Maneaters

by Peter Hathaway Capstick

Describes sharks, lions, crocodiles, leopards, bears, wolves, and tigers and their attacks on people

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Africa, Nature, Animals, History, Outdoors

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1989

About the author

Peter Hathaway Capstick was an American hunter and author. Born in New Jersey and educated at (although did not graduate from) the University of Virginia, he walked away from a successful Wall Street career shortly before his thirtieth birthday to become a professional hunter, first in Central and South America and later (and most famously) in Africa. Capstick spent much of his life in Africa, a land he called his "source of inspiration." A chain smoker and heavy drinker, he died at age 56 from complications following heart surgery.

Reviews

[Chris Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories that are well told. Its hard to bring humor to people getting devoured by animals, and I should probably feel a little worse laughing at certain points, but I blame the author.

This reads very quickly. It is not a book I would give to someone right before they go on safari.

[CW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently picked up this book at a used book store and really enjoyed the read. Capstick is one of my favorite outdoor authors and he writes in a way that entertains the reader. Although this is a non-fiction book, it reads like fictions. In this book, Capstick takes a look at animals that occasionally kill and eat humans. A very different book from most of his other works, it is still entertaining.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually sick or old predators hunt man and once they acquire the taste of human flesh tend to concentrate on this new prey. Chapstick writes about various feline man-eaters.

[Alex Dove · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the chapters on sharks and crocodiles have had more stories of the author hunting and killing the animals than the animals actually hunting animals. Also He prefaces his book by saying he doesn't want to be part of the group that says "all animals are misunderstood and only the sick ones are maneaters" but he also doesn't want to be like "many great wolf or tiger hunters" who justify hunting because these animals are evil, or cunning etc. (a viewpoint I was actually excited to read) but more or less sides with the hunters and scorns any environmentalist viewpoint basically scoffing at the idea of protecting a species that has human kills as it just makes them more likely to kill more people...so a bit hypocritical of his opening statement. Also, I find it funny that he got scared by a shark, who really did nothing more than steal his fish (really the story had the shark bump him and investigate his boat, but nothing else) so in his freaked out, holy shit a shark mentality he tried shooting it...and the shark just swam away.

[Jayem · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good classic book to bring camping. Short stories of real life encounters with some of the most dangerous predators. Gives an extra bit of fear factor when you’re reading the book aloud to family and they comment “I remember when that happened”. I found the section about Wolves unnecessary and think the book would had been better without it.

[Steven Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok. The first few chapters and the last chapter are interesting. The middle chapters not as much. Capstick's writing style in the book is a little difficult for me to read and comprehend, with a lot of side thoughts mixed in.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale is true and one you won't want to miss. I have read a couple of books by this author and always feel like I am right in the middle of the adventure.

[William]

I hope so this book was increible

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It will give you a chill.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maneaters by Peter Hathaway Capstick (Safari Press Inc. 1991) (599.065). In the grand hunting tradition of famed author Robert Ruark, author Peter Hathaway Capstick tells tales about maneating animals which are designed to curl the readers' hair. Capstick writes about all of the big cats, bears, hyeanas, sharks, crocodilians, ants, and... cannibals! He distinguishes between those animals that eat man (listed above) versus those that only kill man on occasion but do not eat him such as elephants, hippos, and snakes. The second group is not included in this volume, but I'll bet the author has written another one on said subject. This is very entertainingly written; I enjoyed it very much. My rating: 7/10, finished 4/18/17. I purchased a HB copy in like new condition 4/15/17 from McKay's for $0.75. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH