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Bears and I [Paperback] [Jan 01, 1971] ROBERT FRANKLIN LESLIE …
Paperback
First published June 4, 1968
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 23, 2021
This was one of my grandma's favorite books. Now I know why. The story powerfully illuminates the inescapable predicament that lies at the heart of how humans relate to the animal/vegetal world (read it and see what I mean). Although not a children's book, I have memories of listening to grandma read passages when I was a child. I have no idea why it took me so long to actually read it myself. I wish I had done so in her lifetime so we could have discussed it as adults. So much to share. Besides an endearing tale of life among the bears, nothing makes you want to hole-up in a cabin for the duration of a -40 degree winter like this book.
August 6, 2016
An interesting story of a man who assumes the responsibility for looking after 3 orphaned cubs and trying to train them to look after themselves in the wilds of British Columbia.
To some people, some actions in this book might seem unbelievable. But we are dealing with a man who, although a University student from California, was raised by a Native American father who taught him much about nature and animals. He intuitively learned to read animals.
He had a compassion for all wildlife and refused to own a rifle until the very end of this three-year adventure. That meant that he dealt with all animals, including serious predators, even boars (male bears) and eagles which wanted the cubs for dinner by using his knowledge of these animals to protect both the cubs and himself from attack. Much of this success came from his understanding of territorial behavior. In other words, he was not perceived as a threat by these animals. When the cubs eventually matured, they were able to understand and maintain their own territory.
Whether he was rescuing baby birds before a forest fire or rescuing these bears, he knew his environment so well that he was able to teach them to exist on their own in this environment. The birds eventually migrated but returned to breed in the same location and interacted with him without fear.
Sadly, his ability to relate to the bears and provide for them was the cause of their failure. Although his intent was to teach them to be independent and then to release them into the wild, a bond formed with him that was unbreakable. They sadly believed all humans to be like him, in an area where most human encounters were with bear hunters.
The inevitable result was disaster for the bears and for his heart.
If you can get past the emotional impact of his story, you can see how the best intentions and sacrifices of a human to intervene in the life of a wild creature are usually a failure. Despite counsel (and even aggression) from the native Americans of the area to not raise the bears, he chose to listen to his heart instead of to the counsel of generations of wisdom in dealing with animals.
I read this book decades ago, and I recently read it again. It describes a part of the north that no longer exists and is also interesting from an historical perspective.
It is not a light read. But it is worth reading.
To some people, some actions in this book might seem unbelievable. But we are dealing with a man who, although a University student from California, was raised by a Native American father who taught him much about nature and animals. He intuitively learned to read animals.
He had a compassion for all wildlife and refused to own a rifle until the very end of this three-year adventure. That meant that he dealt with all animals, including serious predators, even boars (male bears) and eagles which wanted the cubs for dinner by using his knowledge of these animals to protect both the cubs and himself from attack. Much of this success came from his understanding of territorial behavior. In other words, he was not perceived as a threat by these animals. When the cubs eventually matured, they were able to understand and maintain their own territory.
Whether he was rescuing baby birds before a forest fire or rescuing these bears, he knew his environment so well that he was able to teach them to exist on their own in this environment. The birds eventually migrated but returned to breed in the same location and interacted with him without fear.
Sadly, his ability to relate to the bears and provide for them was the cause of their failure. Although his intent was to teach them to be independent and then to release them into the wild, a bond formed with him that was unbreakable. They sadly believed all humans to be like him, in an area where most human encounters were with bear hunters.
The inevitable result was disaster for the bears and for his heart.
If you can get past the emotional impact of his story, you can see how the best intentions and sacrifices of a human to intervene in the life of a wild creature are usually a failure. Despite counsel (and even aggression) from the native Americans of the area to not raise the bears, he chose to listen to his heart instead of to the counsel of generations of wisdom in dealing with animals.
I read this book decades ago, and I recently read it again. It describes a part of the north that no longer exists and is also interesting from an historical perspective.
It is not a light read. But it is worth reading.
May 17, 2017
If you enjoy nature and animals this is an awesome book. This was my father’s book from when he was a kid… one of the only two he ever voluntarily read (the other being Old Yeller if you’re wondering.) I’m glad I did not get his attitude towards reading “Just wait until the movie comes out” The horror.
Anyways, this a true story of a man who is living by himself who adopts three bear cubs. He tries to raise them so they will be dependent of people and can one day go back into nature and live by themselves. He teaches them to forage for food, escape danger, and other necessities. This book will desperately make you want a bear as a pet. They seem so friendly, playful and lovable. If I can one day ride in a canoe with bear cubs with me my life will be complete. Robert was a man who truly enjoyed and appreciated nature. We need more men like him in the world today. He gives a lot of details about daily life with the bears and I actually learned a lot while reading this too along with reading about his personal connections with each bear and other animals in nature. Overall it is a very heartwarming book.
