Sources   

Reviews (6)

A Book For Ringneck Pheasant Fans
If you are reading this review then you are probably a Ringneck pheasant fan like me. I will say up front, this book won't dissapoint you. The large color photos of pheasants, fields, dogs, hunters and guns are wonderful.All are in full color and obviously shot by good photographers.There is also a fair share of narrative with many of the photos so you can spend lots of time reading and enjoying thebook.

Good Work
The item was in perfect condition.It was shipped in a moderate time and in excelent shape,so good I orderd 2 more.

Great Book
A GREAT book full of some very colorful pictures.If the sight of a flushing Pheasant in full colors in autumn brings you joy - you will enjoy this book.Pictures of bird hunters, western landscapes, birddogs, shotguns and short stories. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hunting - Bird Hunting    2. Hunting - General    3. Pheasant shooting    4. Pictorial works    5. Ring-necked pheasant    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. United States    9. Hunting or shooting animals & game    10. Nature / Bears   

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Animal Ecology    3. Animals    4. Animals / Pets    5. Bear attacks    6. Bears    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Outdoor Skills    10. Outdoor Survival Techniques    11. Nature / Bears   

Editorial Review

Alaska has a population of more than 30,000 grizzly bears, almost all thatsurvive in the United States. It makes sense that Australia-born bear lover TimothyTreadwell would make his way there, then. Read more

Reviews (89)

A tragedy and a loss of a human that could of been helped.
I have watched Grizzly Man about six times and read enough reviews of this book to understand what it was about.
good book,great man
I read this book after seeing the documentary Grizzly Man and I am NOT surprised to read the comments written by all you so called bear experts and lovers. So because Treadwell loved brown/grizzlies and devoted his life to them he is "crazy" and "deserved" to be killed by them. So I guess Jane Goodall deserves to be killed by chimpanzees because she got "to close" or "harrased" those animals. Its called awareness and respect. Something that seems to be lacking in this country. These people are trying to educate the ignorant ones in our society that think nature and its beasts are here for us to exploit. Oh let me guess since Jane Goodall is an educated scientist and naturalist she is ok and Timothy and his ignorant ways deserve otherwise,please. It's called a high horse and many of you need to get off,its easy to see that most of you TRY to hide arrogance with humility. This book is for someone with an open mind and a love of nature and all its creatures. Its not meant to be a scientific insight but an excited person trying to share his passion. God forbid he gets the name of a clam wrong or seems at times to be extremely childlike. You have never been into something so much that it changes your life and gives you a meaning to live and thrive. If you want an everyday analogy its called having kids or buying your first home or marrying your high school sweetheart. If you want to read about someone who changed himself for the better and took responsibility for his own actions read this book. There is a message in his words that we all need to hear.

a little fanciful
This book, although entertaining, reminds me a little bit of a fairy tale read.It is more like Timothy Treadwell and the Three Bears, where Comet Bear says to Baby Booble bear "Someone has been sleeping in my bed." and Baby Booble bear answers, "Timothy Treadwell is sleeping in my bed and he's still there!"What was with this guy to think he was above bear attacks?Did he really think the bears loved him that much?Okay, I am impressed that he survived 13 Summers and love his bear antics, but c'mon, bears will be bears!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1961-    2. Alaska    3. Anecdotes    4. Bears    5. Essays    6. Grizzly bear    7. Grizzly bears    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Treadwell, Timothy,    11. United States - General    12. Wildlife    13. Nature / Wildlife    14. Wild animals   

Editorial Review

Doug Peacock, the model for the George Hayduke of Edward Abbey's novels Read more

Reviews (20)

A killer Book!!!
For lovers of wilderness and Bears this is an outstanding book. I read it from cover to cover in two sittings. Doug Peacock has been through a lot in his lifetime and he did what he did to bring some sanity back into his life after Nam. I found this to be a much more interesting read than "Walking it off" which dewells too much on his feelings for Ed Abbey and tells you very little about his Viet Nam experiences or even himself.
Awesome book, one of the best environmental books out there
This is an outstanding book written by a man who is extraordinarily comfortable in his own skin, yet extraordinarily uncomfortable in modern society.
great, honest book by a great, honest man
Grizzly Years is easily one of the best "nature" books written in recent years.It is a great story of a man, like so many, soured by his service in the war in Vietnam.Though I did not read this book for its war aspect, Mr. Peacock does a great job blending it with the nature part of the book.It is very apparent how much these bears mean to Doug, and his fight to protect them is nothing short of courageous.Grizzly Years is a great nature book with human aspects thrown in, much like Lynn Schooler's The Blue Bear.I recently had the privaledge of meeting and listening to Doug, and it was one of the pleasures of my life to shake hands with a man I admire so much.I recommend this book to any lover of the natural world.Doug Peacock will change your perspective on the natural world, like so few can. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Grizzly bear    3. Grizzly bears    4. Individual Species Of Mammals    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Peacock, Doug    8. Nature / Bears