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Running with Rhinos: Stories from a Radical Conservationist
''Running with rhinos'' is not a euphemism—not when you're ground support for the International Rhino Foundation's Rhino Conservancy Project. Edward M. Warner, a self-proclaimed radical conservationist, presents his outrageous adventures from more than a decade of collaboration with the veterinarians and biologists who care for endangered rhinos in Africa. Few, if any, laymen like Warner have been invited to do what amounts to some of the most dangerous volunteer fieldwork around. Fewer than five thousand black rhinos remain in the wilds of sub-Saharan Africa. About five hundred live on private conservancies in Zimbabwe. For Warner, working on the frontlines of rhino conservation not only allowed him to help rhinos, it gave him the opportunity to pursue and refine his emerging philosophy of radical conservationism, to cultivate partnerships between local communities and private landowners in Africa, and to export the lessons about land and wildlife management back home to the United States. In Running with Stories from a Radical Conservationist , Warner takes readers along as he weasels his way into becoming volunteer ground support for the International Rhino Foundation's Rhino Conservancy Project, or ''Rhino Ops'', in Zimbabwe. It is gritty, sweaty, sometimes scary, and exhilarating work. Warner succeeds in telling a remarkable story of the extraordinary bonds between humans—and their dedication to protecting endangered animals—all while weaving eye-opening stories about the flora, fauna, geology, geography, and politics of sub-Saharan Africa.
226 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 11, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley.com and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This book was full of promises. It is set in Africa and it is about a volunteer’s experience with the conservation of the black rhino populations.
It has a handful of good stories, and good hindsight on the conservation challenges faced in Africa. As the author traveled so much we get a good overview of the sub Saharan Africa, its fauna and flora. I particularly liked the episode when they wired a female rhino, as I had no idea how it was done.
Unfortunately the author was too self-absorbed and all the stories were exclusively about himself, up to the point of constantly telling us how much he paid for dinners he offered his friends, and how much money he was spending on contraband for his associates. This made the book extremely hard to go through and I was begging for it to end by the time I reached the middle of it.
It is sad because underneath all those boring, self-indulgent descriptions we can see there are real stories and very interesting ones. The author also has a lot of field knowledge and solid ideas on how to do successful conservation in Africa, however all that falls short under the dismissive language, the boring uninteresting details with which we are bombarded.
https://peixinhodepratablog.wordpress...
This book was full of promises. It is set in Africa and it is about a volunteer’s experience with the conservation of the black rhino populations.
It has a handful of good stories, and good hindsight on the conservation challenges faced in Africa. As the author traveled so much we get a good overview of the sub Saharan Africa, its fauna and flora. I particularly liked the episode when they wired a female rhino, as I had no idea how it was done.
Unfortunately the author was too self-absorbed and all the stories were exclusively about himself, up to the point of constantly telling us how much he paid for dinners he offered his friends, and how much money he was spending on contraband for his associates. This made the book extremely hard to go through and I was begging for it to end by the time I reached the middle of it.
It is sad because underneath all those boring, self-indulgent descriptions we can see there are real stories and very interesting ones. The author also has a lot of field knowledge and solid ideas on how to do successful conservation in Africa, however all that falls short under the dismissive language, the boring uninteresting details with which we are bombarded.
https://peixinhodepratablog.wordpress...
February 12, 2016
As someone currently volunteering in a developing country, I was looking forward to a different perspective to compare against the experience I am getting. I wasn't expecting this rich middle age man's dad jokes and rambling diaries about his numerous visits to Africa. I wanted to learn something about Africa, but it was impossible to do when he just mentioned aspects of Africa that no one else would have a clue about unless they were an expert or volunteer in the same program. He skirted over all these facts and short stories with no explanation, making the book into a jumble of thoughts I could not connect with at all. I could only recommend this book to a researcher who has spent time in the field because no one else would know what is going on.
October 1, 2017
I'm traveling to all 54 African countries from 2013-2018 and I’m spending about 5 weeks in each country, so Running with Rhinos interested me. I was hoping to learn amazing rhino facts that few know about and get some insight into the rhino ecosystem. However, I was disappointed.
The author, Ed Warner, promises that this book will be different than other rhino books because it’s “written by a long-term, non-professional volunteer . . . who has worked with veterinarians and biologists who care for rhinos in Africa. Few if any laymen like me have been invited to do what amounts to some of the most dangerous volunteer fieldwork around.”
Yes, it’s a different perspective, but a less interesting one than the alternative. Wouldn’t you rather hear from a full-time lifelong rhino expert instead of a “non-professional volunteer” who helps out a couple of weeks per year?
But first the good news.
I did learn a few things. For example, I learned that most rhinos live in Southern Africa: “The black rhino is solitary unless with a calf. Fewer than 5,000 rhinos remain in the wilds of Africa, with the largest populations in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.”
One major problem of the book is that you don't really get into rhino land until you're halfway through the book. The first half is background material that says little about the rhino themselves. It's a tedious slog.
Running With Rhinos is filled with macho man stuff. Warner seems to think of himself as a John Wayne cowboy in the African bush. He’s the kind of guy who would get his leg chomped on by a crocodile and he’d shrug it off as “just a flesh wound.”
He loves to exaggerate, like when he wrote in the caption of a photo showing a rocky terrain, “Yes, folks, that’s what they call a ‘road’ in Marienfluess, Namibia.”
I’ve driven all over Namibia (and over 150,000 km in Africa) and the “road” he shows in the foreground photo isn’t a road at all (not even a crappy one). It’s a completely impassible hill of rocks. In the background of the photo, you can make out a smoother, sand-filled passage, where the truck came in. But Warner wants you to believe that they drove across that rock-filled nightmare.
I’m sure Warner did plenty rigorous off-roading, but he prefers to spin a tall tale of his daring driving experience.
Another example is when he claimed, “There was no petrol in the whole country that year.” That’s simply an exaggeration. Yes, Zimbabwe experienced a severe petrol shortage that perhaps made people feel that there was no petrol, but there was petrol because the black market works.
He indulges in making humble brags. For example, there's the story of when he captures a snake. It’s an impressive feat, but the way he retells it is that annoying ah-shucks style. The black Africans were awed with his snake capturing skills and he shrugs it off like, “That’s just what I do.”
At other times, he comes across as the stereotypical arrogant ugly American who doesn’t adapt to the local customs, even when he knows what they are. For example, he “met three different ministers or cabinet members and the head of National Parks. I’m sure my calling everyone by first names is dead wrong in this very socially conscious society. Trouble is, I have my own set of rules. First names first. it’s always been that way with me and always will. My friends can only hope I never run into the president or the pope. (I’ve since run into four presidents and two prime ministers. I’ve called all of them by their first names. ‘Hi Bill [Clinton], I’m Ed, and this is Jackie.’”
(Notice the name drop there, another humble brag.)
Running With Rhinos will make statements without backing it up with more detail. I would have loved it if Warner could explain why he thinks that the US “regulatory system of trophy hunting cannot properly manage deer populations. White-tailed deer are also severely hindering the regrowth of US Midwest and eastern forests, which are in crisis due to the old growth reaching the end of its life cycle.”
It's an important and profound statement, but he just lets it die there instead of developing it. I realize it's a book about rhinos, but a few extra sentences would have shed some light on the obscure subject.
