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savannahlaughlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
3.0
summerseeds's review against another edition
3.0
So, this was a good STORY, but, despite the title saying the “amazing true story,” I don’t think this actually happened the way he says it did. There is no way.
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I had never even heard of this book (or seen the Disney movie that was later made from it) until my brother handed it to me and suggested I give it a try. The cover says it is "non-fiction" as well as "The Incredible True Story..." but apparently that has come under some cloud of doubt with many experts in the study of wolves purporting it to be a largely fictionalized account. Regardless, it's publication in 1963 did go a long way in changing the public's perception of wolves, toward the positive.
As for the book itself, I found it a fairly quick but enjoyable read. The author includes a great deal of humor in his writing whether in portraying the behavior of wolves in the wild or the behavior of government officials in Ottawa. It's an impactful story, surprising in some aspects and very touching in others. It certainly felt "real" to me as I read it and it is easy to see how it could impact public perception as much as it has. My recommendation is to ignore the questions of its authenticity and just go with it. After all, the message is the same either way and a great message it is.
As for the book itself, I found it a fairly quick but enjoyable read. The author includes a great deal of humor in his writing whether in portraying the behavior of wolves in the wild or the behavior of government officials in Ottawa. It's an impactful story, surprising in some aspects and very touching in others. It certainly felt "real" to me as I read it and it is easy to see how it could impact public perception as much as it has. My recommendation is to ignore the questions of its authenticity and just go with it. After all, the message is the same either way and a great message it is.
booksforjake's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this read, and it’s special importance to me, since Neil gave me the physical paperback copy back in 2017/2018.
Biggest takeaway from this book is that the perspective of a white man in the late 1940s are shocking:
*Science was ‘do whatever the fuck you want out there’. Wanna camp next to some wolves and make a territory boundary out of your own piss? Do it! Curious if the wolves will eat fresh bread? Get baking! Wanna see if a wolf will fuck a husky? Tie her up and see the sparks fly baby!
Science back then was so wildly whimsical and arbitrary. Kinda bummed that now we are neck-deep in R and statistical analysis. Oh well.
*Another huge takeaway is the importance of LEK (local ecological knowledge). Almost everything that Mowat is curious about regarding the wolves, Ootek, the indigenous guide, already knows.
Mowat: “There’s no way these magnificent beautiful hunters could eat…mice?!?”
Ootek: “Oh yeah bro they eat hella mice”
This pattern repeated over and over again. Like, maybe we should just learn from people who have lived in an area for hundreds of generations.
In conclusion, awesome and insightful read. Thanks Neil!
Biggest takeaway from this book is that the perspective of a white man in the late 1940s are shocking:
*Science was ‘do whatever the fuck you want out there’. Wanna camp next to some wolves and make a territory boundary out of your own piss? Do it! Curious if the wolves will eat fresh bread? Get baking! Wanna see if a wolf will fuck a husky? Tie her up and see the sparks fly baby!
Science back then was so wildly whimsical and arbitrary. Kinda bummed that now we are neck-deep in R and statistical analysis. Oh well.
*Another huge takeaway is the importance of LEK (local ecological knowledge). Almost everything that Mowat is curious about regarding the wolves, Ootek, the indigenous guide, already knows.
Mowat: “There’s no way these magnificent beautiful hunters could eat…mice?!?”
Ootek: “Oh yeah bro they eat hella mice”
This pattern repeated over and over again. Like, maybe we should just learn from people who have lived in an area for hundreds of generations.
In conclusion, awesome and insightful read. Thanks Neil!
ruhi_reads's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
1.0
This was so mindbumingly boring as a kid omg