View your shopping cart.

Nonfiction

50 Animals That Changed the Course of History

50 Animals That Changed the Course of History

$19.95
More Info

Uncovers some of the most interesting stories of how animals ... have impacted human civilization in economic, political, and industrial history. This is an original approach that links the biological sciences to the social sciences and students and general readers will find many interesting stories within these pages.
--American Reference Books Annual 2012

[An] inspired invitation to browsing, with short but informative essays on each of the subjects, rich in illustrations, excerpts and sidebars.
--Globe and Mail

Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History is a beautifully presented guide to the animals that have had the greatest impact on human civilization.

The 50 animals include the horse, dog, rat, whale, reindeer, beaver, flea, leech, dodo, falcon, oyster and shark. These creatures great and small have played central roles in the evolution of humankind, but they have remained at the periphery of our understanding of history. Whether it is an advancement in scientific knowledge, a trade war, disease and death, battles won and lost, or encounters with explorers in unknown lands, these animals have changed the course of history.

More than 150 elegant drawings, photographs and paintings, as well as excerpts from literature, highlight the concise text. The animals are judged by their influence in four categories:

  • Edible -- animals that have shaped agriculture, such as the cow
  • Medical -- animals that are disease vectors, spreading bacteria and viruses, from malaria to plague
  • Commercial -- animals used for trade or in manufacturing
  • Practical -- animals used for transportation or clothing.
  • The animals described in Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History are familiar, but their roles in human history are easily overlooked. This attractive reference gives us a fresh perspective on our membership in the animal kingdom.

    Adv Cats: Living 9 Lives to the Fullest

    Adv Cats: Living 9 Lives to the Fullest

    $14.95
    More Info
    Just when you thought you knew all there was to know about cats comes the ultimate--and unexpected--guide to taking your cat into the wild. Here are cats walking on a leash. Cats hiking on a leash. Cats tramping through snow. Cats camping. Cats kayaking, canoeing, even surfing--yes, cats who love water.

    When animal writer and active hiker Laura Moss couldn't find an online resource for hitting the trail with her cat, she created one. AdventureCats.org took off like wildfire, with attention from Wired, the Huffington Post, Outside magazine, BuzzFeed, and much more. Now, the book Adventure Cats--a collection of jaw-dropping photographs, inspiring stories of real-life cats, and all the how-to a cat owner needs--will take readers and their cats well beyond the backyard. Learn how to leash-train a cat. What to do if you encounter wildlife on the trail. Plus, winter safety tips, and how to bring a little bit of the outdoors to an indoor cat.

    The stories themselves are catnip for animal lovers, from Nanakuli, the one-eyed cat who hangs ten; to Georgie, a four-year-old gray tabby who lives on a sailboat; to Quandary, who not only insists on hiking with her family but also teaches them a valuable lesson: When you follow your cat's natural tendency to wander, you experience the outdoors at a slower, richer pace. This book will delight every cat person, regardless of whether their pet is inclined to adventure. (Take the quiz at the beginning of the book to find out!)

    American Wolf (IBS): A True Story of Survival & Obsession in the West

    American Wolf (IBS): A True Story of Survival & Obsession in the West

    $17.00
    More Info
    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The enthralling true story of the rise and reign of O-Six, the celebrated Yellowstone wolf, and the people who loved or feared her.

    Before men ruled the earth, there were wolves. Once abundant in North America, these majestic creatures were hunted to near extinction in the lower 48 states by the 1920s. But in recent decades, conservationists have brought wolves back to the Rockies, igniting a battle over the very soul of the West.

    With novelistic detail, Nate Blakeslee tells the gripping story of one of these wolves, O-Six, a charismatic alpha female named for the year of her birth. Uncommonly powerful, with gray fur and faint black ovals around each eye, O-Six is a kind and merciful leader, a fiercely intelligent fighter, and a doting mother. She is beloved by wolf watchers, particularly renowned naturalist Rick McIntyre, and becomes something of a social media star, with followers around the world.

    But as she raises her pups and protects her pack, O-Six is challenged on all fronts: by hunters, who compete with wolves for the elk they both prize; by cattle ranchers who are losing livestock and have the ear of politicians; and by other Yellowstone wolves who are vying for control of the park's stunningly beautiful Lamar Valley.

    These forces collide in American Wolf, a riveting multigenerational saga of hardship and triumph that tells a larger story about the ongoing cultural clash in the West--between those fighting for a vanishing way of life and those committed to restoring one of the country's most iconic landscapes.

    Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are (RISE)

    Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are (RISE)

    $16.95
    More Info

    Hailed as a classic, Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition--in crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and bonobos--to reveal how smart animals really are, and how we've underestimated their abilities for too long. Did you know that octopuses use coconut shells as tools, that elephants classify humans by gender and language, and that there is a young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame? Fascinating, entertaining, and deeply informed, de Waal's landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal--and human--intelligence.

    Bears: Black Brown & Polar

    Bears: Black Brown & Polar

    $14.95
    More Info

    See Bears Up Close from the Comfort of Your Sofa

    Professional naturalist, wildlife photographer, and author Stan Tekiela explores some of North America's most desolate areas, pursuing smart, powerful, and resourceful creatures: bears. With his instinct for being in the right place at the right time, Stan utilizes rare opportunities to capture some of the most compelling images of his career. Through this book, you can enter the world of these powerful creatures through stunning photos and personal anecdotes from Stan's journeys into the wild. Share in his travels and develop a new appreciation and respect for bears.

