What do you think?
Rate this book
Kühe anstarren verboten! Von Alligator bis Zecke: Wie man sich bei Begegnungen mit Tieren richtig verhält
Hinlegen und auf keinen Fall füttern!
Wie verhält man sich Auge in Auge mit einem Elch? Hilft lautes Singen gegen Bären? Und sind Haie wirklich gefährlicher als Mücken? Wenn Sie schon immer wissen wollten, wie man sich bei einem Zusammenstoß mit Wildschweinen im Wald, bei einer Waschbären Invasion im Vorgarten oder einer Ameisenstraße in der Küche richtig verhält, dann brauchen Sie unbedingt dieses Buch. Praxisnah und amüsant trägt die Outdoor-Expertin Rachel Levin in diesem liebevoll illustrierten Band das nötige Know-how zusammen, um für Begegnungen mit Wölfen und Füchsen, Eichhörnchen und Krähen, Bettwanzen und Läusen bestens gewappnet zu sein.
Wie verhält man sich Auge in Auge mit einem Elch? Hilft lautes Singen gegen Bären? Und sind Haie wirklich gefährlicher als Mücken? Wenn Sie schon immer wissen wollten, wie man sich bei einem Zusammenstoß mit Wildschweinen im Wald, bei einer Waschbären Invasion im Vorgarten oder einer Ameisenstraße in der Küche richtig verhält, dann brauchen Sie unbedingt dieses Buch. Praxisnah und amüsant trägt die Outdoor-Expertin Rachel Levin in diesem liebevoll illustrierten Band das nötige Know-how zusammen, um für Begegnungen mit Wölfen und Füchsen, Eichhörnchen und Krähen, Bettwanzen und Läusen bestens gewappnet zu sein.
141 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 9, 2023
Look big is the epitome of an entertaining, yet useful survival guide. I had so much fun reading this book. The humour and information are dispersed perfectly. The illustration style is also beautiful. Really, though, the best part was the layout. Props to whoever edited this. The way that text was broken up into different groups and dispersed throughout illustrations was perfect.
(Also, keep in mind this rating is for the specific style and genre. I am not saying this book is the same quality as every other one I've given five stars)
(Also, keep in mind this rating is for the specific style and genre. I am not saying this book is the same quality as every other one I've given five stars)
February 6, 2020
Look Big is a fun read aloud book with tons of animal facts and true stories, many of which will bring a smile to your face or an outloud laugh! Showcasing 50 animals, each animal holds space to a page or two to cover tips for surviving encounters, where they can be found, their size and what sounds they make! The only thing missing that would have added a great dimension is an outline of their actual foot or paw print. One of my favorite pages is the list of animals from most to least deadly... deer kill 200 people a year and bears, sharks, alligators, mountain lions, coyotes and black widows only 1 person each per year! I'm purchasing my own copy!!
Find Look Big: And Other Tips for Surviving Animal Encounters of All Kinds at Westminster Public Library today!
And if you are in search of new books to read, try our services, What Do I Read Next. Our library staff are standing by to create a personalized recommendation list for you!
Find Look Big: And Other Tips for Surviving Animal Encounters of All Kinds at Westminster Public Library today!
And if you are in search of new books to read, try our services, What Do I Read Next. Our library staff are standing by to create a personalized recommendation list for you!
July 20, 2019
Utter trash. Filled with garbage information, lots of misinformation.
Some examples: size is often related to a common household object. She doesn’t account for variation though (all bats apparently weigh as much as a baseball). She doesn’t describe the difference in cockroach size (just says they’re smaller than a thumbnail)
She says intact males are less predictable than stallions...except stallions ARE intact males.
She has an “aka” for every animal. Sometimes these are stupid derogatory terms like “flying rats” for bats sometimes the word for different sexes (jacks, Jennies, bucks) sometimes stupid jokes (“sly and shy” for foxes) but without putting those in a useful context, like they’re all interchangeable.
