What do you think?
Rate this book
Zoology: Understanding the animal world
Listening Length: 12 hours and 6 minutes
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 6, 2019
5 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 30, 2022
I wish most of this course started with the content in the last quarter. Everything leading up to that point was rudimentary and a lot of basic knowledge. This course is good for younger learners interested in zoology but it was a slog to go through.
April 16, 2022
Zoology: Or How This Animal Reproduces. After the explanation of how the animal reproduces, you may get some other interesting information. Especially in later lectures. But a lot of them are about sex and development.
I have mixed feelings about this. One minute I was really enjoying it, the next I felt like it was very basic information, or that questions were not answered well, or that I would like more information about something before moving on.
I have mixed feelings about this. One minute I was really enjoying it, the next I felt like it was very basic information, or that questions were not answered well, or that I would like more information about something before moving on.
February 7, 2025
This is a very basic course. I think it would be fun to listen to with kids or if you didn't have a decent bio course in high school. I enjoyed some of the later lessons.
September 9, 2021
If you like animals, you'll like this book. I learned a lot more and I've been reading about animals for a lot of years.
December 12, 2021
A little too dry for me to find it truly entertaining. It still has a lot of interesting information.
January 13, 2024
I bit too basic for me.
August 24, 2021
5
The Great Courses are almost always very good, sometimes even excellent. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one and learned from it as well. I expected a basic survey of the animal kingdom, a review of my course work and articles I often read on the subject. It did, of course, provide that, but it was so much more.
The presenter, Donald E. Moore III, is not a typical university professor, and therefore the content of these lectures were distinctive. He is a "conservation biologist," so along with the general biological information I had expected, he eagerly shared his knowledge and passion for all animals, the obscure as well has the iconic. He passionately lobbied for their preservation.
He has been the Director of the Oregon Zoo and the senior science advisor at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. He skillfully shared his wealth of experience of almost 40 years in wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and zoo management. In addition, each lecture was joined by at least one expert in the topic under discussion. Without exception, these men and women added interest and animation to their topics.
I was amazed at how much I learned about a subject quite familiar to me--animals. I relished each lecture. Dr. Moore has an uncanny knack for explaining complex topics in a way that includes all levels of competence. I found myself wishing that I could present this entire series to my former fifth grade classes. The kids would have been mesmerized, as I had been, in spite of my previous graduate level courses. An instructor with that range is truly the master of his field.
I recommend this outstanding audiobook to others with a penchant for our shared natural world.
The Great Courses are almost always very good, sometimes even excellent. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one and learned from it as well. I expected a basic survey of the animal kingdom, a review of my course work and articles I often read on the subject. It did, of course, provide that, but it was so much more.
The presenter, Donald E. Moore III, is not a typical university professor, and therefore the content of these lectures were distinctive. He is a "conservation biologist," so along with the general biological information I had expected, he eagerly shared his knowledge and passion for all animals, the obscure as well has the iconic. He passionately lobbied for their preservation.
He has been the Director of the Oregon Zoo and the senior science advisor at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. He skillfully shared his wealth of experience of almost 40 years in wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and zoo management. In addition, each lecture was joined by at least one expert in the topic under discussion. Without exception, these men and women added interest and animation to their topics.
I was amazed at how much I learned about a subject quite familiar to me--animals. I relished each lecture. Dr. Moore has an uncanny knack for explaining complex topics in a way that includes all levels of competence. I found myself wishing that I could present this entire series to my former fifth grade classes. The kids would have been mesmerized, as I had been, in spite of my previous graduate level courses. An instructor with that range is truly the master of his field.
I recommend this outstanding audiobook to others with a penchant for our shared natural world.
July 8, 2021
Better suited for a podcast, this lecture series is a series of random facts, with no central organizing themes. Listening does not keep my interest whatsoever. The delivery is ultra dry, and the lecturer often misspeaks; no one has edited the recordings to remove those numerous distractions.
Worst of all, at least one of the guest experts stands high on her pedestal and is extraordinarily preachy. No one wants to listen to this kind of superior-talk. I think her words are "we have to stop with the lawns". I agree that our national housing landscaping is overly rich in lawn and shrubs that have zero wildlife value. However, if that woman wants to make change in the world, she won't accomplish it with her judgmental attitude. She will simply push people away from wanting to learn more about how to create natural landscapes in which wildlife can thrive. The lecturer Donald Moore should know better than to include in his course, anyone with that kind of off-putting communication style. Find another Great Courses lecture. This one is not likely to be worth your time. It's not worth my time and I have decided not to try to finish.
Worst of all, at least one of the guest experts stands high on her pedestal and is extraordinarily preachy. No one wants to listen to this kind of superior-talk. I think her words are "we have to stop with the lawns". I agree that our national housing landscaping is overly rich in lawn and shrubs that have zero wildlife value. However, if that woman wants to make change in the world, she won't accomplish it with her judgmental attitude. She will simply push people away from wanting to learn more about how to create natural landscapes in which wildlife can thrive. The lecturer Donald Moore should know better than to include in his course, anyone with that kind of off-putting communication style. Find another Great Courses lecture. This one is not likely to be worth your time. It's not worth my time and I have decided not to try to finish.
November 15, 2022
I listened to several lectures, but ended up just reading the 286-page book for this Great Courses set. I liked the way the presenter made this at a high educational level, but found the lectures rather boring. The book was better, for me.
April 22, 2022
Not enough about tapirs, but otherwise a wonderful journey through the animal world from a veteran zoologist.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews