Elephants Books

Suma is a story that makes you think about your own life. I read the story to my Bible study group who were silent throughtout and eventually some tears were shed. What paralyzes us in life? This story makes us take a serious look at our own fears. And the artwork, by Nan Rae, is a beautiful complement to the words. A wonderful gift to yourself or someone you care about.

"Suma the Elephant" by Gary Shoup is an unforgettable fable of life and limitations. The book is short, but only because the language is so perfectly succinct. More wisdom exists in its few pages than in many a thick and scholarly book. The story is simple, almost plotless; Suma, a baby elephant, is kidnapped by monkeys who tie her to a tree with a piece of string. Suma grows up believing she cannot escape; even after years have gone by and the monkeys are long dead, the memory of their voices still imprisons her. As the book jacket explains, "We soon realize that Suma's story is our story." While Suma's life is self-defeating, the book inspires readers to examine what restrains them from living their own dreams. The prose's simplicity forces the sorrow to rise up from between the lines and into the reader's throat.

The story could be read as a children's book, and I can easily envision it with brightly colored pictures and cartoon drawings of the elephants and monkeys in a Disney "Jungle Book" style. Some might think it too sad for children, but children will benefit from it if a parent is prepared to answer their questions afterward. Had I read this book as a child, I imagine I would have cried for Suma; the story would have affected me profoundly, lingering in my mind for years; I would have read it over and over until I grew up fully conscious of the mind-forged manacles we inflict on ourselves. And I would have been determined not to let Suma's fate become mine.

But Gary Shoup was wise enough not to make it only a children's book; his story achieves its full dignity in its elegant design by Joe Kuszai. The large amount of white space on the cover and pages focuses the reader's attention to the book's content. The decision to use only black and gray for the illustrations grants the book a dignified sorrow. The story could easily have been written on a couple full sheets of paper, but its division into many pages forces the reader to read it slowly, focusing on the intention of the lines, and if the reader lingers over the artwork before turning the page, the story's tone is only reinforced in the reader's mind.

The artwork is perfectly aligned with the tale. The artist, Nan Rae, has focused on elegance and simplicity in the drawings she and Gary Shoup selected for the book. The lack of drawings of the characters prevents distraction from the book's tone. Each of Rae's pictures contributes to the meaning of the words it faces; for example, the drawing of the drooping flower enhances the hopelessness of the line, "And after a long while, Suma stopped tugging on the string."

As much as I admire the choice to have only black and gray drawings in the book, I recommend the reader visit Nan Rae's website [...] where her talents are fully displayed in the colors she uses. Her method is described as, "Chinese brush painting [that] combines the grace of the Literati style with an impressionist approach to color. The Literati style seeks to transcend the mere representation of a subject to capture its ch'i, or life force, by using a minimum of brush strokes for maximum effect." Rae succeeds in capturing the ch'i of Suma in her drawings, even though she never depicts Suma herself. Rather than a picture of a sad elephant, we see a drooping flower, while a withering tree symbolizes the band of monkeys that has died. The drawings are like little poems that reflect the emotions of the text.

I can easily see "Suma the Elephant" being a gift for a loved one undergoing a major life event, a graduation, a divorce, a difficult career decision. It is a book of inspiration, a book that makes the reader look into his own soul and ask if he will allow fear and habit to bind him. Even though I am no longer a child, "Suma the Elephant" will linger in my mind for years to come.

- Tyler R. Tichelaar, author of Iron Pioneers
MQT REVIEWS

I am a high school English teacher, so people are always recommending books for me to read. At first, I stashed this title away with the many others, but I kept hearing references to this simple and stunning tale. I read it this morning and it took me by surprise. I am only just beginning to think of the many ways this profound and poignant story will help my students make meaning in their own lives and the lives of others. I feel grateful for this story.

Amazing book and story and affect on the reader. Never have I seen so few words, so few simple words, able to touch one's intellect and emotions to such a degree. The author told a group of us that it was our story, and while at first we did not quite understand what he meant, once he read it to us, we quickly began to understand, and then took ownership. It is metaphor multiplied. There is a certain quiescent lyrical quality about it that perhaps grows from the simplicity of its sentences, but one sits a little stunned at the end of this very short read. Defying any categorization, it touches you profoundly.