Anyways, this a true story of a man who is living by himself who adopts three bear cubs. He tries to raise them so they will be dependent of people and can one day go back into nature and live by themselves. He teaches them to forage for food, escape danger, and other necessities. This book will desperately make you want a bear as a pet. They seem so friendly, playful and lovable. If I can one day ride in a canoe with bear cubs with me my life will be complete. Robert was a man who truly enjoyed and appreciated nature. We need more men like him in the world today. He gives a lot of details about daily life with the bears and I actually learned a lot while reading this too along with reading about his personal connections with each bear and other animals in nature. Overall it is a very heartwarming book.
May 25, 2019
The most beautiful, touching story i have ever read. Every boy and girl should read this, for nature's lovers is a must.
February 23, 2018
A simple book garners a simple review. A wonderful yarn of a man raising three bear cubs in the wilderness of British Columbia. Filled with detailed imagery of Canadian flora and fauna, this story made me laugh, cry, and yearn for a cabin in which i could chop wood and drink whiskey by the fire with three rambunctious cubs of my own. The narrative style is poetic, simple, and mirrors that of Ron Swanson.
December 14, 2024
reprint this book ASAP !!
May 9, 2020
Bittersweet read. It's definitely made me homesick for the northwoods. Robert Leslie's descriptions made me feel I was there. He forms an amazing bond with 3 little black bear cubs he takes under his wing, along with 4 baby robins. This is also a great comparative psychology study of black bears. I don't know bears well and I'll admit they intimidate me. Whenever I go into the woods, the thought of running into one and what I should do are often on the back of my mind, especially if a momma bear were to be involved. Actually, I had a close encounter with a momma bear and cub while picking berries in the woods. I didn't realize I could run so fast! Thankfully, she gave me a warning growl/roar at a very safe distance. To learn more of their behavior was fascinating. They're very intelligent creatures with distinct personalities. I'm grateful Leslie honestly shared his beautiful experience with the world.
Leslie doesn't post the dates of his adventure. I found an Amazon review placing it in the 1930s. It's an interesting viewpoint into a slice of Canadian, British Columbian history. Leslie was panning for gold, at the time, to pay for college expenses. I can't say much more or I'll spoil the plot/ending, but I will leave you with a few quotes.
I know they never forgot their mother during that first summer, because there were lapses into moody reflection during which they shinnied up the big fir, peered longingly up and down the lake, and cried softly - a ritual nothing could break up until the mood changed. 29
As a result of what I saw that day, I was certain that no animal shared the pagan human pyrolatry or fire worship that may still be latent in varying degrees in each of us even after we've seen nature's young incinerated in their cradles. 53
Reliability became a habit. It took Rusty, a wilderness-born black bear, to teach me that rational communication of certain concepts does not necessarily require words or symbols. 164
It is not important that a hawk takes a robin, that a bear robs a grouse nest. That's nature's own salient way even if we don't understand it. Our robins lived no life of fear when the hawk was gone, and the grouse laid a new clutch. Wilderness life has gone on that way since the beginning, and the prey has withstood predation. But when man steps in, be it to raise a set of triplet bears or to seize trophies to satisfy a lingering Neanderthal cry for booty, the very soul of nature cringes for having endowed one of her creatures with intelligence disproportionate to responsibility. 212-213
This book is out of print. I purchased a lovely, old, library hard-cover copy, with a wonderfully old library book scent.
Leslie doesn't post the dates of his adventure. I found an Amazon review placing it in the 1930s. It's an interesting viewpoint into a slice of Canadian, British Columbian history. Leslie was panning for gold, at the time, to pay for college expenses. I can't say much more or I'll spoil the plot/ending, but I will leave you with a few quotes.
I know they never forgot their mother during that first summer, because there were lapses into moody reflection during which they shinnied up the big fir, peered longingly up and down the lake, and cried softly - a ritual nothing could break up until the mood changed. 29
As a result of what I saw that day, I was certain that no animal shared the pagan human pyrolatry or fire worship that may still be latent in varying degrees in each of us even after we've seen nature's young incinerated in their cradles. 53
Reliability became a habit. It took Rusty, a wilderness-born black bear, to teach me that rational communication of certain concepts does not necessarily require words or symbols. 164
It is not important that a hawk takes a robin, that a bear robs a grouse nest. That's nature's own salient way even if we don't understand it. Our robins lived no life of fear when the hawk was gone, and the grouse laid a new clutch. Wilderness life has gone on that way since the beginning, and the prey has withstood predation. But when man steps in, be it to raise a set of triplet bears or to seize trophies to satisfy a lingering Neanderthal cry for booty, the very soul of nature cringes for having endowed one of her creatures with intelligence disproportionate to responsibility. 212-213
This book is out of print. I purchased a lovely, old, library hard-cover copy, with a wonderfully old library book scent.
November 30, 2018
A story of the adoption of three Black Bear cubs, taking place in the north reach of Babine Lake, east of Smithers, British Columbia.. The author tries to raise them to return to the wild by teaching them how to forage for food and deal with predators. In the end, one bear is shot by a hunter and another is killed by a grizzly, but the third is taken by a native friend to live in an even more remote part of British Columbia.
Many interesting observations including the apparent chagrin experienced by the bears when a joke was played on them. While the author taught them to forage, once they matured he was unable to keep up with the large distances they covered each day. When winter came, the bears reduced their food intake to almost nothing. Leslie kept the cabin much cooler, and the bears entered their winter sleep naturally.
Strangely, there appears to be no biographical information on Leslie, although the many observations within the narrative show that he had a detailed knowledge of the B.C. forests and their inhabitants. He was a close friend of a number of the local natives, and seemed to have benefited from their knowledge.
Many interesting observations including the apparent chagrin experienced by the bears when a joke was played on them. While the author taught them to forage, once they matured he was unable to keep up with the large distances they covered each day. When winter came, the bears reduced their food intake to almost nothing. Leslie kept the cabin much cooler, and the bears entered their winter sleep naturally.
Strangely, there appears to be no biographical information on Leslie, although the many observations within the narrative show that he had a detailed knowledge of the B.C. forests and their inhabitants. He was a close friend of a number of the local natives, and seemed to have benefited from their knowledge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2019
Érdekes kettősséget éreztem a könyvvel kapcsolatban. Egyrészt ahogyan részletesen leírja a kanadai élővilágot, az egész megelevenedik az ember előtt, tényleg szinte ott érzi magát, ugyanakkor a dokumentarista jelleg miatt mégis kicsit száraz. Mindezek ellenére megéri elolvasni, mert könnyen felébreszti az emberben a vágyat, hogy kicsit szorosabb ismeretséget kössön a természettel.
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed this story. It was a little disturbing for me to read about the fire and the other animals waiting on the island for the weaker animals to come over. (I understand thought that that's how the circle of life is). Sad ending also. I wish it had worked out better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2017
New favourite for sure! Remarkable story of northern BC wildlife and humanity.
August 31, 2024
One of the best books I've ever read. Certainly a selection that parts still stick with me to this day and I read it about 25 years ago.
January 6, 2026
One of my favourite books mom used to read to me. It’s written so well with a sad ending but is 100% worth the read
September 11, 2015
4.5
I loved this book! I love bears, and I really wanted to read about a guy who kind of adopted them, and I wasn't disappointed after I read it. It's just so heartfelt and full of emotions. I liked that the book told us about the customs and behaviours of the bears, I got to know so many pieces of brand new information, and I liked it the author wrote a lot about his connection to the bears, rather than just throwing a bunch of cool and funny stories together.
What I wasn't too keen on were the superfluous, and (for it's genre, in my opinion) too superfluous landscape descriptions and writing for pages about animals and their customs, which had nothing to do with the bears at all. For me, well, it wasn't marketed as a "story about bears plus the landscape", so I didn't understand some remarks about random animals in that area.
I loved this book! I love bears, and I really wanted to read about a guy who kind of adopted them, and I wasn't disappointed after I read it. It's just so heartfelt and full of emotions. I liked that the book told us about the customs and behaviours of the bears, I got to know so many pieces of brand new information, and I liked it the author wrote a lot about his connection to the bears, rather than just throwing a bunch of cool and funny stories together.
What I wasn't too keen on were the superfluous, and (for it's genre, in my opinion) too superfluous landscape descriptions and writing for pages about animals and their customs, which had nothing to do with the bears at all. For me, well, it wasn't marketed as a "story about bears plus the landscape", so I didn't understand some remarks about random animals in that area.
January 5, 2012
Written simply and beautifully, this is the true story of a young man living alone in the north woods of British Columbia, who finds himself raising three orphaned black bear cubs. With no other humans around, he raises the young bears to be self-sufficient and not to behave like pets. He teaches them how to forage for food and how to protect themselves from danger. The story is heartwarming as we watch the silly antics of the young bears and the ridiculous predicaments they get themselves into and amazing to read how one man alone can survive the wicked cold winters and plethora of hungry wildlife. Beautiful. Definitely worth the quick read.
March 19, 2014
My Dad read this book to me when I was a young teen. A very moving story and emotionally well written. It moved me for a long time.
Now I have to say I don't think it was a totally true account of his life with the bears. First off he said he was a gold miner and what he wrote about gold was so far off the mark it made me question other details about the book. I don't think he got near gold mining. In one place as I recall he made mention of a place with huge amounts of gold but it was to remote to haul it out. I don't buy it.
Enjoy the book but don't bet your life that everything he wrote was true.
Now I have to say I don't think it was a totally true account of his life with the bears. First off he said he was a gold miner and what he wrote about gold was so far off the mark it made me question other details about the book. I don't think he got near gold mining. In one place as I recall he made mention of a place with huge amounts of gold but it was to remote to haul it out. I don't buy it.
Enjoy the book but don't bet your life that everything he wrote was true.
November 24, 2014
A wonderful reflection on raising wildlife. No matter how many books on bears I read, I always marvel at the depth of friendliness and affection black bears can develop. Obviously, it takes a skilled person to do this without getting hurt, but bears make irresistibly entertaining characters and they're so much fun to read about.
One of my favorite parts, though, is the description early on of saving a few exhausted wild animals from drowning in the lake after their flee from a forest fire, just coming by with a canoe and pulling them aboard. Unforgettable.
One of my favorite parts, though, is the description early on of saving a few exhausted wild animals from drowning in the lake after their flee from a forest fire, just coming by with a canoe and pulling them aboard. Unforgettable.
January 7, 2014
A very well written book of the north country, wildlife, nature, and of course, black bears. I felt that I was there in that log cabin with the three bears. It hit home with me, that all wild critters have personality, sensitivity, and and purpose. And then contrast that with some humans that are heavy-handed, insensitive and so easily squeeze that trigger. As John Prine says, "...some humans just ain't human."
September 28, 2015
A simple but touching account of a young man's effort to raise 3 orphaned black bear cubs in north central BC. Written based on his journal entries, it may be simplistic but I found the perspective captivating, to see his relationship with nature and the bears through his eyes. A bit of an abrupt ending to the book, it would have been nice to include another chapter of his final thoughts of his time spent in the north woods.
March 18, 2023
This book made me very happy, then at the end it made me very sad and angry. You can probably guess why. Just be warned if you are sensitive to animal stories that will make you cry and not in a good way.
I searched the internet for info on his author but could only find his grave site. There is a Disney movie of this story starring Patrick Wayne, I bet they changed the ending. Someday when I get over reading the book I might search out the movie.
I searched the internet for info on his author but could only find his grave site. There is a Disney movie of this story starring Patrick Wayne, I bet they changed the ending. Someday when I get over reading the book I might search out the movie.
October 15, 2008
An incredible tale of the relationship between man and beast. The story is written in a most excellent fashion and has stirred me in such a way that I have read this book just about every year since I was 12.
When life gets me down and I can't break away to my usual stress relief arena - the deep woods of northern New Brunswick - I break out my worn and torn copy of The Bears and I.
When life gets me down and I can't break away to my usual stress relief arena - the deep woods of northern New Brunswick - I break out my worn and torn copy of The Bears and I.
December 23, 2014
Me encantó de principio a fin, todos los personajes se adueñaron de mis emociones como pocos han logrado... ¡Terminé llorando! :') Y si hace poco tiempo sentía simple agrado y respeto hacia los osos, ahora son de mis animales favoritos, a lado de los elefantes... simplemente hermoso.
Y todo empezó con un libro abandonado pero recomendado por mi padre :'3
Y todo empezó con un libro abandonado pero recomendado por mi padre :'3
January 10, 2014
This was such a great read, funny and heartbreaking as only a book about animals can be. The author's love of these bears as he tries to walk the line between keeping them safe and keeping them wild made this one of my favorite books this year.
January 26, 2014
A must read for bear lovers, this true story encompasses the intelligence, compassion and pure joy that bear cubs have for life, Robert tells it as it is with lots of detailed information and pure dedication for these bears.
October 1, 2015
Setting out to be a gold miner in Canada in the 1920s, a young man adopts three orphan bear cubs. They will battle forest fires, drought, and predators to form a bond that will become threatened by civilization.
November 6, 2015
A good story about a man who loves animals and rescues 3 orphaned bear cubs. It is such a wonderful story until the end when the reader comes to realize that wild animals and man are not a good combination. A sad ending to an unusual story.
May 28, 2007
Fun, heartrending Disney like story of a guy and 3 bears.
May 9, 2008
Totally random purchase at a used book store because I love black bears. What a great surprise this book was. One of my all time favorite nature books.
June 8, 2011
What a fantastic read - a lovely tale of human & animal interaction, it just goes to show it can be done.
February 17, 2013
I love it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews