aloeverra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
The book was less about rat behavior and biology and much more about rats impact on society, specifically New York City. At first I was a little disappointed in this, but the more I read the more I appreciated the cultural scope the author took on the subject.
He covered pest control, city sanitation, renters strikes, and fighting rings, among many other topics. Not just those topics as they are now, but how rats brought about changes in all of those areas historically. It was so interesting to see how all of these things tie into rats, I ended up learning a lot.
He covered pest control, city sanitation, renters strikes, and fighting rings, among many other topics. Not just those topics as they are now, but how rats brought about changes in all of those areas historically. It was so interesting to see how all of these things tie into rats, I ended up learning a lot.
pelerin's review against another edition
3.0
Fun book, and pretty lighthearted. Basically using rats as a map to view the city of New York, its residents, its geography, and it's history.
Also you learn a ton about rats.
Also you learn a ton about rats.
mikehawkins's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
2.5
There are several mentions of events happening pre and post 9/11. Over 20 years since that event I feel it really dates this book.
draeprice's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. If you are interested in rats, New York City, or just want to be aware of another world that's right around us, give this book a try.
caedocyon's review against another edition
4.0
He tried hard to find a consistent thread, but wasn't completely successful. Still, all the disparate parts of the book are completely fascinating in and of themselves. I would recommend it just for the amount you'll learn about the science of sanitation.
halliew1's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Very interesting and informative. Rats are very much apart of NYC living so understanding their history made me feel less scared of them and more aware of how they became part of the fabric of big cities.
caroreads22's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
rebeccaasavage's review against another edition
4.0
I would like to say that I picked up this book with interest, thinking that if I lived in New York I should do my due diligence and come to know the local fauna. At that time, I thought of rats as relatively benign, like any other animal, simply with a bad reputation due to stories. So, wryly, I thought I’d read the nature writing of the city and walk away with an appreciation for the depth and nuance of rat life.
I was wrong; they are disgusting, disquieting demons. They can chew threw concrete and iron, they are everywhere, and you can never get rid of them. They carry disease, they are just plain bad.
The writing on this is classic long form journalism, more casual in places than I’ve come to expect from more recent examples of the same kind. It actually doesn’t do all it could, and there isn’t a lot of in-depth discussion about the nature or culture of rat colonies (probably because going near them I’d a BAD IDEA). But it delivers on the promise (does kind of lose the thread toward the end with some revolutionary war history).
I was wrong; they are disgusting, disquieting demons. They can chew threw concrete and iron, they are everywhere, and you can never get rid of them. They carry disease, they are just plain bad.
The writing on this is classic long form journalism, more casual in places than I’ve come to expect from more recent examples of the same kind. It actually doesn’t do all it could, and there isn’t a lot of in-depth discussion about the nature or culture of rat colonies (probably because going near them I’d a BAD IDEA). But it delivers on the promise (does kind of lose the thread toward the end with some revolutionary war history).