"Suma the Elephant" is a remarkably simple tale, which evokes a myriad of complex emotions. It touches the core of every grown up child who once was limited or put down, and now continues to limit herself by her unconscious belief in those critical messages. It provides insight into the dynamics of slavery in this country. This is an incredibly powerful story, and I am very glad to have read it.

The story and illustrations are top-notch. This book is an excellent tool for children learning to appreciate art and artists. Every child should own a copy of this book!

It's beautiful and teaches kids (and parents) how to appreciate art in a simple way. Lifelong lesson that demystifies art. Love it. It engaged my son since he was 3 and he's 4 and still loves it.

Buyer beware -- these note cards fold to 3"x5".

My 4 year old granddaughter loves the book. I enjoyed seeing many famous works of art converted to elephant-views of the world -- a refreshing reframing of the familiar. All ages can benefit from this.

This is a review for the note cards. They are beautiful. The whimsical images lifted from the book are printed on decent/usable cardstock, and are definitely fine but the envelopes are much, much higher quality than you normally see in a product like this. The box itself is wonderful and will be something you keep long after the cards are all gone.

Angela and I were classmates in the very strict 1970's Baptist environment she speaks of. To call it strict is the biggest understatement one could make. She told me of this book before she had ever located a publisher, and I thought the idea was simply incredible. Have not bought the book yet, but knowing its author over the course of our lives, makes it that much more realistic.

I'll get my copy soon, but you gotta autograph it for me, Ang !

I've come to belive, even before Ang and I met over lunch to talk about this book, that we ALL have past lives, and that we are "back again for a limited time only" to either finish, or continue, that which we couldn't in the previous existence. I do believe in reincarnation, contrary to my/our "Christian" indoctrination. Now I want to explore MY past lives, and see who, or what, I might have been....could get interesting, LOL.

Great job, Ang !
Paul

Angela's story of her ventures into the realm of reincarnation is not uncommon from those of many people in the present day World. What is different is that she put her story in book form for everyone to see. The book is very well written and I admire her bravery in telling her story. I love her sense of humor, her honesty and integrity. Plus, she is a southern girl that can whip up a batch of biscuits from scratch at the drop of a hat. I must admit, by then end of the book I had a bit of a crush on her.

Angela Grubbs is an efficient, logical attorney who is not interested in religion or spirituality. When she is young she has unusual knowledge and a fascination for automobiles of the early 1900's. She has unusual dreams that continue into adulthood. In those dreams she experiences the life of another woman who lives a long time ago. As an adult she starts to experience these dreams more often and begins to investigate the life in her dreams. With the help of a dear friend and the internet she tracks down the woman in her dreams and discovers another life. Angela goes about her research in an organized and logical manner and finds that she can collaborate most of the information in her dreams.

This is a lovely book, well written and a quick read. I could not put it down and found that this book validated my past life mememories and beliefs. If you have the slightest interest in reincarnation then you must read this book.

This book is an entertaining "mystery novel" that had me riveted to the story until towards the end when all of the sudden it left me a bit adrift. As with any good mystery---I want answers! But I am not going to get them because one must remember this story is a very personal account from someone's real life experience, and in that vein, it is the author's prerogative to figure out what the experience is all about and come up with only the answers she wants. That is why I give the book 4 stars. Her fundamentalist Christian background got in the way of what she gained out of the experience. For instance, why not want to know how Francine died? I'll leave it at that. It is a good read and the facts are well documented but to what end???

This is one of those books that you can't put down. When you do have to put it down you are thinking about what is going to happen next and you can't wait to get back into it.

This is a book not only about reincarnation, but about life's journey and how we start out in one direction and end up going in another. You just never know what life will hand you.

