This 1989 book covers the career of zoo director Jack Hanna up to that time, including his early ambition to have his own zoo, his adventures with various animals in his charge, his appearances on the Letterman show, and the safaris he led to Africa. Filled with colorful, touching anecdotes, including some that will have you rolling on the floor, the book is accompanied by plenty of black and white photos and a couple color photo inserts with pictures of twin gorilla babies, baby cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, camels, and more. If this book has not been updated since publication...and I haven't checked yet...it should be because I'd like to find out if the Columbus Zoo ever got its panda visit and how things turned out for the zoo in the nearly two decades since this came out. But this book does stand alone...the anecdotes and, regrettably, the dire environmental message, stand alone. ( )