Similarly, he calls the white-tailed deer and the Canada geese “pests,” but does little to explain why they’re “pests.” Rhinos are certainly pests for many African farms. Should we kill those too? How do we decide when an animal is a "pest"? He doesn't address that crucial issue.
There’s a Q&A at the end of the ebook, where he also throws out a tantalizing thought that he fails to develop: “Westerners have a lot to learn from African people and the wildlife with which they live.”
Really?
Great. Like what?
He doesn’t say.
From what I know, Africans are simply copying Westerners ever since they acquired Western firearms: driving all their wildlife to extinction. It’s Western organizations that are supplying much of the funding to preserve the wilderness left in Africa. If it wasn’t for Western NGOs (like the Lowveld Rhino Trust run by Dr. Susie Ellis, which Warner is giving the “net proceeds” of Running With Rhinos to), then African wildlife would be even worse off than it is.
Indeed, later in the same interview, Warner admits that: “We cannot save Africa from bad governments. Africans must evolve forms of government that work for them. Until they do, the wildlife will remain at risk.”
Exactly.
That illustrates that his previous statement about Westerners having “a lot to learn from Africans” was simply a politically correct statement with no substance to back it up.
Moreover, Running With Rhinos completely ignores the elephant in the African room: its fast growing population. All the conservation efforts will amount to little when Africa has 2-3 billion people. He completely avoids this massive environmental issue, which is the most important issue of all. All environmental issues improve when a region depopulates.
In conclusion, Running With Rhinos is a letdown. There are promising passages, but before Warner can develop them, he changes the subject. I would have loved to hear more about the rhino ecosystem, its life cycle, its diet, and its gestation period. Instead, the words “diet” and “gestation” don’t appear in the book.
Although they shoot rhinos often with tranquilizer guns, Warner provides scant details about them. How's the dose determined? Do they sometimes accidently kill them with an overdose? At other times do they survive the dose and run away?
This is a harsh review. I've never heard of Ed Warner or his organization before this book. I certainly commend his remarkable dedication and contribution to helping rhinos. I just dislike this book. It feels self-published, although the book cover is outstanding.
Warner fills the book with banal observations that makes such as, “As soon as I lay down on the ground I saw four meteors, two nearly in tandem together, streak across the sky.”
Wow.
I’ll leave you with one more of his fascinating observations, “If I stare at the stars long enough I fall asleep.”
And if you stare at this book long enough, you’ll also fall asleep too.
VERDICT: 2 out of 10 stars.
The author, Ed Warner, promises that this book will be different than other rhino books because it’s “written by a long-term, non-professional volunteer . . . who has worked with veterinarians and biologists who care for rhinos in Africa. Few if any laymen like me have been invited to do what amounts to some of the most dangerous volunteer fieldwork around.”
Yes, it’s a different perspective, but a less interesting one than the alternative. Wouldn’t you rather hear from a full-time lifelong rhino expert instead of a “non-professional volunteer” who helps out a couple of weeks per year?
But first the good news.
I did learn a few things. For example, I learned that most rhinos live in Southern Africa: “The black rhino is solitary unless with a calf. Fewer than 5,000 rhinos remain in the wilds of Africa, with the largest populations in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.”
One major problem of the book is that you don't really get into rhino land until you're halfway through the book. The first half is background material that says little about the rhino themselves. It's a tedious slog.
Running With Rhinos is filled with macho man stuff. Warner seems to think of himself as a John Wayne cowboy in the African bush. He’s the kind of guy who would get his leg chomped on by a crocodile and he’d shrug it off as “just a flesh wound.”
He loves to exaggerate, like when he wrote in the caption of a photo showing a rocky terrain, “Yes, folks, that’s what they call a ‘road’ in Marienfluess, Namibia.”
I’ve driven all over Namibia (and over 150,000 km in Africa) and the “road” he shows in the foreground photo isn’t a road at all (not even a crappy one). It’s a completely impassible hill of rocks. In the background of the photo, you can make out a smoother, sand-filled passage, where the truck came in. But Warner wants you to believe that they drove across that rock-filled nightmare.
I’m sure Warner did plenty rigorous off-roading, but he prefers to spin a tall tale of his daring driving experience.
Another example is when he claimed, “There was no petrol in the whole country that year.” That’s simply an exaggeration. Yes, Zimbabwe experienced a severe petrol shortage that perhaps made people feel that there was no petrol, but there was petrol because the black market works.
He indulges in making humble brags. For example, there's the story of when he captures a snake. It’s an impressive feat, but the way he retells it is that annoying ah-shucks style. The black Africans were awed with his snake capturing skills and he shrugs it off like, “That’s just what I do.”
At other times, he comes across as the stereotypical arrogant ugly American who doesn’t adapt to the local customs, even when he knows what they are. For example, he “met three different ministers or cabinet members and the head of National Parks. I’m sure my calling everyone by first names is dead wrong in this very socially conscious society. Trouble is, I have my own set of rules. First names first. it’s always been that way with me and always will. My friends can only hope I never run into the president or the pope. (I’ve since run into four presidents and two prime ministers. I’ve called all of them by their first names. ‘Hi Bill [Clinton], I’m Ed, and this is Jackie.’”
(Notice the name drop there, another humble brag.)
Running With Rhinos will make statements without backing it up with more detail. I would have loved it if Warner could explain why he thinks that the US “regulatory system of trophy hunting cannot properly manage deer populations. White-tailed deer are also severely hindering the regrowth of US Midwest and eastern forests, which are in crisis due to the old growth reaching the end of its life cycle.”
It's an important and profound statement, but he just lets it die there instead of developing it. I realize it's a book about rhinos, but a few extra sentences would have shed some light on the obscure subject.
Similarly, he calls the white-tailed deer and the Canada geese “pests,” but does little to explain why they’re “pests.” Rhinos are certainly pests for many African farms. Should we kill those too? How do we decide when an animal is a "pest"? He doesn't address that crucial issue.
There’s a Q&A at the end of the ebook, where he also throws out a tantalizing thought that he fails to develop: “Westerners have a lot to learn from African people and the wildlife with which they live.”
Really?
Great. Like what?
He doesn’t say.
From what I know, Africans are simply copying Westerners ever since they acquired Western firearms: driving all their wildlife to extinction. It’s Western organizations that are supplying much of the funding to preserve the wilderness left in Africa. If it wasn’t for Western NGOs (like the Lowveld Rhino Trust run by Dr. Susie Ellis, which Warner is giving the “net proceeds” of Running With Rhinos to), then African wildlife would be even worse off than it is.
Indeed, later in the same interview, Warner admits that: “We cannot save Africa from bad governments. Africans must evolve forms of government that work for them. Until they do, the wildlife will remain at risk.”
Exactly.
That illustrates that his previous statement about Westerners having “a lot to learn from Africans” was simply a politically correct statement with no substance to back it up.
Moreover, Running With Rhinos completely ignores the elephant in the African room: its fast growing population. All the conservation efforts will amount to little when Africa has 2-3 billion people. He completely avoids this massive environmental issue, which is the most important issue of all. All environmental issues improve when a region depopulates.
In conclusion, Running With Rhinos is a letdown. There are promising passages, but before Warner can develop them, he changes the subject. I would have loved to hear more about the rhino ecosystem, its life cycle, its diet, and its gestation period. Instead, the words “diet” and “gestation” don’t appear in the book.
Although they shoot rhinos often with tranquilizer guns, Warner provides scant details about them. How's the dose determined? Do they sometimes accidently kill them with an overdose? At other times do they survive the dose and run away?
This is a harsh review. I've never heard of Ed Warner or his organization before this book. I certainly commend his remarkable dedication and contribution to helping rhinos. I just dislike this book. It feels self-published, although the book cover is outstanding.
Warner fills the book with banal observations that makes such as, “As soon as I lay down on the ground I saw four meteors, two nearly in tandem together, streak across the sky.”
Wow.
I’ll leave you with one more of his fascinating observations, “If I stare at the stars long enough I fall asleep.”
And if you stare at this book long enough, you’ll also fall asleep too.
VERDICT: 2 out of 10 stars.
March 2, 2016
Thank You to Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with a copy of Ed Warner's Running with Rhinos, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- When retired geologist Ed Warner, looked to fill his life with adventure, he became a volunteer for The Rhino Conservancy Project in Africa. His memoir, Running with Rhinos, details his highly dangerous and important work to help conserve this endangered species.
LIKE- Prior to reading Running with Rhinos, I had never heard of Ed Warner or The International Rhino Conservancy. After reading Warner's book, I'm inspired by the valuable conservation work that they are doing. This is a physically dangerous job that is carried out primarily by volunteers. They are constantly struggling to find funding, fight poachers, and work within a government that has endless red tape. To say that it's an uphill battle, is an understatement.
I've spent many years as a zoo research volunteer, including a study involving a baby Indian Rhino...however, all of my work was observational only, done from the safety of a thick barrier. Warner and his colleagues are hands on, using darts with a sedative that's lethal to humans, and risking being trampled or gored. Warner has plenty of close calls and his stories are exciting.
I've never visited Africa, but it's easy to get swept up in Warner's love and enthusiasm for the country. He paints beautiful images of the landscape, animals, and people, that he has come to love. He makes the reader care about their conservation efforts.
DISLIKE- Warner is an okay writer, but his memoir lacks polish. Maybe this is a positive though, as it makes his stories genuine and down-to-earth, like the stories are being told by a friend. Less could have been more, as some of the stories are repetitive in content. The collection would have been stronger, if he had been more selective over which stories to include, rather than including so many.
RECOMMEND- Yes. Warner is doing good work and his story is important to share. Running with Rhinos is a great pick for anyone interested in animal conservation or those who like reading about dangerous, scary, dare-devil situations.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- When retired geologist Ed Warner, looked to fill his life with adventure, he became a volunteer for The Rhino Conservancy Project in Africa. His memoir, Running with Rhinos, details his highly dangerous and important work to help conserve this endangered species.
LIKE- Prior to reading Running with Rhinos, I had never heard of Ed Warner or The International Rhino Conservancy. After reading Warner's book, I'm inspired by the valuable conservation work that they are doing. This is a physically dangerous job that is carried out primarily by volunteers. They are constantly struggling to find funding, fight poachers, and work within a government that has endless red tape. To say that it's an uphill battle, is an understatement.
I've spent many years as a zoo research volunteer, including a study involving a baby Indian Rhino...however, all of my work was observational only, done from the safety of a thick barrier. Warner and his colleagues are hands on, using darts with a sedative that's lethal to humans, and risking being trampled or gored. Warner has plenty of close calls and his stories are exciting.
I've never visited Africa, but it's easy to get swept up in Warner's love and enthusiasm for the country. He paints beautiful images of the landscape, animals, and people, that he has come to love. He makes the reader care about their conservation efforts.
DISLIKE- Warner is an okay writer, but his memoir lacks polish. Maybe this is a positive though, as it makes his stories genuine and down-to-earth, like the stories are being told by a friend. Less could have been more, as some of the stories are repetitive in content. The collection would have been stronger, if he had been more selective over which stories to include, rather than including so many.
RECOMMEND- Yes. Warner is doing good work and his story is important to share. Running with Rhinos is a great pick for anyone interested in animal conservation or those who like reading about dangerous, scary, dare-devil situations.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
February 28, 2016
This will be my book of the year as it is just such a well written true account of one man's desire to help in anyway. Ed makes you lol, cry and just swear at times and the stories just flow even though they jump back in time at places.
This book paints a picture of a beautiful Africa with problems unfortunately most of the issues have gotten worse but there has been so many highlights with regards to wildlife conservation throughout it as well. When Ed talks about the smells & sounds of Africa it is like I am home again and he has solidified my plans even more to go back and volunteer in the orphanages and I believe that will can all make a difference and after reading his book we are still so lucky to have people like Ed and all the teams that are throughout the world that go out there every day to save and protect them.
Ed I hope that you have no more flights mishaps and that you don't get attacked by any wild animal while riding your bike out in the veld.
Thanks so much to Netgalley giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book paints a picture of a beautiful Africa with problems unfortunately most of the issues have gotten worse but there has been so many highlights with regards to wildlife conservation throughout it as well. When Ed talks about the smells & sounds of Africa it is like I am home again and he has solidified my plans even more to go back and volunteer in the orphanages and I believe that will can all make a difference and after reading his book we are still so lucky to have people like Ed and all the teams that are throughout the world that go out there every day to save and protect them.
Ed I hope that you have no more flights mishaps and that you don't get attacked by any wild animal while riding your bike out in the veld.
Thanks so much to Netgalley giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2016
I enjoyed the writing style most of the time and appreciated the stories and almost lyricism of the writing. The subject could have been dry but because of the description of the personalities and events it was enjoyable reading. I would have preferred more depth to the actual conservation work. There were lot of alcoholic activities but I guess that is what happened so it is part of the tale, but some of them could have been left out. I also found some episodes very choppy and perhaps the editing could have been a bit tighter.
I also felt there was a little too much self praise for himself.
Overall it gave a good idea of the frustration of conservation and dealing with government and big business and thank goodness for the people on the ground or nothing would get done
I appreciate receiving an ARC from Netgalley and the publishers and thank them for it
I also felt there was a little too much self praise for himself.
Overall it gave a good idea of the frustration of conservation and dealing with government and big business and thank goodness for the people on the ground or nothing would get done
I appreciate receiving an ARC from Netgalley and the publishers and thank them for it
February 28, 2016
I want to thank NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC of this book
I really wanted to like this book-in fact I kept reading it to see if I could find any of it worthwhile. I am sorry-but I felt he used this as a way to brag about his money and connections. Lets face it-he is not a typical volunteer. He complains about sitting in coach for 14 hours-that's what normal people have to do when they volunteer. Geez. Some of the stories were cute-but I don't need to hear about how much they drank or him "smuggling" him taking gifts to people isn't "smuggling" Who brags about being a gun runner??? There should have been more information about how to become a volunteer and about the animals and just day to day things.
I really wanted to like this book-in fact I kept reading it to see if I could find any of it worthwhile. I am sorry-but I felt he used this as a way to brag about his money and connections. Lets face it-he is not a typical volunteer. He complains about sitting in coach for 14 hours-that's what normal people have to do when they volunteer. Geez. Some of the stories were cute-but I don't need to hear about how much they drank or him "smuggling" him taking gifts to people isn't "smuggling" Who brags about being a gun runner??? There should have been more information about how to become a volunteer and about the animals and just day to day things.
March 1, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had high hopes for this one, partly because of the hype on NetGalley. The book, unfortunately, missed the mark entirely and was quite disappointing. With lack luster writing and inadequate descriptions, perhaps more aggressive editing would have helped. Mr. Warner seems to be a decent man on a mission, but is unable to put his interesting adventures into words. Only my opinion.
