Last spring I was invited to write a review for the book Beyond Words, What Animals Think and Feel, by Carl Safina. The busy season with killer whales was just beginning
for me so reading and reviewing a book - which I had never done before,
would have to wait. However, I took a few moments to read the jacket.
There inside the front cover was one statement that immediately 'caught'
me.
Now
it is fall and I have read the book. Carl Safina drew me in and kept me
there from cover to cover. So much learned and examined, it was not
easy to put it down, except of course if the killer whales were nearby.
In this book, Beyond Words, What Animals Think and Feel,
Carl Safina writes about many animals, from elephants to wolves, killer
whales (orcas), the tiniest of insects to tigers and pet pooches. He
brings in science, but only to the point of making a point and not
causing my eyes to become like a deer in headlights, if you know what
that expression means. So many times I found myself saying, "Wow," and
other times pausing to just take it all in. It gives me chills (the
good kind) when I think of some of the things I learned, I ruminated
about, I questioned, and I was astounded about. Oh, and laugh?...you may find yourself with a big smile and sometimes laughing out loud!
No
matter which species, he weaved the what and the who together in an
interesting and yet educational manner. You may find yourself rejoicing
on one page, feeling sad on the next, and then hopeful for the future,
as humans recognize there is more to animals than being an 'it'. The
world is full of stories about animals and this book brings to the
surface their essence. You may find yourself looking at and thinking
about things in a different way. I cannot thank him enough for writing
this book. Get it! I think you will be glad you did.
Sincerely, Jeanne Hyde
San Juan Island, WA
Blog: Whale of A PurposeClick on the book to learn more.
No comments:
Post a Comment