I obtained a copy of the play from my local library think that it would resemble the movie; it did not. This play was so riveting that I read the play 4 more times while in my possession. The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance follows the tragic life of Joseph Merrick. Pomerance wrote everything just right to complete a masterpiece. Pomerances use of diction and dialogue took the read right into Merricks hospital room in turn of the 20th century London.
While reading the play, I found myself becoming emotionally attached to Merrick as he transformed from a horrid animal to a person of intelligence and wisdom. Each time I read the play I picked up the little things Pomerance wrote about how cruel humanity can be to things they don't understand.
I found myself finishing the play and then turning back to page one. The play was enthralling. Expanding my mind to the world before me while ironically keeping me away from it. The Elephant Man should be dispersed to high schools nation wide, so teenagers have the chance to read and annotate a great piece of literature. This play is great to read for your own pleasure. It will expand your mind, and rethink your position in society.
A strong worded masterpiece like a cannonball ripping through the literary cannon. I recommend this play to anyone of any age looking to expand their mind and thoughts of the society around them.

I read this book in my Literature class where we began a journey into the life of Joseph Merrick(The Elephant Man). Merrick was born physically deformed that would scare anyone but had the most pure heart. This play is about how society drove this man into obsurity to hide his hideous face under a burlap sack until his oversized head falls back and he dies a most poetic death.

I obtained a copy of the play from my local library think that it would resemble the movie; it did not. This play was so riveting that I read the play 4 more times while in my possession. The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance follows the tragic life of Joseph Merrick. Pomerance wrote everything just right to complete a masterpiece. Pomerances use of diction and dialogue took the read right into Merricks hospital room in turn of the 20th century London.
While reading the play, I found myself becoming emotionally attached to Merrick as he transformed from a horrid animal to a person of intelligence and wisdom. Each time I read the play I picked up the little things Pomerance wrote about how cruel humanity can be to things they don't understand.
I found myself finishing the play and then turning back to page one. The play was enthralling. Expanding my mind to the world before me while ironically keeping me away from it. The Elephant Man should be dispersed to high schools nation wide, so teenagers have the chance to read and annotate a great piece of literature. This play is great to read for your own pleasure. It will expand your mind, and rethink your position in society.
A strong worded masterpiece like a cannonball ripping through the literary cannon. I recommend this play to anyone of any age looking to expand their mind and thoughts of the society around them.

This play by Bernard Pomerance is one of the most moving and beautiful scripts I have ever read. The dialogue is richly textured and has many layers of subtext, including implications about British colonialism. I chose to see the play as, among other things, a metaphor for the British view of the "white man's burden" and their fascination with the idea of the "civilized savage", but I think the most brilliant works of art are open to myriad interpretations. Although a play needs to be performed to fully come alive, Pomerance's script stands alone well, as a poem or novel would. Its words go to the core of the human experience.

I can think of few films that have touched me as deeply as Lynch's "The Elephant Man." Hence, I was prepared for an anticlimactic theater piece when I picked up the script and subsequently attended the play. To my surprise, it's every bit as powerful as the film--in no way a replacement for Lynch's supreme achievement but a necessary complement to it.

Pomerance' play concentrates on Dr. Frederick Treves, whose experience places him in the company of Conrad's Marlowe. By the end of the play his promotion to knighthood is one more empty Victorian consolation added to a career that has become meaningless. In his powerful, climactic "corset" speech he rises to social indictment of the highest order--a recognition of the "horror" and a denunciation of the shallow, exploitive, self-deluded, spiritless society that he would prefer to be no part of (his epiphany is also suggestive of Charles Smithson's in "The French Lieutenant's Woman").

Juxtaposed with the film, Pomerance's play makes us aware of the power of the theater of the imagination. Unlike the movie, whose requirements for verisimilitude led John Hurt to putting on facial make-up for six hours prior to each day's shoot, the play's John Merrick appears without disguise. His normal features are soon replaced, however, by the audience's realization that Merrick could be--and is--any one of us.

Both a little less realistic and less sentimental than the film, the play is at the same time a provocative and moving study in self-discovery.

Richard Trout's second book, Elephant Tears, kept my attention to the end just like his first novel. Again, Trout's knowledge of endangered wild life, research of the customs and people, and descriptions of the land made me feel like I was in Africa.

Poaching, government corruption, and the beautiful animals of Africa combine to make Trout's second MacGregor Family Adventure a great read. Once again Trout puts the MacGregor family in an exotic location with an action-packed adventure that you won't want to put down. This time it is not just the kids as Jack MacGregor and his kids gets stranded by poachers in the African bush to test their survival skills. Trout also helps us see the tradgedy of what poachers do to the great animals of Africa. If you want a book that takes you on a African adventure, this is it.