I had high hopes for this one, partly because of the hype on NetGalley. The book, unfortunately, missed the mark entirely and was quite disappointing. With lack luster writing and inadequate descriptions, perhaps more aggressive editing would have helped. Mr. Warner seems to be a decent man on a mission, but is unable to put his interesting adventures into words. Only my opinion.
March 25, 2016
Such a promising title, such a disappointment. Saved from 1 star by the subject matter and the few depicted events actually concerning this animal. The author was unable to make this book interesting, certainly not a page turner. For a 5 star book, better to read Lawrence Anthony's "The Last Rhinos."
October 20, 2020
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 1.5 of 5
Have you ever gone to a friend's house to see photos and hear stories about their recent vacation? You reel with laughter at their exploits and gasp at their near-death experiences and at the end of the telling someone says, "You should write that down. It would make a great book!" This is that book.
But what we often don't realize when we tell someone to "write it down, it would make a great book" is that part of what was fun about it was knowing the story-telling and hearing them tell it, complete with nuances to keep the listener interested. But for the average reader, not knowing the author, these stories typically don't have an impact. This definitely did not.
Abridged from the lengthy description of the book on Goodreads we get:
I agree that we see Warner "weasel his way into becoming volunteer ground support" but very much disagree about the weaving of eye-opening stories about flora, fauna, and the rest.
I was looking forward to reading a book about rhino conservation and the efforts to protect these magnificent beasts. Any other information about Africa - from politics to the environment - would be a welcome bonus.
What we get, however, is Ed Warner.
This is more memoir, with Warner a shining star in each story, than it is a look at conservation efforts. It is self-indulgent and was a struggle to read. I kept hoping for something more, but it never came.
Looking for a good book? Ed Warner's Running with Rhinos is a disappointing book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever gone to a friend's house to see photos and hear stories about their recent vacation? You reel with laughter at their exploits and gasp at their near-death experiences and at the end of the telling someone says, "You should write that down. It would make a great book!" This is that book.
But what we often don't realize when we tell someone to "write it down, it would make a great book" is that part of what was fun about it was knowing the story-telling and hearing them tell it, complete with nuances to keep the listener interested. But for the average reader, not knowing the author, these stories typically don't have an impact. This definitely did not.
Abridged from the lengthy description of the book on Goodreads we get:
"In Running with Rhinos: Stories from a Radical Conservationist, Warner takes readers along as he weasels his way into becoming volunteer ground support for the International Rhino Foundation’s Rhino Conservancy Project, or “Rhino Ops,” in Zimbabwe. It is gritty, sweaty, sometimes scary, and exhilarating work. Warner succeeds in telling a remarkable story of the extraordinary bonds between humans—and their dedication to protecting endangered animals—all while weaving eye-opening stories about the flora, fauna, geology, geography, and politics of sub-Saharan Africa."
I agree that we see Warner "weasel his way into becoming volunteer ground support" but very much disagree about the weaving of eye-opening stories about flora, fauna, and the rest.
I was looking forward to reading a book about rhino conservation and the efforts to protect these magnificent beasts. Any other information about Africa - from politics to the environment - would be a welcome bonus.
What we get, however, is Ed Warner.
This is more memoir, with Warner a shining star in each story, than it is a look at conservation efforts. It is self-indulgent and was a struggle to read. I kept hoping for something more, but it never came.
Looking for a good book? Ed Warner's Running with Rhinos is a disappointing book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2019
This is an excellent book with a real local connection. Ed Warner is a CSU grad in geology who led a team that "discovered" a huge natural gas reservoir in Wyoming. Twenty percent of the planet's reserves I believe he said so Dr. Warner has some cash. To his credit he 's spending a lot of that money on rhino preservation. These are stories he's accumulated over years of funding and assisting in rhino conservation in Zimbabwe. He describes removing horns from adults to prevent poaching and helping babies who have been injured by one thing or another. And they do all this in a very hostile environment which of course includes many animals who could kill them in a variety of ways. I am thankful for people like this who try very hard to do the right thing. A very memorable book which I am recommending highly.
December 13, 2018
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Running With Rhinos" was written by Ed Warner. He is, in his own words, "Radical Conservationist."
Warner has combined many stories from veterinarians and biologist who give care to the endangered rhinos of Africa.
I applaud this work he is doing to help this animal. You can tell there is a connection between himself, the animals and the people who he assists. Each of these people place their lives in danger while aiding these rhinos. They come across highly potent sedatives that could kill a person if one drop lands on their skin, goring, linguistic issues and more.
I was so glad that I came across this book and I hope more people read it so they may be inspired to help in any way they can.
"Running With Rhinos" was written by Ed Warner. He is, in his own words, "Radical Conservationist."
Warner has combined many stories from veterinarians and biologist who give care to the endangered rhinos of Africa.
I applaud this work he is doing to help this animal. You can tell there is a connection between himself, the animals and the people who he assists. Each of these people place their lives in danger while aiding these rhinos. They come across highly potent sedatives that could kill a person if one drop lands on their skin, goring, linguistic issues and more.
I was so glad that I came across this book and I hope more people read it so they may be inspired to help in any way they can.
July 24, 2018
I read this book and while parts of it were interesting, it came off as self-involved and somewhat sexist which was odd considering the topic. I enjoyed learning about the good work of people trying to save the Rhinos. I finished it but I can't save it was a favorite. The subject was so interesting that I really feel like given a different crafting of the story, I would have liked it more.
April 14, 2016
Rhinos and elephants, two of my absolute favorites on this planet and unfortunately two of the most pursued by greedy vile humans. So naturally I am drawn to a book with the title of Running with Rhinos. However, this is probably my most disliked environmental/nature non-fictions yet, and I read many of them. What it came down to was the fact that the author simply rubs me quite the wrong way. Do not, absolutely do NOT, go into this book expecting to learn about issues surrounding rhino and elephant poaching, or anti-poaching tactics. DO expect the ramblings of a self-absorbed arrogant jackass.
I think I may be a so-called Bambi environmentalist he references a few times in this book. I don't know about you, but I don't think it is a wise idea to purposely insult readers of your book, especially a book that will likely be read by environmentalists and few others. Also, I do think an oilman environmentalist is an oxymoron. And yes, I can imagine such a "young person" as it is pretty simple. Think of this analogy: how many people call themselves animal lovers and eat meat? If that isn't someone that "loves" something and destroys it I don't know what is.
Honestly I could have begun with any of a number of quotes by this author but that seemed to be a good place to start since it is so early on in the book. The whole vibe of the book is in that mentality, that somehow hippy environmentalists are the enemy and the macho version that eats meat and is flippant about conservation trumps all others. I knew it was a bad start when one of the first things he states is that he threw his chicken wing out of vehicle he was in. Yes, because meat is known to be extremely environmentally friendly?
Then his experiences are not very well-rounded or he is severely myopic. Nearly every environmental issue and disruption in ecosystems across the globe can be traced back to humans. Period. If you cannot see this then your head is up your ass. The natural world works on checks and balances and humans upset that at every turn.
But I digress. If I keep quoting the author I could be here all day.
