Ian Stirling

This is one of those heavy coffe-table type books full of beautiful photos. It was actually pretty easy to get through, most of it well-written and interesting. The book has several main sections, written by a variety of scientists. It discusses the evolutionary history of bears (answering a few of my questions about pandas), their biology and behavior. Each of the eight bear species has its own chapter, then there is a part about bears and people, everything from ancient bear myths and fables, to how bears have figured in art, to how bears have been affected by people hunting them, putting them in zoos and circuses, and finally, conservation efforts. This part dated the book somewhat, as it stated that the polar bear is the least threatened of all the bear species! The only part of the book I found disappointing were the chapters on bears in mythology, culture and art. That information wasn't presented as well, some parts felt choppy, others not unclear. However, if you want an all-around book about bears, this is an excellent choice with many wonderful illustrations.

from the Dogear Diary… (meer)