Lots of stupid stories about fearing animals that are included for ...what?
The book seems more to fear monger than give good tips.
For something that claims it’s supposed to be a helpful guide all in one place, it’s a lot of filler junk and stupid jokes. A lot of statistics made to
Scare you instead of empower you. And very few actual tips, and often just for certain situations. I don’t mind a lighthearted approach but it’s so filled with nonsense and crappy information that the important tips are either left out or hidden between useless stuff.
Really pretty art though
Some examples: size is often related to a common household object. She doesn’t account for variation though (all bats apparently weigh as much as a baseball). She doesn’t describe the difference in cockroach size (just says they’re smaller than a thumbnail)
She says intact males are less predictable than stallions...except stallions ARE intact males.
She has an “aka” for every animal. Sometimes these are stupid derogatory terms like “flying rats” for bats sometimes the word for different sexes (jacks, Jennies, bucks) sometimes stupid jokes (“sly and shy” for foxes) but without putting those in a useful context, like they’re all interchangeable.
Lots of stupid stories about fearing animals that are included for ...what?
The book seems more to fear monger than give good tips.
For something that claims it’s supposed to be a helpful guide all in one place, it’s a lot of filler junk and stupid jokes. A lot of statistics made to
Scare you instead of empower you. And very few actual tips, and often just for certain situations. I don’t mind a lighthearted approach but it’s so filled with nonsense and crappy information that the important tips are either left out or hidden between useless stuff.
Really pretty art though
March 4, 2021
“We don’t have to love animals. We just have to ignore them, the same way we do when we’re smashed up against someone’s armpit on the subway.”
- Colin Jerolmack, a sociologist at NYU with a thing for pigeons.
As Rachel Levin later explains in her book containing 50+ different animals, it's not always the best option (especially when you get spotted and have to face a moose running at you), but sure it's the first golden rule to respect. So hold on your phone and cameras to snap the perfect selfie with your little girl on top of an elephant seal, and admire our friends from a distance.
We're invading animals' territories more and more. So knowing a bit of good manners to avoid unpleasant situations, whosoever fault it is, could come in handy. Maybe this book will be more appealing to an American public, but its anecdotes of wild encounters and little known facts on the various animals are certainly worth reading for animals enthusiasts. And... well, you never know, right?
List of the animals (suspected and otherwise): alligators, ants, bats, bears, bed bugs, bees, wasps, and hornets, bison, black widow spiders, bobcats, cockroaches, cows, coyotes, crows, deer, dogs, donkeys, dust mites, elephant seals, foxes, fruit flies, geese, horses, jaguars, jellyfish, lice, mice, moose, mosquitoes, mountain lions, opossums, owls, pigeons, porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, rats, rattlesnakes, seagulls, sea urchins, sharks, sheep, skunks, squirrels, stingrays, ticks, turkeys, whales, wild boars, wolves, woodpeckers.
Rating: ★★★½
April 10, 2018
In short: Respect the wildlife, don’t be stupid, keep a clean house & yard, and don’t take a damn selfie with your back turned to any animal. And if you have your trash cans and dog food outside, don’t be surprised when some critter comes to visit–guarantee it.
Animals are just as smart as, if not smarter in many cases, humans. And as we encroach upon their habitats (they were there first), they’re adapting and getting used to us. So we’d better get used to them and learn to live with them (and appreciate them) as much as they’ve learned to live with us.
Sadly, I have a feeling that many people who could actually learn a thing or five from this book (and be properly shocked by the info) would never pick up this book.
But for those who do pick this up, it provides sporadic tips on how to deal with critters of all types, from ticks to moose, from fruit flies to whales. Depending on the critter, tips range from how to deal with or get rid of them to how to defend yourself if you ever come face to face with one. I liked how it spanned all regions and all types of animals, making at least a few of the tips useful for anyone. This would be a fun gift book for anyone who loves to travel, since it covers such a wide range of animals.
