freshlimetime_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
madiinthehouse's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Sometimes it felt like the author went off on tangents that were a little off topic, but some of the chapters were really interesting
mandler_'s review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look into the topic of cannibalism. From the animal kingdom to the various human examples of cannibalism, Schutt delivers an interesting, quick-witted look into the history of the consumption of same-species flesh.
While I picked up this book to learn more about human examples, I was surprised to learn more about the different animal species, including spiders, dinosaurs, and fish. I enjoyed the interesting new perspective into the events of the Donner party, which I had never known.
However, about three-fourths into the book, after talking about cannibalism for so long, the book delved into less interesting stories and struggled to hold my attention. For this, I rated the book 3 out of 5 stars: interesting topic, funny/inviting writing, new information, yet, a little bit too long and dry near the end.
While I picked up this book to learn more about human examples, I was surprised to learn more about the different animal species, including spiders, dinosaurs, and fish. I enjoyed the interesting new perspective into the events of the Donner party, which I had never known.
However, about three-fourths into the book, after talking about cannibalism for so long, the book delved into less interesting stories and struggled to hold my attention. For this, I rated the book 3 out of 5 stars: interesting topic, funny/inviting writing, new information, yet, a little bit too long and dry near the end.
serenityfound's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
slow-paced
3.0
It feels like the author is trying to be Mary Roach - with attempts at humor and such - but just does not succeed at it. There are also a number of curious references to "political correctness" that I can't determine the point (or POV) of. I do applaud him for staying largely away from criminal/MI-driven cannibalism in the 20th & 21st centuries out of respect for victim families, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Medical content, Blood, Gore, Colonisation, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Vomit, Mental illness, and Excrement
alibi313's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who has often found biology instructors to have some of the best, slightly twisted senses of humor, I found this author to be right up my alley. Hard science mixed with a a breezy writing style, this book was often laugh-out-loud funny (especially good was the chapter entitled Placenta Helper...). Maybe not that informative, outside of a few anecdotes about some members of the animal kingdom, but thoroughly entertaining. Also interesting was the author’s take on the racist use of cannibalism rumors as a way for “civilized” cultures to exploit and/or exterminate those they view as “savages.” Surprisingly, the chapter on the Donner Party (probably the most famous real life story of human cannibalism) was one of the least interesting, bogged down in logistics.
kmfeeney's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, there wasn't enough cannibalism for me. the last 3 chapters focus heavily on mad cow disease and the animal kingdom was pretty glossed over. What about reptiles?