|
Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Animals & society
A unique and compelling exploration of why humans need animal
companions - from dogs and cats to horses, birds and reptiles - as
seen through the eyes of bestselling author Jacky Colliss Harvey.
In The Animal's Companion, the acclaimed author of Red: A Natural
History of the Redhead explores the human desire to share our
everyday life with pets, a history that can be traced back to a
cave in France where evidence has been unearthed of a boy and his
dog taking a walk together, some 26,000 years ago. From those
preserved foot and paw prints, Colliss Harvey draws on literary,
artistic and archaeological artefacts to sweep readers through
centuries and across continents to examine how our relationships
with our pets have developed, but also stayed very much the same.
Through delightful stories of the most famous, endearing and
sometimes eccentric pet owners throughout history, she suggests
fascinating new insights into one of the most long-standing of all
human love affairs.
A moose frustrates commuters by wandering onto the highway; a
cougar stalks his prey through suburban backyards; an alligator
suns himself in a strip mall parking lot. Such stories, which
regularly make headline news, highlight the blurred divide that now
exists between civilization and wilderness.
In "Coyote at the Kitchen Door," Stephen DeStefano draws on
decades of experience as a biologist and conservationist to examine
the interplay between urban sprawl and wayward wildlife. As he
explores what our insatiable appetite for real estate means for the
health and wellbeing of animals and ourselves, he highlights
growing concerns, such as the loss of darkness at night because of
light pollution. DeStefano writes movingly about the contrasts
between constructed and natural environments and about the
sometimes cherished, sometimes feared place that nature holds in
our modern lives, as we cluster into cities yet show an increasing
interest in the natural world.
Woven throughout the book is the story of one of the most
successful species in North America: the coyote. Once restricted to
the prairies of the West, this adaptable animal now inhabits most
of North America urban and wild alike. DeStefano traces a female
coyote s movements along a winding path between landscapes in which
her species learned to survive and flourish. "Coyote at the Kitchen
Door" asks us to rethink the meaning of progress and create a new
suburban wildlife ethic.
A far-reaching, urgent, and thoroughly engaging exploration of our
relationship with animals - from the acclaimed Financial Times
journalist. This might be the worst time in history to be an
animal. But is there a happier way? Factory farms, climate change,
deforestation and pandemics have made our relationship with the
other species unsustainable. In response, Henry Mance sets out on a
personal quest to see if there is a fairer way to live alongside
the animals we love. He goes to work in an abattoir and on a farm
to investigate the reality of eating meat and dairy. He explores
our dilemmas around over-fishing the seas, visiting zoos and owning
pets, and he meets the chefs, activists, scientists and tech
visionaries who are redefining how we think about animals. A Times
Book of the Year
 |
Leopard
(Paperback)
Desmond Morris
|
R427
R389
Discovery Miles 3 890
Save R38 (9%)
|
Ships in 9 - 17 working days
|
|
The sleek, spotted leopard may be the smallest of the big cats, but
its ferocity and solitary style makes lions and tigers seem puny in
comparison. Lacking the social mentality of other animals, the
leopard is stealthy and selfish, ambushing its prey and carrying it
high into a tree where it can dine alone. Humans call leopards the
"perfect predator." In "Leopard," renowned zoologist Desmond Morris
seeks to show all sides of the cat, delving into the fascinating
history of these incredible animals.
Morris examines the leopard's athletic elegance, predatory skill,
wary shyness, and cunning intelligence while also exploring the
animal's parental devotion, preference for solitude, and capacity
for revenge. In addition to tracing the evolution of leopards, he
considers how humans have related to the animal throughout history.
Leopards, he shows, have long featured in the art, mythology, and
folklore of ancient Greece, Persia, Rome, and even England, where
they have not lived for several millennia. But humans and leopards
do not always coexist peacefully; as Morris explains, leopards have
been known to attack humans when their food is scarce or they are
injured. He reveals how humans have exploited the cats, attempting
to train them for circus roles, and how today some people are now
making strides toward the leopard's conservation. He also describes
their rich symbolism, appearances in literature and film, and the
use of the leopard print in both haute couture and down-market
fashion.
Packed with compelling images of this amazing animal in action,
"Leopard" sheds new light on these gorgeous cats.
 |
Saint Worm
(Paperback)
Hailey Leithauser
|
R462
R424
Discovery Miles 4 240
Save R38 (8%)
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
|
|
|