Of Wolves and Men

I first heard of Barry Lopez when someone I knew recommended that I read Arctic Dreams. That book will always remain one of my favorites. There are moments in there that transcend anything other "nature writers" offer. This is because Lopez is always trying to see the world through the eyes of the animals, or at least doing his best to not let his own cultural conditioning get in the way.

In Of Wolves and Men, Lopez explores the subject of wolves from many viewpoints. He looks at the wolf in the wild: how it operates, what it is really like, how some other human cultures have come to embrace it. He also looks at the sad history of man's war on wolves, a war not deserved by this incredible creature. It seems a little odd to me that we show more forget where dogs come from when we attack wolves, but of course the lore about wolves goes back to ancient times. Lopez explores the mythology and the history of writing about wolves, how they have been portrayed over the centuries. Finally, he hopes that we can finally allow the wolf to be.

There are many beautiful lines in here. I have added them as favorite quotations on Goodreads.com. So much about perception and reality. Lopez is not only a fine nature writer; he is a fine writer period. show less

Barry Holstun Lopez loves wolves. And he’s written a remarkable book about them. But he’s not trying to convince you to love wolves, nor is he condeming you if you fear or deplore them. Rather, he’s exploring the historical, mythological, cultural and emotional connection we humans have to this secretive animal. Mr. Lopez shows us how a creature we know so little about has made such an impact on our literature, lore and psyche. And how we, in turn, have made a huge impact on him.

The relationship between man and wolf is long and complicated, and sometimes unknowable. But the author is not attempting to explain everything. Instead he wants us to suspend some questions and, as his says in his afterward, “live in the mystery.” By show more giving us this option, it’s clear that what Mr. Lopez has ultimately given us, the reader, and the wolf, is the highest level of respect. This is a beautiful, wide-ranging and moving book. show less

This book introduces the biology and behavior of the wolf, but mostly it is an examination about the different aspects relationships between mankind and wolves have taken on through the centuries, up to the present day. It looks at fairy tales, myths, folklore and misconceptions alike. It discusses the close parallel lives of native americans and other peoples who lived a hunting lifestyle had with wolves, then the warfare and extermination programs run against wolves in North America- all the various methods and justifications people had for killing wolves and the devastating effects this had. Then it examines the medieval view of wolves, which was mostly fanciful and moralizing. Wolves were presented as the embodiment of evil and show more religious powers only strengthened this idea, which persisted for a very long time. Then there's the completely opposite idea of the wolf as a nurturing mother that would raise human children in the wild- I came across a lot of familiar material in this chapter. Lopez shows how eventually science tried to look at real wolves and understand them, but how difficult it remains to break from old ideas, to see past what we've always believed to be true. The final epilogue is all too short, a glimpse of the time the author spent raising two wolves... Throughout it all, some fascinating history and intriguing ideas about how human minds from the depths of the past have shaped what we see and understand today. The overall idea I came away with was that no matter which way we look at the animal, we only see a part of it, what we think of it, never completely what the wolf truly is in and of himself. Some part of the animal will always remain a mystery to us, and Lopez seems content to leave it that way.

more at the Dogear Diary show less

What a fantastic book.

I've long been in love with wolves, the idea of them and the truth behind them. [b:Of Wolves and Men|743936|Of Wolves and Men|Barry Lopez|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347919044s/743936.jpg|730087] by [a:Barry Lopez|10262|Barry Lopez|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1319321209p2/10262.jpg] examines both our conceptions of wolves and the truth of how little we know of the creature. Myths are examined, legislation, and ethology.

This book neatly encompasses the bulk of what we know about wolves, what we think we know about them, and perhaps why we want to know more. It's one of the best books on the topic I've ever come across. I truly treasure this book - it serves as a great reminder of both the good and the bad show more we're capable of as a species. show less

A deep dive into the history, mythology, biology, massacre and reintroduction of the wild wolf. Thought provoking an still highly relevant. Should be on every university zoology/biology major's mandatory reading list. Barry Lopez at his best.

Originally published in 1978, this classic exploration of humanity’s complex relationship with and understanding of wolves returns with a new afterword by the author.

Humankind's relationship with the wolf is the sum of a spectrum of responses ranging from fear to admiration and affection. Lopez’s classic, careful study has won praise from a wide range of reviewers and improved the way books on wild animals are written. Of Wolves and Men explores the uneasy interaction between wolves and civilization over the centuries, and the wolf's prominence in our thoughts about wild creatures. Drawing upon an impressive array of literature, history, science, and mythology as well as extensive personal experience with captive and free-ranging show more wolves, Lopez argues for the wolf's preservation and immerses the reader in its sensory world, creating a compelling portrait of the wolf both as a real animal and as imagined by different kinds of men. A scientist might perceive the wolf as defined by research data, while an Eskimo hunter sees a family provider much like himself. For many Native Americans the wolf is also a spiritual symbol, a respected animal that can strengthen the individual and the community. With irresistible charm and elegance, Of Wolves and Men celebrates careful scientific fieldwork, dispels folklore that has enabled the Western mind to demonize wolves, explains myths, and honors indigenous traditions, allowing us to understand how this remarkable animal has become so prominent for so long in the human heart.
Source: Publisher show less

A definitive tract in which Lopez examines the history of man's relationship with the wolf, approaching it from several angles. A detailed work that should be read by those who love wolves and those who despise them. Both will learn that their picture of the wolf is a mere perception in the face of an arcane reality beyond the possibility of total comprehension in the human mind. Beautiful, horrifying, and ultimately illuminating.