Overall there was a general vibe of machismo throughout the book that I could not stand. There were irritating descriptions of women, far too many details about meals and the cost of said meals and the general details of his "smuggling" items into Africa. He clearly is very proud of himself for the smuggling because he talked about it every other story (or so it seemed). The stories themselves were all over the place and I would hope that an editor packaged it a bit better before publication.
Overall the author was far too self-absorbed to convey true details of rhino or any other issue of importance. Do not expect to learn much about rhinos if that is what you came for, or to learn about much of what he has done to supposedly help anti-poaching tactics. You will learn about his meals and friends, however. Some of the friends seemed like they may have actually known a thing or two about rhino poaching issues but they weren't conveyed here. Really what you get are a bunch of stories that they probably tell each other to impress at a dinner party. There are many uninteresting details given, while the real work to help rhinos is smothered by idiotic ramblings.
The author also chose, rather than focusing on issues facing rhinos, to go on a diatribe about how white-tailed deer in the United States should be severely culled, aka killed, really for the benefit of all. We could bring back our forests and feed ALL of the homeless! This man is brilliant! Or not. I don't know if he is truly this naive or just stupid. I won't go into my own diatribe, but let's say we were to cull thousands (he doesn't specify) of deer, what then? What about when their numbers rebound? Do it again? What we need is to re-balance predator and prey, aka reintroduce wolves etc. and stop eradicating them(the predators).
Overall the author is self-absorbed, flippant, myopic and uses far too many exclamations. Yes, rampant exclamation use! I really do not feel as though it belongs in non-fiction honestly. There were far too few actual rhino references in the book, most of the time we are given unnecessary details of costs of food and smuggling instead. Reader beware: the book will likely leave you asking "Who the fuck cares? What about the RHINOS?" and your question will not really be answered.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) All quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
Yep, an oilman environmentalist. [...] This may come as a shock to you California Bambi Environmentalists. We are not the enemy. Can you imagine a young person in love with nature setting out on a career to destroy it? I don't think so.
I think I may be a so-called Bambi environmentalist he references a few times in this book. I don't know about you, but I don't think it is a wise idea to purposely insult readers of your book, especially a book that will likely be read by environmentalists and few others. Also, I do think an oilman environmentalist is an oxymoron. And yes, I can imagine such a "young person" as it is pretty simple. Think of this analogy: how many people call themselves animal lovers and eat meat? If that isn't someone that "loves" something and destroys it I don't know what is.
Honestly I could have begun with any of a number of quotes by this author but that seemed to be a good place to start since it is so early on in the book. The whole vibe of the book is in that mentality, that somehow hippy environmentalists are the enemy and the macho version that eats meat and is flippant about conservation trumps all others. I knew it was a bad start when one of the first things he states is that he threw his chicken wing out of vehicle he was in. Yes, because meat is known to be extremely environmentally friendly?
If I were to work on environmental issues, it wouldn't be from the tired old John Muir-inspired paradigm that "humans are the enemy of wilderness." That had not been my personal experience at all.
Then his experiences are not very well-rounded or he is severely myopic. Nearly every environmental issue and disruption in ecosystems across the globe can be traced back to humans. Period. If you cannot see this then your head is up your ass. The natural world works on checks and balances and humans upset that at every turn.
But I digress. If I keep quoting the author I could be here all day.
Overall there was a general vibe of machismo throughout the book that I could not stand. There were irritating descriptions of women, far too many details about meals and the cost of said meals and the general details of his "smuggling" items into Africa. He clearly is very proud of himself for the smuggling because he talked about it every other story (or so it seemed). The stories themselves were all over the place and I would hope that an editor packaged it a bit better before publication.
Overall the author was far too self-absorbed to convey true details of rhino or any other issue of importance. Do not expect to learn much about rhinos if that is what you came for, or to learn about much of what he has done to supposedly help anti-poaching tactics. You will learn about his meals and friends, however. Some of the friends seemed like they may have actually known a thing or two about rhino poaching issues but they weren't conveyed here. Really what you get are a bunch of stories that they probably tell each other to impress at a dinner party. There are many uninteresting details given, while the real work to help rhinos is smothered by idiotic ramblings.
The author also chose, rather than focusing on issues facing rhinos, to go on a diatribe about how white-tailed deer in the United States should be severely culled, aka killed, really for the benefit of all. We could bring back our forests and feed ALL of the homeless! This man is brilliant! Or not. I don't know if he is truly this naive or just stupid. I won't go into my own diatribe, but let's say we were to cull thousands (he doesn't specify) of deer, what then? What about when their numbers rebound? Do it again? What we need is to re-balance predator and prey, aka reintroduce wolves etc. and stop eradicating them(the predators).
Overall the author is self-absorbed, flippant, myopic and uses far too many exclamations. Yes, rampant exclamation use! I really do not feel as though it belongs in non-fiction honestly. There were far too few actual rhino references in the book, most of the time we are given unnecessary details of costs of food and smuggling instead. Reader beware: the book will likely leave you asking "Who the fuck cares? What about the RHINOS?" and your question will not really be answered.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) All quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
July 13, 2017
I appreciate the conservation and commitment to volunteering. But I do not like the way the author chooses to present himself and others. Not entirely respectful.
March 14, 2016
Adventures and Misadventures of a Radical Conservationist
Ed Warner is an extraordinary man. Retired geologist, philanthropist and dedicated conservationist and director or trustee of numerous organisations such as the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Sand County Foundation, the Explorers’ Foundation and many more, he is married to Jackie, who must be the most tolerant and understanding wife on Planet Earth as she gives him the freedom to pursue his passions in places as far apart as Zimbabwe and Indonesia. Whatever passions these might be, he participates to the full with an energy and enthusiasm that belies his age - he tells us that age of 63 he outran the younger members of the team when pursued at speed by a furious Black Rhino female intent on driving them away from her injured calf …
The stories in “Running with Rhinos” are a collection of his (often hair-raising) exploits over the years, mainly in Southern Africa, and the cast of extraordinary characters include veterinarians, biologists, land owners, bush pilots (whose exploits break just about every rule in the flying manuals), PhD students, trackers and volunteers, all of whom have a passion for the conservation of wildlife and who dedicate their time and much effort to this end – in spite of much of their work being some of the most dangerous volunteer fieldwork around (to quote the author).
The title “Running with Rhinos” could be a tad misleading as it’s only in the second half of the book that features the stories of Ed’s exploits as a volunteer for the World Wildlife Fund’s Rhino Conservancy Project, or Rhino Ops. However, these were well worth waiting for, and take place over ten years or so of annual visits in and around the Save River Conservancy in South-Eastern Zimbabwe, all centred around the protection of the Black Rhino and involving injuries, snares, ear-notching, de-horning, and all highly risky. Day after day the hard-drinking, daredevil crew that made up Rhino Ops would track rhinos in the bush and from the air, often returning at dusk. Things were very difficult in Zimbabwe at the time and the author doesn’t mince his words when writing about the Mugabe government, and over successive visits he became a highly efficient smuggler of contraband into the country of items essential to the task at hand. He says with pride that he can now add smuggler and gun runner to his CV!
I was irritated by his very colloquial style of writing, and there were times when I felt like putting the book down. He also comes over as self-opinionated and bigoted. He has no time at all for the Boers or the Brits (both of which got my dander up!), and there are several errors when referring to South Africa and Namibia. However, one can only admire him as his heart is most definitely in the right place, and I can only wish him well in his involvement with something that is also very dear to my heart – the conservation and preservation of our beautiful Planet Earth. I hope he pursues his hobby and passions for many years to come. To quote from the book: “A shrink once asked me, ‘Ed, when is enough?’ I replied to her, ‘I suppose when I’m dead’.” Long live Ed Warner!
