Living Things We Love to Hate: Fact, Fantasies and Fallacies

by Des Kennedy

If we knew slugs a little better, could we be friends? Des Kennedy says yes, and adds fleas, mice, spiders, and snakes to the list. Creatures most of us would rather kill than cultivate as friends find and ally here, and with fascinating facts and anecdotes about his own life in a rural setting, Kennedy helps us to see allies in them as well.

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Cheryl Gatling]

Slugs, spiders, snakes, wasps-- these and other "yucky" creatures are those we tend to think of as "bad," and we try to kill. I expected Kennedy to argue that no, they are not bad, they are good. In some cases, that is true. Dandelions and stinging nettles have food and medicinal uses. Bats kill insects. The termites and fungi that rot our houses turn old, dead trees into rich soil. But sometimes the bad is still there. Imported starlings drive out native birds, and the accumulated weight of their droppings can destroy a house. The stings of wasps are painful to all, and fatal to those who are allergic.

But Kennedy goes beyond categories of good and bad, and falls into wonder. He examines the history that surrounds yucky creatures, the literature, the folklore, and the science. He tells tales, often humorous, of his own struggles with yucky creatures. And he concludes that "like everything else, they have their proper place in the web of life." He writes with fascination and enthusiasm for the amazing richness of all living things.

Because Kennedy lives in the Pacific Northwest, he concentrates on living things to be found there, but the principle of wonder is applicable to the "pests" of other regions as well. Perhaps I have come away with a new appreciation for some unloved animals and plants, but I have certainly come away with an appreciation for the buoyant spirit and writing skills of Des Kennedy. His beaming smile in his author photo matches the tone within these pages. I think I would like to read other books by Des Kennedy.

[Meridith Morrissey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found out a lot of interesting things about the creeping, crawling and annoying things we find in our backyards. A good source for natural ways to get rid of those deer that are eating your garden and the wasps that are bothering you while you're having a cookout in the backyard.

[Deborah Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Des Kennedy's writing. He is one of the few authors who makes me laugh out loud.