    Being a Dog: The World from Your Dog's Point of View

    Being a Dog: The World from Your Dog's Point of View

    $19.95
    More Info

    An expert reveals the latest scientific research on canine behavior -- from a dog's perspective.

    Dogs and humans have lived together for more than 30,000 years, becoming closer and more interdependent over time. Today, there are dogs in almost 50 percent of American households. This book is not about anthropomorphizing dogs. They are not human. But science is confirming what dog people have always known.

    Uniquely written from a dog's perspective, Being a Dog is the most authoritative and current book about dog behavior and cognition. It combines the latest scientific research with enlightening illustrations to give a unique insight into a dog's world. What does it feel like to be a dog? How does a dog view other dogs, other animals, humans? How does a dog see itself? What makes a dog happy or excited, scared or angry?

    Some of the exciting discoveries in the book are:

  • dogs make use of the lovers' hormone, Oxytocin
  • dogs love us and see us as their family
  • dogs rely on humans for affection, protection and everything else
  • dogs are the only non-primate animal to look people in the eyes; in fact, they seek out eye contact
  • dogs are hopelessly devoted to humans, prioritizing the scent of humans over anything else
  • dogs and humans process emotionally laden vocal sounds similarly
  • dogs are physically wired to pick up on humans' subtle mood changes
  • dogs do not have a sense of self-awareness
  • dogs do not see the world in black-and-white but actually most have red-green color blindness
  • dogs are very nearsighted compared to humans.
  • Dog owners are always ready to read about their canine companions. They are so passionate about their pets that they are compelled to believe they know what their dog thinks or feels. Are they right? Being a Dog: The World From Your Dog's Point of View has the answer.

    Deer Elk & Moose: Grand & Majestic Creatures

    Deer Elk & Moose: Grand & Majestic Creatures

    $14.95
    More Info

    Get Up Close and Personal with Deer, Elk, and Moose

    From the Alaskan wilderness to the Florida Keys, Stan Tekiela has spent 30 years in pursuit of deer, elk, and moose in order to study and photograph them. Now, he shares his fascination with these grand and majestic creatures, providing you with a naturalist's point of view. Stan presents the lives of these intriguing mammals through headings and concise blocks of text paired with gorgeous images that only he could capture. Marvel at North America's most amazing animals.

    Deer Man (NEXT): Seven Years of Living in the Wild

    Deer Man (NEXT): Seven Years of Living in the Wild

    $26.95
    More Info
    For readers of Fox & I comes "a fable very much for our time."--The TIMES

    "Unusual and fascinating... Read this book and enter into another world.-- Jane GoodallIn this sensuous and moving memoir, a young man forms a powerful connection with deer while living alone in the woods for seven years.Geoffroy Delorme does not fit in the human world. As a boy, he dreams of transforming into a fox so he can escape into the forest. As he gets older, he disappears into the woods at night, drawn to the rhythms of animal life. One night, an encounter with a deer changes his life: from then on, he knows he wants to live among them. Delorme becomes a creature of the forest. He learns to live without a tent or sleeping bag and forage for whatever food he can find. He blends in with the deer and, slowly, they accept him into their world. He witnesses their births and deaths, courtship and battles, ostracism and friendship over the cycles of their lives. Among the deer, he experiences the beauty, pain, fear, and joy of a life lived as a part of nature, not separate from it.In his final year in the forest, Delorme meets a woman walking through the trees. He knows he can stay in the forest and die with his friends--or he can leave, and speak their truth to a human world that desperately needs to hear it. Deer Man is a moving story of what it's like to be an outsider and how forming connections with the natural world can help us feel less alone. A unique and powerful window into how far one human is willing to go to understand an animal, Deer Man asks us to never take for granted the flora and fauna of our world, and to work for their protection in whatever ways we can.
    Divinity of Dogs: True Storiesof Miracles Inspired by Man's Best Friend, The

    Divinity of Dogs: True Storiesof Miracles Inspired by Man's Best Friend, The

    $16.00
    More Info
    From the bestselling author of God Stories, this "mysterious and faith-inspiring" (Publishers Weekly) book shares the uplifting stories of people who have encountered the divine through their dogs.The Divinity of Dogs is about the moments we learn something profound about life from an experience with a dog. In this inspiring collection of true dog stories, you'll hear dramatic firsthand accounts from people whose lives have been transformed by a dog's love. From everyday blessings to lifealtering miracles, these stories confirm what many of us have always known: dogs are the ultimate gift, sent here to help us on our journey. You'll meet Mazie, the Lab who was rescued from a shelter only to return the favor by rescuing her new family; Luna, the Retriever who pulled her person to safety after she collapsed in a field; Little Bit, the Chihuahua who detected cancer in her owner's breast; Emma, the Rottweiler who stopped a troubled man from taking his life; Bo, the Boxer who helped comfort a mother after the loss of her son; and other amazing, heroic dogs you'll never forget. Filled with heartwarming anecdotes, adorable dog photos, and the author's moving personal story, The Divinity of Dogs reminds us that we're not alone and will always have joy in our lives as long as we have dogs by our sides.
    Encyc of Animal Predators

    Encyc of Animal Predators

    $24.95
    More Info
    Learn to identify threatening species through tracks, scat, and the damage they leave behind. Fascinating profiles of more than 50 predatory mammals, birds, and reptiles teach farmers, ranchers, homesteaders, and backyard-animal raisers how to prevent their livestock, poultry, and pets from becoming prey. By understanding how predators think and behave, where and how they live, and how they attack and kill prey, you'll be able to interpret the potential threats surrounding your home. Whether you have a vested interest in protecting your pets and livestock or are simply spellbound by wild predators, this is the book for you!