I give the book four stars …
Benny Bookworm
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Ed Warner is an extraordinary man. Retired geologist, philanthropist and dedicated conservationist and director or trustee of numerous organisations such as the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Sand County Foundation, the Explorers’ Foundation and many more, he is married to Jackie, who must be the most tolerant and understanding wife on Planet Earth as she gives him the freedom to pursue his passions in places as far apart as Zimbabwe and Indonesia. Whatever passions these might be, he participates to the full with an energy and enthusiasm that belies his age - he tells us that age of 63 he outran the younger members of the team when pursued at speed by a furious Black Rhino female intent on driving them away from her injured calf …
The stories in “Running with Rhinos” are a collection of his (often hair-raising) exploits over the years, mainly in Southern Africa, and the cast of extraordinary characters include veterinarians, biologists, land owners, bush pilots (whose exploits break just about every rule in the flying manuals), PhD students, trackers and volunteers, all of whom have a passion for the conservation of wildlife and who dedicate their time and much effort to this end – in spite of much of their work being some of the most dangerous volunteer fieldwork around (to quote the author).
The title “Running with Rhinos” could be a tad misleading as it’s only in the second half of the book that features the stories of Ed’s exploits as a volunteer for the World Wildlife Fund’s Rhino Conservancy Project, or Rhino Ops. However, these were well worth waiting for, and take place over ten years or so of annual visits in and around the Save River Conservancy in South-Eastern Zimbabwe, all centred around the protection of the Black Rhino and involving injuries, snares, ear-notching, de-horning, and all highly risky. Day after day the hard-drinking, daredevil crew that made up Rhino Ops would track rhinos in the bush and from the air, often returning at dusk. Things were very difficult in Zimbabwe at the time and the author doesn’t mince his words when writing about the Mugabe government, and over successive visits he became a highly efficient smuggler of contraband into the country of items essential to the task at hand. He says with pride that he can now add smuggler and gun runner to his CV!
I was irritated by his very colloquial style of writing, and there were times when I felt like putting the book down. He also comes over as self-opinionated and bigoted. He has no time at all for the Boers or the Brits (both of which got my dander up!), and there are several errors when referring to South Africa and Namibia. However, one can only admire him as his heart is most definitely in the right place, and I can only wish him well in his involvement with something that is also very dear to my heart – the conservation and preservation of our beautiful Planet Earth. I hope he pursues his hobby and passions for many years to come. To quote from the book: “A shrink once asked me, ‘Ed, when is enough?’ I replied to her, ‘I suppose when I’m dead’.” Long live Ed Warner!
I give the book four stars …
Benny Bookworm
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
March 16, 2016
**I received a copy of the book through Netgalley. I was not under obligation to review the book, although that is encouraged. The review is my honest opinion of the book**
What I liked: The cover photograph, provided by Lowveld Rhino Trust was gorgeous and really aroused my desire to get into what was inside the front cover. I liked that the book was printed as part of the Tree Neutral Program as well. Reading Running with Rhinos introduced me to the International Rhino Foundation and caused me to look up their website to learn more. (I highly recommend looking into this wonderful organization). I also was introduced to (and learned more about by also checking out their website) the Save Valley conservancy. The information on the flora and fauna found in the areas of Africa that the author visited was interesting as well.
Dr. Warner switched careers from the geology field to volunteering and working with wildlife conservancy groups promoting responsible stewardship of endangered animals around 2000. A worthwhile and commendable endeavour and one about which I was eager to read.
What I didn't like: that until about 47% through the book (I was reading the Kindle format), there wasn't much interaction with the rhinos...I understand that the book was a compilation of "stories" rather than a running commentary of Dr. Warner's days spent with conservation efforts, but this format seemed rather disjointed and rambling at times. There were many mentions of adventures (such as those on the North Slope of Alaska) that seemed to have nothing to do with a book intended to discuss and promote conservation of rhinos. Also there was way too much name dropping, "good old boy" drinking stories, stories of ogling the women with whom they worked, and repeated mention of huge amounts of money spent/donated by the author for causes (this, in itself, is very commendable--and for very good causes indeed, but giving quietly and without fanfare can be more appealing I think). I was not impressed by the repeated mention of smuggling going on either--yes, the items were very much needed by the various conservation societies/ groups, but still against the law; also mentioning how boring meetings are when you are associated with the organization might not be the very best thing to write about (even if it IS true). Had this been a memoir of the author's overall life, all these things might have been appropriate in the context of "this is my life, the good, bad and ugly", but in the context of a specific group, rhinos, and efforts in their behalf, I would like to have seen more information dealing with those areas instead of learning about the expensive house Dr. Warner and his wife built (even though it did sound lovely), the huge amount of money he spent buying and shipping handcrafted native sculptures from Africa to the U.S.
In spite of what I consider to be negatives, I'm glad I read the book since it caused me to do additional research into the conservation efforts in behalf of our endangered animal friends. I also in no way wish to downplay the danger in which the author and his associates find themselves when working with these animals. That danger comes from many directions and is very real indeed.
What I liked: The cover photograph, provided by Lowveld Rhino Trust was gorgeous and really aroused my desire to get into what was inside the front cover. I liked that the book was printed as part of the Tree Neutral Program as well. Reading Running with Rhinos introduced me to the International Rhino Foundation and caused me to look up their website to learn more. (I highly recommend looking into this wonderful organization). I also was introduced to (and learned more about by also checking out their website) the Save Valley conservancy. The information on the flora and fauna found in the areas of Africa that the author visited was interesting as well.
Dr. Warner switched careers from the geology field to volunteering and working with wildlife conservancy groups promoting responsible stewardship of endangered animals around 2000. A worthwhile and commendable endeavour and one about which I was eager to read.
What I didn't like: that until about 47% through the book (I was reading the Kindle format), there wasn't much interaction with the rhinos...I understand that the book was a compilation of "stories" rather than a running commentary of Dr. Warner's days spent with conservation efforts, but this format seemed rather disjointed and rambling at times. There were many mentions of adventures (such as those on the North Slope of Alaska) that seemed to have nothing to do with a book intended to discuss and promote conservation of rhinos. Also there was way too much name dropping, "good old boy" drinking stories, stories of ogling the women with whom they worked, and repeated mention of huge amounts of money spent/donated by the author for causes (this, in itself, is very commendable--and for very good causes indeed, but giving quietly and without fanfare can be more appealing I think). I was not impressed by the repeated mention of smuggling going on either--yes, the items were very much needed by the various conservation societies/ groups, but still against the law; also mentioning how boring meetings are when you are associated with the organization might not be the very best thing to write about (even if it IS true). Had this been a memoir of the author's overall life, all these things might have been appropriate in the context of "this is my life, the good, bad and ugly", but in the context of a specific group, rhinos, and efforts in their behalf, I would like to have seen more information dealing with those areas instead of learning about the expensive house Dr. Warner and his wife built (even though it did sound lovely), the huge amount of money he spent buying and shipping handcrafted native sculptures from Africa to the U.S.
In spite of what I consider to be negatives, I'm glad I read the book since it caused me to do additional research into the conservation efforts in behalf of our endangered animal friends. I also in no way wish to downplay the danger in which the author and his associates find themselves when working with these animals. That danger comes from many directions and is very real indeed.
April 15, 2016
The title of this book, leads you t believe that inside, you will read about many exciting encounters with African rhinos. Unfortunately, that's not the case. I would have promoted this book thus:
"What would you do if you suddenly became filthy rich and no longer had to work?"
But even so, you would be disappointed. Ed Warner, a geologist and the author, decided to indulge himself through wildlife conservation on an international scale, including working with several Rhino conservation groups. (This still sounds like a basis for a really interesting book.) What a wealth of experiences Ed must have had! Such stories he should be able to tell!
Except that, Ed is an awful story teller. He talks mostly about himself, and every single person whom he encounters, and does a very poor job of sharing his adventures. I don't think any of his anecdotes are longer than 1, or occasionally 2, short paragraphs. Here's an example :
"Jackie jumped at the chance to help him dart an injured wild dog the next day. When they opened the front door of his Jeep (now repaired) to get on their way, his underwear fell out. It was downhill from there. He was never able to dart the dog. He couldn’t shoot straight. Stephanie and Peter left the next day. Jackie had us rolling on the floor with her retelling of how they approached the dog pack with Peter firing darts just about anywhere but in the direction of the target dog."
Instead of sharing with *us* the funny story, he tells us that his wife (Jackie) told him a funny story. And boy did he laugh about it! I only wish he had shared the actual story with us, so that we could have laughed too.
Ed does his best writing when he talks about the things in which he is most knowledgeable: geology and botany. Several times he waxes on very eloquently about the African terrain, in terms of rock formations, geologic history, and occasionally in terms of flora. He is also a world-class name dropper. Unfortunately the names he drops mean nothing to the average reader, since they are mostly just his friends and colleagues in the conservation world. (You might actually wonder if people paid him to mention their names.)
Unfortunately all of that does NOT give you a very interesting book. I almost abandoned the book about a third of the way in, but felt obligated to push on. About halfway through, there is a pretty exciting (short) recounting of a wildfire, and after that things picked up to a small degree. He was at least talking about rhinos, occasionally.
The bottom line, this book isn't worth your time, unless you are one of the people whose name Ed drops.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"What would you do if you suddenly became filthy rich and no longer had to work?"
But even so, you would be disappointed. Ed Warner, a geologist and the author, decided to indulge himself through wildlife conservation on an international scale, including working with several Rhino conservation groups. (This still sounds like a basis for a really interesting book.) What a wealth of experiences Ed must have had! Such stories he should be able to tell!
Except that, Ed is an awful story teller. He talks mostly about himself, and every single person whom he encounters, and does a very poor job of sharing his adventures. I don't think any of his anecdotes are longer than 1, or occasionally 2, short paragraphs. Here's an example :
"Jackie jumped at the chance to help him dart an injured wild dog the next day. When they opened the front door of his Jeep (now repaired) to get on their way, his underwear fell out. It was downhill from there. He was never able to dart the dog. He couldn’t shoot straight. Stephanie and Peter left the next day. Jackie had us rolling on the floor with her retelling of how they approached the dog pack with Peter firing darts just about anywhere but in the direction of the target dog."
Instead of sharing with *us* the funny story, he tells us that his wife (Jackie) told him a funny story. And boy did he laugh about it! I only wish he had shared the actual story with us, so that we could have laughed too.
Ed does his best writing when he talks about the things in which he is most knowledgeable: geology and botany. Several times he waxes on very eloquently about the African terrain, in terms of rock formations, geologic history, and occasionally in terms of flora. He is also a world-class name dropper. Unfortunately the names he drops mean nothing to the average reader, since they are mostly just his friends and colleagues in the conservation world. (You might actually wonder if people paid him to mention their names.)
Unfortunately all of that does NOT give you a very interesting book. I almost abandoned the book about a third of the way in, but felt obligated to push on. About halfway through, there is a pretty exciting (short) recounting of a wildfire, and after that things picked up to a small degree. He was at least talking about rhinos, occasionally.
The bottom line, this book isn't worth your time, unless you are one of the people whose name Ed drops.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2016
Running with Rhinos is a book of stories compiled by the author during repeated travels to Africa to assist in the efforts to continue conservation efforts for the remaining, but dwindling population of black rhinos, who continue to be savagely poached for their horns. The images left with me from each of his tales were often heartbreaking, as I have always felt such disdain for the ignorant poachers. These innocent creatures deserve to live, and I'm thankful we have people like this author, who have the financial means and the heart to try and save them. His tales were clever, at times very funny, especially because the predicaments he described were real.. There's nothing better than a little wit tossed in after you've barely escaped with your life! The stories were entertaining as well as informative. I was completely ignorant to the risk involved in the tasks they undertake, to give these families a chance at a full life. I did find it a bit over the top, hearing so often how much was spent on meals, and lodging, and items purchased for the crew. I didn't feel it added a thing to the stories, rather I began to feel a sense that we needed to be reminded how wealthy Ed is. Now, I don't want that to sound like sour grapes, I'm thankful he has chosen to utilize his wealth to help others. He seems like an AMAZING man. And, he is, in fact, very wealthy. Which means that he worked! However he chooses to spend his cache is his business. Which means I don't need (or want) an itemized expense list.
My reading opportunities are few and far between at this time of year, reduced to only opening the Kindle as I crawl into bed each night. The stories were engaging enough to take me beyond my nightly 'ration' of reading time, making for a foggy mind the following morning, but I found I could not resist "just one more page"....
I did not like the way the author told each story as though I was already "in the know". There were countless added facts that left me with more questions than answers. The details I felt that I needed were omitted, and in those blank spaces were ramblings about which I had already been told. As a whole, the book was a pleasure.
Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to both NetGalley.com and the Greenleaf Book Group Press, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
February 5, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. The author has an engaging, frank style and relates many genuinely exciting stories of conservation work in Zimbabwe. He is in a financial position that has allowed him access to many different conservation organizations, but is not content with only being a donor. Instead, his work is very much hands-on.
Some of his behavior is suspect (advising readers to take non-FDA-approved malaria meds) or downright irresponsible (constantly attempting to bypass customs regulations, even smuggling leopard teeth home for a "wildlife expert," which is incredibly unwise and possibly unethical, though I'd like to think that there was a legitimate, if unexplained, need for this). But it's important to note that the author wants to tell a good story (his "smuggling" usually involves computers and similar equipment, which is perhaps not as thrilling as it might otherwise sound). Readers should also keep in mind that this book is marked as "creative nonfiction" and temper their expectations accordingly.
Other reviewers have commented on the author's dismissive tone and many references to drinking and/or the attractiveness of his female colleagues. While there is some truth there, I think generally that the author has an irreverant sense of humor and tries to keep the reader engaged. It worked pretty well for me.
This book certainly made me appreciate (and envy) the hard-working (and hard-drinking) life of rhino conservation in Zimbabwe. Thanks to the publisher, Greenleaf Book Group, for providing a review copy through NetGalley.com.
Some of his behavior is suspect (advising readers to take non-FDA-approved malaria meds) or downright irresponsible (constantly attempting to bypass customs regulations, even smuggling leopard teeth home for a "wildlife expert," which is incredibly unwise and possibly unethical, though I'd like to think that there was a legitimate, if unexplained, need for this). But it's important to note that the author wants to tell a good story (his "smuggling" usually involves computers and similar equipment, which is perhaps not as thrilling as it might otherwise sound). Readers should also keep in mind that this book is marked as "creative nonfiction" and temper their expectations accordingly.
Other reviewers have commented on the author's dismissive tone and many references to drinking and/or the attractiveness of his female colleagues. While there is some truth there, I think generally that the author has an irreverant sense of humor and tries to keep the reader engaged. It worked pretty well for me.
This book certainly made me appreciate (and envy) the hard-working (and hard-drinking) life of rhino conservation in Zimbabwe. Thanks to the publisher, Greenleaf Book Group, for providing a review copy through NetGalley.com.
December 29, 2016
I am not sure how I feel about this book. First it's a very well written book. I was bored once reading it. You got to know the author. Got a real feeling that you got to know the other characters in the book. I would love to spend some time with these people. In that sense it was an enjoyable read. It is certainly an autobiography. Some have been critical of this, that it is more about the author than about the subject. But I am not sure that the book was intended to be about the plight of the Rhino. And that is what is confusing. The book really chronicles the day to day life of the people involved in protecting the Rhino, especially the authors role. The book read like you were following the people during their job. At know point to you get a deeper sense of how they were feeling about the struggle to save these animals. One would think that a some point there would be a sense of hopelessness and dread. A feeling of working against the odds. Of fighting a loosing battle. Not until the epilogue. The odds of saving the Rhino in the wild are so slim that you would think that would manifest itself. And it never really does. As far as giving it a rating. I still would rate it well. It was a good read. I was interested throughout. A decent story of working with Rhino in Africa, the adventure and the people. But if you're looking for a deeper heartfelt look at this mounting tragedy of loosing the magnificent animals, this book lacks that.
January 27, 2016
I was surprised by this book in the sense that I sort of anticipated a dry read; however, the stories Warner shares are very entertaining and engaging, and the book was far from dry. I really enjoyed the stories in the book- I think this read gives you perspective on African conservation like few would. Warner takes you along for the ride, interacting with the animals and people involved in protecting them. I did feel that at times his banter about money, the attractiveness of women working in his team, and drinking were unnecessary details that sometimes lacked taste. Instead, I would have liked to have had more "dry" facts about the work going on there, more of the backstory and nature of the threats to animals. The book left me with some unanswered questions about conservation work that I felt could have been answered, while leaving out some of the personal details that were superfluous. Also, while the title relates to rhinos, I think there was almost the same amount of attention given to other animals, which is fine but would disappoint a rhino buff reading in hopes of learning specifically about black rhinos. Overall, an entertaining and quick read that sheds a unique light on work with animals in Africa.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
December 18, 2016
Running With Rhinos is an interesting book filled with stories of life in Africa with animals, not only rhinos. The author tells stories of adventures with all types of animals, vegetation, social stories, stories from friends and those from the locals. These stories range from sad, life threatening, humorous, thought provoking, happy, and everything in between. The story of conservation is told by stories which is shows just how difficult, how ugly, how indifferent it can be at times. How conservation can be obtained with the money and work of those passionate to make it happen. I did not care for the parts in the book where he discusses (repeatedly), his money, his smuggling, and drinking. I think a lot of this could have been left out. I did learn a lot about the social life, plants, animals, weather, and politics of conservation in this book. I found this to be very interesting. I received this book for a honest review from NetGalley and it in no way effected my rating or my content of this review.
January 1, 2016
Running with Rhinos follows the exploits of Ed Warner, a philanthropist and volunteer ground support for the International Rhino Foundation's Rhino Conservancy Project, also known as “Rhino Ops,” in Zimbabwe. The book is full of stories about Ed's trips to Zimbabwe. I enjoyed the insights into this remarkable place and the struggles to protect the wildlife. There were several places were details were repeated, and I found the near constant discussions of how much he spent irritating. I get it, you are rich. That doesn't add to the story, in fact detracting a great deal. I also thought the constant reference to drinking and self congratulatory smuggling passages to be unneeded. I would have preferred more on the area or animals instead.
Overall, there were some interesting stories and informative pieces, but be prepared to wade through the rest.
Full disclosure - I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Overall, there were some interesting stories and informative pieces, but be prepared to wade through the rest.
Full disclosure - I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
February 29, 2016
I accepted this ARC assuming that it would be about the anti-poaching battle for preservation of the rhinos. Instead, I discovered the memoir of a man who made a fortune as a geologist in the fossil fuels trade and then enjoyed conservation adventures in his retirement. It reads like the bragging rich uncle telling his real-life adventure stories, complete with lots of name-dropping, geo-political explanations, and a focus on how much money he spread around on his adventures. When I accepted that, the stories got more interesting to me, especially in the last third of the book, when the stories were actually about adventures in rhino conservation and not general Africa stories. I recommend this for those with a genuine interest in biography and memoir--those looking for adventure stories will likely be disappointed.
June 4, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this galley proof from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What could be better? -- A book about Africa, travel, nature, and conservation of wildlife.
While the stories were interesting, I had a hard time getting past the fact that the author didn't really seem to be very likeable.
From his early vehemence stating that he, as a geologist and discoverer of coal-bed methane drilling, was the true environmentalist, not those tree-hugger a, I had a difficult time ignoring what seems to be his complete self-absorption.
I'm sure he is a wonderful, altruistic person, but this book does not demonstrate that side of him, and detracts from what could be a wonderful collection of stories.
What could be better? -- A book about Africa, travel, nature, and conservation of wildlife.
While the stories were interesting, I had a hard time getting past the fact that the author didn't really seem to be very likeable.
From his early vehemence stating that he, as a geologist and discoverer of coal-bed methane drilling, was the true environmentalist, not those tree-hugger a, I had a difficult time ignoring what seems to be his complete self-absorption.
I'm sure he is a wonderful, altruistic person, but this book does not demonstrate that side of him, and detracts from what could be a wonderful collection of stories.
March 2, 2016
Had the wonderful opportunity of reading this book before it was published. I have always loved books about real life experiences with animals and travel. I found the personal accounts of the authors travels to Africa not only informative but also exhilarating. Dive into the dangers of exploring Africa and come face to face with Black Rhinos and Elephants as well as the caring people of the local Conservancies trying to protect these majestic creatures. The humor included is a treat as well and had me laughing plenty of times. This tome was a truly wonderfully well written adventure and one of the better books I have read recently.
March 10, 2016
I was captivated by the author's sense of humour and honesty from page one. I found his method of story telling both engaging and exciting. How could you not infuse humour into such terrifying situations?? Running with Rhinos is many stories within a story about the authors travels to Africa as a conservationist. I could have read less about how much money he spent but hey, if he is in a financial position to support such a wonderful cause then I applaud him. Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this novel.
April 21, 2016
Goodreads Giveaway - When I started reading my thought was "Great, a rich fossil fuels guy uses wealth to go to Africa and pretend he's Hemingway." And while there are still concerns and cringe worthy moments relating to western paternalism and misogyny, if you can get past these, many of the anecdotes are quite amusing and frequently deal with the realpolitik of actually doing conservation work. If travelogues or conservation/wildlife tales are your thing, it's worth a read.
September 7, 2016
a good read, very informative and at times entertaining story of the authors adventures with rhino conservation. Although I would have liked more information about the natural history of the animals themselves and less about how much the workers could drink in one night and still be able to function the next day.
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