From the author of CAYMAN GOLD comes the second of three books in the MacGregor Family Adventure Series. Teens who enjoy the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, and young adults who thrive on outdoor adventure and action stories, won't be able to put ELEPHANT TEARS down until they've read it all the way through. At least once.

Richard Trout, author, environmental biologist, consultant and college professor, invites us to join the MacGregor family on an East African wildlife adventure. We hit the ground running as the novel opens in the Masai Mara Wildlife Preserve where we join Chris, Heather and Ryan MacGregor, a baby elephant and a handful of angry lions. We're immediately pulled into a world of survival of the fittest. Unfortunately for much of the wildlife, poachers are sometimes the fittest, rifles in hand.

Through the eyes of the MacGregor teens and their Kikuyu friend, Rebecca, we cross the Serengeti, hike Mt. Kilimanjaro, camp in the bush with hyenas, and give thanks we aren't having roast agama lizard for dinner. Rebecca and the MacGregor teens encounter the heart-breaking devastation the poachers leave behind, while fighting for their own lives in the African bush. What will happen if the poachers learn they've been exposed? Will the teens' parents find them before it's too late?

Trout weaves his extensive knowledge of wild animal conservation and primitive camping and survival skills into a novel rich with action-packed scenes. His informative, entertaining style infuses us with enthusiasm for conservation and environmental issues. By the time we read the last page, we want more. Trout, a passionate advocate of endangered and threatened animals, gives us more, with his heart-felt introduction, glossary, list of library and internet resources, and recipe for Marrakech Stew.

It's Clive Cussler for teens. Once you read ELEPHANT TEARS, you'll be eagerly scanning the shelves for copies of the first and third books in the MacGregor Family Adventure Series.

5 out of 5 wildlife preserves
Reviewed by True North
gottawritenetwork.com
May 18, 2005

As a librarian and mother, it is about time an author writes books for young adults that have nothing to do with [love making], drugs, or dysfunction. Mr. Trout brings world issues to the attention of young adults while appealing to their sense of adventure. This particular book uses the written word to describe an area that not a lot of young people have ever seen, and while they read the book, the images of Africa truly come alive.

If you were just trying to decide whether to buy this book or not, I have one comment- BUY IT!!! It is a GREAT book that is fast-paced, often educational in a fun way, and thrilling- I LOOOVE this book series and i'm about to buy the third one, falcon of abydos, buh-bye!

PS: BUY IT!!!

I first received this book as a gift and now give it frequently as a gift for housewarmings and wedding receptions. It is a compilation of charming and caring prayer/poems and lovely drawings. It is not highly religious but wishes the best to the new family home or new couple throughout all stages of their lives. Excellent gift to get or give.

This is a fun book to give to new homeowners.

It is a timeless gift to give a friend or yourself and your family

This is a perfect gift to give someone moving into a new home, or first home. It is beautifully illustrated on every page. The end papers are also decorated in a lovely, floral design. The blessings are simple and aptly stated.

I gave this book as a housewarming to my boyfriend, just after he moved in to his first house. It communicated all my hopes for his life in this house, and served as an expression of faith in the future of our relationship. I have since joined him in this home, and the book resides on the mantle. It provides a touchstone for us when we become distracted by various and sundry stresses.

This is a wonderful book. Great night time story. I have read this book to all 4 of my kids from about 10 months through age 3 or so. I have it memorized. It has a great soothing rythym to it. I have recited it over and over again to little ones coming out of surgery, to soothe a child to sleep after a bad dream at 2am. It is really a terrific book for any bedtime story collection.

The illustrations are truly fabulous. The kind of art you want to hang up on your child's walls. The gentle washes of color coupled with evocative actions and expressions are appealing to both the parent reading the book and the child hearing it.
And the rhymes match the pictures perfectly: gentle, soothing, and captivating.
The book is like a warm hug!

My son -loves- elephants so it would be hard for this book to be a miss. The illustrations are beautiful.

My 3-year old daughter loves the story so much that she reads it over and over again until she is able to recite. This is an excellent book that helps mommy and child bond. Highly recommended!

We have been reading this story to our 2 year old daughter since she was 2 months old and it's still her favorite book. She now recites the words as I flip through the pages - this book has definitely left an impression. Additionally, the pictures are colorful and fun! It's such a sweet story about the fun a mother and child have together, and the special bond the two share. I'm sure your little one will love this story just as much as mine does!

This is the 2nd book my son needed to read for school. I bought it here rather than going to the library and that way I can donate it to the class when he is done. He is just finishing it and said it was a really good book and couldn't put it down.

This is one of the best books EVER!!!! i love it! here is what it is mainly about.
Saving Lilly

Erin and her best friend David didn't know much about the treatment of circus animals, until they worked together on a TAG - Talented and Gifted - Project. Due to this report, Erin and David refuse to go on a field trip that their teacher has planned. Sure, field trips are great, but one to the Glitter Tent Circus is awful! The Glitter Tent Circus is one of the worst circuses out there because of its HORRIBLE animal cruelty. But Mrs. Dawson is defiantly going to give her students something to remember; just as she remembers the times she spent at the circus when she was a child and went to the same circus with her grandpa. In fact, she's so determined to make her students attend the circus, that she sends Erin and David to the principal's office when they try to pass around a petition asking other kids to skip the field trip too!
Well, finally, Erin and David post a sit-in for the circus. Only three kids go to the circus, so all the other 25 students stay in class to find a way to save Lilly, the circus elephant that is being mistreated. They must raise $8,000 in one month!!! But somehow, they do it, and they live happily ever after!

This book rocks! I have read it 8 times, and I am still reading it. If you like animals, and you love to read, this book's for you!!! I hope you'll read it.

Sixth grader Erin Wrenn, and her best friend David never knew much about the circus, and the treatment of circus animals, until they worked together on a TAG - Talented and Gifted - Project, that let them in on the not-so-secret torture of animals. Due to this report, the two kids refuse to go on a field trip that their teacher, Mrs. Dawson, has planned. Sure, field trips are great, but one to the Glitter Tent Circus is anything but, for the Glitter Tent Circus is one of the worst circuses out there. However, Mrs. Dawson is determined to give her students something to remember, just as she remembers the times she spent at the circus when she was a child. In fact, she's so determined to make her students attend the circus, that she scolds Erin and David when they try to pass around a petition boycotting the circus field trip. Little does Mrs. Dawson know, but Erin is determined to have her voice be heard, or she'll stage a sit-in right in her classroom. Unfortunately, attending the circus isn't Erin's biggest problem. The biggest problem is Lilly, a mistreated elephant traveling with the circus, who is about to be sold to a hunting park, where she will be killed. Erin knows that it's up to her to save Lilly before it's too late. But saving an elephant is harder than she could have ever imagined.

As a PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - member, I was ecstatic to find a book that showcased two children, as well as their classmates doing something to save a circus animal, and taking a stand. Erin and David are two very brave children, who stood up to adults around them, and made them see just how cruel the circus truly is. Animal lovers will adore Peg Kehret's humane effort in getting the truth out about circuses in a fiction book, while parents and children will love the bravery of the two main characters.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Saving Lilly is a wonderful book. Peg kerhet took out of her time to write this fantastic book, Saving Lilly. At the beginning of the story, in April on a Monday Mrs. Dawson told her class hat if they read 11 book each by May 10th. They will go on a surprise field trip. Mrs. Dawson will not tell her class what the field trip will be. Now this was exciting to them because they mostly never go on field trips. Erin and David don't want to go on this field trip. To find out read the book.
If you like sad and happy books at the same time then this is the book for you. Saving Lilly was an adored and beloved story. It is like you are within the action, with Erin, David or Lilly the elephant. Now this is a MUST read book.
The author, Peg Kehet is trying to tell all of the readers that read the book Saving Lilly. If you believe in something you should stick with it and not, not do it and always tell the way you feel. Listen to the author and believe in yourself. Saving Lilly read it!

Elephants can weigh up to 8 tons; their front teeth can be up to 3 meters in length and can weigh over 200 kg. And the African elephant has the largest earflaps of any animal in history. Lavers explains not only why their huge ears are the key to their curious shape but also to why rats are furry and why King Kong could never have climbed the Empire State Building. The elephant's ears, in case you are wondering, act as radiators, an important consideration if you are a lumbering giant baking under the tropical sun.
There is, Lavers's excellent book explains, method to every apparent anomaly in nature. Gazelles, for example, must be built not only to sprint but to dodge and weave as well. This is because cheetahs, which are renowned sprinters themselves, regard them as little more than mobile larders.
Dogs and wolves, on the other hand, are not great sprinters. Instead, they have great stamina and will wear down their prey by sheer perseversence and, well, doggedness. Lavers also explains such interesting things as why swans glide across the water, whereas vultures hop and ostriches cannot fly at all. He also shows how all of these different attributes go to give us the diversity of life on which we all ultimately depend.
This well written book book also explains why the furs of baby harp seals, mink, lynx, snowshoe hares and Arctic foxes are so much in demand but the pelt of a polar bear is not. Lavers also explains how the cubs of polar bears survive the harsh Arctic winter. Although polar cubs are tiny, blind and wet creatures, lacking in fur, fat and the ability to shiver, yet nature has provided the means for them to survive and become the world's biggest bear in some of the world's most inhospitable terrain. That is but one of Mother Nature's daily miracles that Lavers' book unlocks.
The Arizona based spadefoot toad provides another. It spends most of its life encased in cooling mud, emerging only when it rains to have unbridled sexual orgies, massive food binges, and to lay hosts of eggs. Once satiated and once it has ensured the regeneration of its species, it resubmerges itself in the desert's cooling mud.
The Saharan scimitar-horned oryx is a large antelope around two meters in length, which lives beneath the blazing Sahara sun. It never seeks shelter, it drinks very little water and yet it thrives by the judicious use of deep night time breathing, which generates sufficient moisture for it to live on. When the Indonesian based komodo dragon slashes its prey, its filthy fangs cause all kinds of infections, which eventually wear down the unfortunate deer or human it has ambushed. The dragon then saunters after its weakened prey and dines at its leisure.
Although hippos occasionally decapitate them by rolling them around in their mouths, crocodiles have been the undisputed king of the tropical world's freshwater systems for the last 65 million years. Because they are so perfectly adapted to their environment, the only enemy they must really fear is man, the great destroyer. Because we have introduced such ecological vandals as goats, rabbits, cats, rats and mice to fragile ecological systems like Australia and New Zealand, we have done more damage to the environment than anything else since the dinosaurs became extinct.
As well as being replete with fascinating examples such as these, Lavers' book is particularly recommended because its judicious combination of examples such as with an eminently readable style, shows how our own existence is ultimately entwined with the complex life styles of all of those other vreatures, both great and small.

Why Elephants Have Big Ears covers the basics of understanding life on earth, tackling the more obvious questions such as why elephants have evolved big ears and why there are so many birds. The answers to these and other questions take the form of explaining broad patterns of evolution in the animal world.

answers many evolutionary questions and brings up topics you probably hadn't even thought to ask about. incorporates a lot of paleontological evidence and focuses on the evolution of different groups of animals, as well as on specific species. repeatedly refers back to basic laws of physics to explain various adaptations.

readable in general, although sometimes the text is a little awkward and overly detailed and the footnotes could have been better integrated.

here's a complete rundown of the topics covered:
Ch.1: covers issues with the scaling of areas to volumes, how it affects an animal's leg shape, body size, head size, hair, etc.
Ch.2: the energy costs for cold vs. warm-blood, looks more closely at issues w/ body size
Ch.3: looks at theories about the evolution of warm-bloods
Ch.4: looks at theories about whether or not dinosaurs were cold or warm-blooded
Ch.5: adaptations for animals, including in the tundra and desert
Ch.6: why there are hardly any huge cold-bloods, except in unstable, infertile areas like Australia
Ch.7: why there are hardly any large mammals in freshwater regions, although they exist on land and in the ocean. looks at the success of crocodiles.
Ch.8: why there are many species of birds in general and why there aren't many species of large birds
Ch.9: the catastrophic events that happened when there was global warming and decrease of global biodiversity in a previous era

This book is an extended essay on the continuity of evolutionary trends. In it, Lavers examines the extremes of the animal world, the very large, the very small, animals that can withstand very hot climes or very cold ones, mammals that fly and birds that run. For each of these beasts, Lavers argues that their shape and special characteristics must have been the result of adaptation to their environment or ecological niche. He investigates not only why elephants have big ears (to cool down their enormous rotund bodies in hot climates), but also why we don't have elephant-sized lizards or birds (at least these days). Throughout the book, Lavers draws on results of research in paleontology. For example, he explains the two sides of the debate about whether dinosaurs were warm blooded, and what the implications would be for giant cold-blooded lizards. I, for one, never really cultivated an interest in dinosaurs before. But after reading this book, it's much more clear to me that the animals we see around us today are just one chapter in the overall life of the planet. The book is written in an informal style, without footnotes, but key sources are identified in endnotes at the back of the book, along with a bibliography containing hundreds of references.

Chris Lavers is a paleontologist who specializes in wildlife ecology. It is from this point of view that he presents some of the ideas and controversies of current evolutionary theory along with some of the excitement of recent discoveries and understandings in a popular and nontechnical manner. His readable text is aimed precisely at the educated nonspecialist, but without a hint of any dumbing down.

In the title chapter we learn that elephants pump the warm blood from the interior of their bodies to the array of tubes in their ears to dissipate excess body heat. From this consideration Lavers is led to a discussion of whether dinosaurs were warm blooded or not. The evidence he presents makes it clear to this observer that they were, but his cautious conclusion is that the case hasn't been proven quite yet. Lavers hints that the dinosaurs may have to be put in another category, perhaps somewhere between warm blooded and cold, or maybe even somewhere beyond. How about: "I'm hot-blooded, check it and see" (to reprise a rock lyric).

Lavers goes to considerable depth to demonstrate how much we can learn by combining evidence from the fossil record with what we know about the metabolism of animals and how their bodies work. Dinosaur anatomy, for example, strongly suggests a closer kinship with today's avian world than with the reptilian. Furthermore, the large size of many dinosaurs is inconsistent with cold-bloodedness. Reptiles can't get as big as a Brontosaurus because (for one thing) they would not be able to regulate their temperature. Lavers points out that all the really big animals on earth today, with the exception of the giant tortoises, Komodo dragons and some snakes--and they aren't really that big--are warm-blooded. He cites the arguments of Robert Bakker and others to conclude that T. Rex, for example, wouldn't have the metabolic power to run down prey if it were cold-blooded.

I found Lavers's discussion of the difference between non-oxygen-based metabolic reactions capable of "supercharged" bursts of short-lived energy typical of reptiles, and the sustainable aerobic reactions typical of mammals like dogs and humans very interesting. The quick bursts are those of the sprinter who is wasted after at most a few hundred yards, while the aerobic engine sustains the pace of the long distance runner. Also interesting is the material in the chapter "Life on the Edge" about how birds and mammals maintain their body temperatures in the climate extremes of the deserts and the polar regions of the earth. Lavers notes that in very cold places there are no reptiles.

In some of this I am reminded of the famous and splendid essay by J. B. S. Haldane, "On Being the Right Size," published many decades ago. Lavers presents the same kind of reasoned argument based on physiology and anatomy to demonstrate why animals are built the way they are and why it would be difficult for them to be constructed otherwise. One comes away from the reading with a sense of having learned something important and exciting, a sense of having acquired understanding, not merely a collection of facts.

I started reading Elephant Gun one night and had decided I would read for couple of hours;however this book is so great I was not able to put it down until I finished it.I kept saying just one more chapter,just one more.I have not read a book this great for many years.If you like action,adventure and sex you will love this book.The author takes you on this ride and you can't get enough of it.This book lets you think along the way so you can follow all the characters but is not so oblivious you get bored.The way the author is able to bring all the different characters in and keep their roles so active and fresh is amazing.This book will leave you wanting more;lucky for us there is Arabian Assignment!

I read this book a while back and after all the books I've read since, it still stands out head and shoulders above most action and adventure novels. Even though it has romance angles, the plot was so unique I'm going to keep re-reading it every so often just because it made me laugh with it's humor and get angry as it shined a spotlight on how endangered much of our world's wildlife is. This book is a lot of fun and very educational too.

