Book Recommendations
On an on-going basis, we will post book recommendations. Books will be chosen for their relevance to the mission of the Western Wildlife Conservancy. Our first recommendation is the book pictured below. It’s a pretty easy read and full of suggestions for changes we can make that will benefit the animals we love so much. I think many folks, I know it was true for me, struggle as to how or where to start in making a difference. The mistake can be made that it has to be something significant…in actuality, many small steps or even just taking the right
Have a book recommendation you would like us to consider? Send your requests to: denise.hughett@gmail.com. Thank you!
Wolf Time – New Fiction Book
I recently finished reading the book Wolf Time. I found it a refreshing fiction book. Why do I say that? Because it wove in facts that made for a more “realistic” fiction book.
In the story, we learn that the main human character, wildlife biologist Sage McAllister has been chosen by wolves to write their story. How will she do that? The wolves can communicate with her telepathically. They can also transport her across time which is the basis for the title of the book.
Real wolf issues and and behavior are depicted throughout the book and mixed with a dose of fantasy. As you can see by the cover of the book, Dr. Jane Goodall recommends the book. Others that recommend it include the Dutchers, Amaroq Weiss, and Rick Lamplugh (side note, if you have not read one of Rick’s books, I recommend them).
So if you are looking for an entertaining read, pick up Wolf Time.
So I just finished reading Rick McIntyre’s latest installment in the trilogy he is writing on the wolves of Yellowstone. For those of you who do not know Rick, he is said to have watched wolves for longer than anyone. His dedication led to thousands of days wolf watching – mostly all in Yellowstone. During his employment with the National Park Service, he was often known as Ranger Rick, and would not hesitate to help others see wolves either through their scopes or his. His storytelling abilities are legendary as well. He is soft spoken and clearly has an intimate knowledge of the wolves since their reintroduction. His passion and compassion comes through. If you ever have a chance to hear him speak, go! In November, he will be speaking at the Sedona Wolf Week event which is virtual in this crazy year.
I think Nate Blakeslee, author of American Wolf, has the perfect quote to describe this book – “A redemption story, an adventure story, and perhaps above all, a love story”. I fully agree with Nate. There is drama and conflict and yes, the story between 21 and 42 is something special. I won’t give too much away, but it certainly hit an emotional chord for me.
Rick’s down to earth style makes learning about wolf behaviors and interactions relatable and personal. He shares bits about himself and his thoughts on why the wolves behaved in one way or another after analysis of the copious logs he has maintained over his career in Yellowstone.
I had a hard time putting the book down! I highly recommend it.
Over the course of the past few months, I took a course in Wilderness Management. We had two assigned books. While one was more technical in nature and focused on The Wilderness Act of 1964, the other, “Wilderness and the American Mind” by Roderick Frazier Nash was more of a story about the history of wilderness in the US.
If you like history and are curious about the colorful characters that helped form the perspectives we have had towards wilderness, this book is for you. In fact it is seen as a classic. Read about how the settlers felt about wilderness and why they felt that way and then segway into changing attitudes towards wilderness as you read about the early naturalists such as Thoreau, Muir, Leopold, and many more. There are artists, poets, scientists, and politicians who played a role in the formation and protection of wilderness areas.
While the book is full of facts, I found it to be written in a manner that was easy and enjoyable to follow. I recommend it!
The Summer of the Wolves was an entertaining story. The story centers on Nika, a young girl who has been bounced around within the foster care system…that is, until an Uncle, she didn’t know takes her and her brother in. Her uncle works in Minnesota with wolves and in entering a more natural setting, Nika soon begins to connect with a wolf. And through this connection, her life and her ability to connect with others changes.
It’s an easy fun read!
I thought I would mix it up a bit and recommend a fictional book. Yellowstone Standoff has wolves, bears, scenery and more. It’s an interesting mystery with some twists and turns. If you are looking for an easy read that takes you into to Yellowstone while adding some intrigue, pick up Scott Graham’s book!
Return of the Wolf by Paula Wild is an interesting read. It covers an interesting range of topics. Here’s the table of contents:
- The Wolf at the Door
- The Big Bad Wolf of the Old World
- Good and Evil in the New World
- The Life of a Wolf
- The Eaters and the Eaten
- Coywolves and Wolf-dogs
- Wolf Wars
- Wolf Watchers
- A Myth as Big as a Mountain
- A Perfect Storm
- Living with Wolves
- Chasing the Moon
I found the range of topics intriguing and thought provoking. In a nutshell, the book provides an updated view of the wolf in today’s world. One that is a mix of myth, wonder, fragmented habitats, returning populations, and interactions with humans. I highly recommend it.
If you like wolves, and you probably do since you are visiting this site, then we recommend reading The Wolf Connection. This book is chock full of stories about wolves, those who love wolves and what our (human’s) connection is to wolves. It provides insight and reflection on how we can internalize wolf qualities and understanding too.
The book is organized into nine “realms”. Each realm contemplates an aspect of the wolf. The nine realms are:
- The Wolf Heart Awakens
- The Ambassador Wolf
- The Ancestral Wolf
- The Wild Wolf
- The Human Wolf
- The Cosmic Wolf
- The Mythological Wolf
- The Ritualistic Wolf
- Your Own Wolf Principles
The last realm provides insights as to activities you can take to reflect on your life. I found this approach to be a unique combination of facts, stories, and thought-provoking ideas. It’s an easy and interesting read.
______________________________________________________________________________
Keepers of the Wolves
I recently got to watch a webinar put on through the International Wolf Center in which Richard Thiel was the speaker. Mr. Thiel was intimately involved in the efforts to research, manage, and educate folks about the wolves in Wisconsin. His presentation was very interesting and during it, he mentioned a book that he had written in 2001 and recently updated in 2018 which was released as a second edition. The book is entitled, “Keepers of the Wolves”.
The book is a wealth of information about the wolves themselves, the challenges a wolf biologist faces, and the people he has worked with. It’s written in a manner that makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it!