I agree with Wasser Reviews who ask, do you like bronzed bwanas, brazen, buxom (but brainy) beauties and big-bore blasters? Well, Philip Carpenter has something for you. It's two parts high-tech, instruction manual, three parts social-political-ecological observation, mixed with an ascerbic, ego-centric stream of opinion, facts and opinion as fact. Throw in some current and past world news, anecdotal experiences, personal vignettes from Mr. Carpenter's life and one part Harlequin romance novel and you still don't quite have the scope of the book. Every continent and most cultures get a visit (how's your kiswahili?) Nothing goes unnoticed by our hero, Mr. Eric Rutherford. I suspect his observations on animal psychology, poaching, endangered species, hip hop, skinheads, modern music, gangs, cars, AIDS, drugs, weapons, women, Beverly Hills and Bakersfield, to name a few, are remarkably close to Mr. Carpenters. Fortunately, they are interesting, even thought-provoking at times, and frequently informative. I sense some serious research here. The pithy homilies which precede each chapter are well-chosen and relevant. 'Man must sit in chair with mouth open very long time before roast duck fly in' (Chinese proverb). Hmmmmm. So true. A fun read for arm chair action heroes. Is there a movie in this somewhere?

I was immensely impressed with this well-crafted and termendously exciting book. The story line was most unique and the characters seemed to jump right off the page into real life. It was easy to follow the complicated plot and the imaginative use of many actual events and facts in a fiction novel made it seem even more real. I felt sympathy with the emotions of not only the women, but the men as well. A great book to escape the everyday world with and find vicarious thrills and adventure.

I had my curiosity piqued when hearing on televison that Dick Clark was reading this book back stage at a major awards show. I found it on Amazon.com and discovered it is like one of those packages you get from a distant relative at Christmas, something you expect will be an ordinary present exhibiting little thought or originality from one who doesn't really know your tastes. But then you open it and find, unexpectedly, it is a real treat. The big surprise is inside, the depth and direction of the book somewhat camouflaged by the cover and title. You find the plot is not really about that, but a series of ever more exciting situations and interesting characters who interact throughout the thread of this highly unique story. Without going into descriptive detail, it brings together a myriad of peoples lifestyles, cultures and attitudes with a complete spectrum of emotional experience: danger, fear, greed, power trips, corruption, egomania, romance, lust, filial devotion, nostalgia, the list goes on. You may, if you're a normal person, find your throat constricting or be shocked at one moment, then the next, be laughing at the unexpected humor in the dialogue and quotes that run throughout. I also felt a certain empathy for the characters as they faced difficult challenges in their lives brought about by their own well-meaning but ultimately bad decisions. How many of us have not been there? The protagonist, Eric, seemed so human with his faults and insecurities, an unlikely hero compared to a Schwartsnegger or Stallone, but conversely, I could see him as a genuine person rather than just another macho character. His inability to cope well with the complexities of todays modern technological world and the burden of old failures and mistakes that haunted him rang an uncomfortably personal note, perhaps too close to home, at least for me. The mercenary villain and Eric's nemesis, Jack, evoked a certain twisted charm as well with his off-center attitudes and occasional funny gallows humor and sarcasm. Also, for the social study crowd, there is a wealth of real information woven into the story line, revealing much about the lives of African citizens, ecology, the drug trade, AIDS research, street gangs, law enforcement and mercenaries, and it all has the ring of authenticity from one who has first-hand knowledge or at least knows enough to research and check facts. My criticisms are few, mainly that the cover and title may have been a poor choice and does a disservice to the quality of the authors high level of imagination and creative plot development, as the elephant gun mentioned is more a family heirloom with its own history, a connection of generations past when life was so much different, the gun was much more than merely a tool that was a symbol of mans imperialistic aggression and ignorance of the balance of nature many decades ago. There were some rather gory battle scenes that might turn a few readers off with too much realism, but it is done in a natural, uncontrived context, unlike the shocker/horror genre so prevalent today. This story's continuity and plot development comes together a bit slowly at first due to its complexity, setting the stage for later events, and could perhaps have been streamlined a bit, but it soon develops at a rapid pace that drew me in as it escalated into a suspenseful and very imaginative climax. All in all, the pluses far overshadowed the minuses. I liked this authors daring effort and different approach and would highly recommend it to fans of this genre. I have read many so-called best sellers that were not nearly as much fun and satisfying.
-Barker Reviews