The illustrations were very lovely, and they would make some awesome posters!
The brief “aka” bits consisted of nicknames for animals, but also included different species and/or names for different ages/sexes of animals (e.g. bull, cow, calf). Which are all true, but it would have been nice to point out the differences between these. And some of the information can be a bit confusing, in terms of how it’s presented. In a few of the sections, how to deal with the animal (e.g. defending yourself from one if you encounter it) seems to be brushed aside or relegated to smaller textboxes. That’s the information I want front and center, with the amusing anecdotes and other fun info later. I also wasn’t a fan of the anecdotal short essays; they didn’t add anything to the info, nor did they really prove any points.
While this book was too brief and unscientific for me, I can still see it appealing to lots of people in a variety of markets.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
Animals are just as smart as, if not smarter in many cases, humans. And as we encroach upon their habitats (they were there first), they’re adapting and getting used to us. So we’d better get used to them and learn to live with them (and appreciate them) as much as they’ve learned to live with us.
Sadly, I have a feeling that many people who could actually learn a thing or five from this book (and be properly shocked by the info) would never pick up this book.
But for those who do pick this up, it provides sporadic tips on how to deal with critters of all types, from ticks to moose, from fruit flies to whales. Depending on the critter, tips range from how to deal with or get rid of them to how to defend yourself if you ever come face to face with one. I liked how it spanned all regions and all types of animals, making at least a few of the tips useful for anyone. This would be a fun gift book for anyone who loves to travel, since it covers such a wide range of animals.
The illustrations were very lovely, and they would make some awesome posters!
The brief “aka” bits consisted of nicknames for animals, but also included different species and/or names for different ages/sexes of animals (e.g. bull, cow, calf). Which are all true, but it would have been nice to point out the differences between these. And some of the information can be a bit confusing, in terms of how it’s presented. In a few of the sections, how to deal with the animal (e.g. defending yourself from one if you encounter it) seems to be brushed aside or relegated to smaller textboxes. That’s the information I want front and center, with the amusing anecdotes and other fun info later. I also wasn’t a fan of the anecdotal short essays; they didn’t add anything to the info, nor did they really prove any points.
While this book was too brief and unscientific for me, I can still see it appealing to lots of people in a variety of markets.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
June 18, 2023
A quick and easy read. Very informative. I would recommend to anyone who might be spending time in the great outdoors.
‘Nuff said.
‘Nuff said.
January 22, 2025
Has some misinformation, tries to be funny and snarky about things that are actually important (Marine Mammal Protection Act), mostly fear mongers and provides little useful information that isn't already common sense. This isn't really a book for an animal/outdoor lover like i thought it would be. It kinda makes animals out to be the villains. It does have beautiful illustrations though
December 3, 2017
As Americans continue to move from suburbs into rural areas, and vacationers hike into more remote areas of parks, confrontations with wild animals have become increasingly common. What to do when you run up on a mountain lion or grizzly bear is the topic of Look Big by Rachel Levin, a practical, but humorous guide to wildlife survival. Each short chapter presents some basic information about each species and then offers suggestions as to how to avoid an attack.
While each animal is different, there are some basic rules of thumb. First, don’t run. Running can trigger a predatory instinct and cause an animal to charge you. Second, try to intimidate the animal by producing noise and making yourself look larger than you are (hence the title). The most important general rule for avoiding an animal assault is do not feed wild animals. Feeding them inevitably leads to a lack of fear of humans and increasing aggressiveness.
Along with species that can kill or maim, Levin includes chapters on the merely annoying , like bed bugs and ants. Insect pests turn out to be among the most difficult to eradicate. Short essays by other writers detailing their personal encounters with wild beasts are included with most chapters. Bonnie Tsui’s account of a cockroach infestation in her New York apartment is both horrifying and hilarious.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Look Big are the oddball facts sprinkled throughout the chapters. Cows turn out to be far more dangerous than sharks. Bovines kill an average of 20 Americans a year compared to one or two for sharks. The deadliest, large animal in North American is not the grizzly or cougar but white-tailed deer. Bambi’s cohorts are responsible for about 200 human deaths per year, mainly due to collisions with cars.
And malaria-spreading mosquitoes kill far more people than any other animal. Approximately one million per year.
Written in a breezy, cheerful style and with cartoon-like illustrations by Swedish artist, Jeff Ostberg, Look Big can be enjoyed even by those whose idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel room with no microwave.
While each animal is different, there are some basic rules of thumb. First, don’t run. Running can trigger a predatory instinct and cause an animal to charge you. Second, try to intimidate the animal by producing noise and making yourself look larger than you are (hence the title). The most important general rule for avoiding an animal assault is do not feed wild animals. Feeding them inevitably leads to a lack of fear of humans and increasing aggressiveness.
Along with species that can kill or maim, Levin includes chapters on the merely annoying , like bed bugs and ants. Insect pests turn out to be among the most difficult to eradicate. Short essays by other writers detailing their personal encounters with wild beasts are included with most chapters. Bonnie Tsui’s account of a cockroach infestation in her New York apartment is both horrifying and hilarious.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Look Big are the oddball facts sprinkled throughout the chapters. Cows turn out to be far more dangerous than sharks. Bovines kill an average of 20 Americans a year compared to one or two for sharks. The deadliest, large animal in North American is not the grizzly or cougar but white-tailed deer. Bambi’s cohorts are responsible for about 200 human deaths per year, mainly due to collisions with cars.
And malaria-spreading mosquitoes kill far more people than any other animal. Approximately one million per year.
Written in a breezy, cheerful style and with cartoon-like illustrations by Swedish artist, Jeff Ostberg, Look Big can be enjoyed even by those whose idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel room with no microwave.
December 4, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
Look Big: And Other Tips for Surviving Animal Encounters of All Kinds by Rachel Levin was a fun read. The author gives a very informative description of what you should do if you encounter animals in the wild while hiking, or on a surprise sighting of wild animals.
I could not help but giggle at her clever humor as she writes about even the pesky little devils which can plague your home.
The facts about the numbers of wild animal encounters with human beings was helpful to know. The advice about what a person should do when surprising a non-domestic animal is great to know for people who go hiking, camping, or frequent nature parks.
Sometimes we do not consider the interactions of raccoons, opossums, owls, skunks, squirrels, and the neighbors cats and dogs in our own communities.
Thank you, Rachel Levin, for a delightfully written book!
Look Big: And Other Tips for Surviving Animal Encounters of All Kinds by Rachel Levin was a fun read. The author gives a very informative description of what you should do if you encounter animals in the wild while hiking, or on a surprise sighting of wild animals.
I could not help but giggle at her clever humor as she writes about even the pesky little devils which can plague your home.
The facts about the numbers of wild animal encounters with human beings was helpful to know. The advice about what a person should do when surprising a non-domestic animal is great to know for people who go hiking, camping, or frequent nature parks.
Sometimes we do not consider the interactions of raccoons, opossums, owls, skunks, squirrels, and the neighbors cats and dogs in our own communities.
Thank you, Rachel Levin, for a delightfully written book!
January 13, 2021
Field guide for how to deal when face to face with fifty different animals from most-feared (sharks, snakes) to nuisance (dust mites, fruit flies). Blends practical advice and humor, with illustrations. This made me laugh out loud: "Keep calm and help the raccoons move on. Open windows. Make a trail of marshmallows, cheese, or Fig Newtons (apparently they're big fans) to try to lead the rascal outside."
And the author wants to impress upon us that deer wreak the most havoc: "More deer means 1. more ticks and 2. more car crashes--1.25 million a year." She says, "Statistically, white-tailed deer kill more people a year (about 200) than any other animal in North America." What to do? Rachel Levin suggests that when driving, realize that if you see one deer leaping there are more on its heels and if you do hit a deer, keep driving and don't swerve or you risk colliding with an oncoming car. And to do your part in discouraging aggression in deers toward those out walking, don't feed them.
And the author wants to impress upon us that deer wreak the most havoc: "More deer means 1. more ticks and 2. more car crashes--1.25 million a year." She says, "Statistically, white-tailed deer kill more people a year (about 200) than any other animal in North America." What to do? Rachel Levin suggests that when driving, realize that if you see one deer leaping there are more on its heels and if you do hit a deer, keep driving and don't swerve or you risk colliding with an oncoming car. And to do your part in discouraging aggression in deers toward those out walking, don't feed them.
September 7, 2021
Interesting information about animals. Don’t run from a bear or mountain lion. But run from an alligator or bees. If you get bed bugs, you are screwed. Dogs kill 20-30 people a year. Or maybe that’s cows. Both are much higher than you would think.
February 22, 2019
Mildly entertaining. A quick read. Light-hearted and fun, despite the potential dangers discussed. Mostly common sense and therefore not particularly educational unless you're an idiot.
January 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It talks about various wild animals (and bugs) you find in America and how to deal with them. The writing is smooth and often witty. The information is interesting and useful. The statistics are great—and put things in perspective. The drawings by Jeff Ostberg are beautiful. I love how the author talks not just about the big fear-inducing predators like bears and sharks, but about more objectively dangerous animals (deer, cows) and pests that aren't so dangerous but do cause lots of irritation, work, property damage, etc (ants, pigeons, bed bugs). She also included a few interesting stories and excerpts written by other people about the featured animals. All great stuff.
I personally thought the "Also known as" sections were a little awkward and misleading with how they sometimes mentioned nicknames ("flying rats" for bats), sometimes mentioned characteristics ("sly" for fox), and sometimes mentioned specific species or subtypes ("mares, stallions, colts, fillies" for horses). It just felt wrong. Only some horses can be also known as mares. I would have enjoyed it more if the author had stuck with nicknames and alternate common names in that section and made a new section, if necessary, for characteristics and subtypes.
I also found some of the size descriptions odd. Like that a fruit fly is somewhere between an ant and a housefly? Well, if it's a very, very tiny species of ant, yes, but most ants I see are significantly bigger than fruit flies, and houseflies are giants in comparison. And a bat "weighs as much as a baseball, with a foot-long wingspan." I'm sure this is accurate for some bats, but there are about 45 species of bats in the US. The Greater Mastiff Bat of the southwest has a wingspan almost twice this long and the Western pipistrelle is significantly smaller. Also, cockroaches are smaller than thumbnails??? I guess the author doesn't live in Arizona. I wish there had been more variation in these size descriptions. It threw a bit of doubt on the accuracy or at least the breadth of the other information. But these two issues won't bother everyone.
"Look Big" is an entertaining book. And very beautiful. I'll probably read it again. I hope Rachel Levin writes more.
More accurate rating: 4.5
I personally thought the "Also known as" sections were a little awkward and misleading with how they sometimes mentioned nicknames ("flying rats" for bats), sometimes mentioned characteristics ("sly" for fox), and sometimes mentioned specific species or subtypes ("mares, stallions, colts, fillies" for horses). It just felt wrong. Only some horses can be also known as mares. I would have enjoyed it more if the author had stuck with nicknames and alternate common names in that section and made a new section, if necessary, for characteristics and subtypes.
I also found some of the size descriptions odd. Like that a fruit fly is somewhere between an ant and a housefly? Well, if it's a very, very tiny species of ant, yes, but most ants I see are significantly bigger than fruit flies, and houseflies are giants in comparison. And a bat "weighs as much as a baseball, with a foot-long wingspan." I'm sure this is accurate for some bats, but there are about 45 species of bats in the US. The Greater Mastiff Bat of the southwest has a wingspan almost twice this long and the Western pipistrelle is significantly smaller. Also, cockroaches are smaller than thumbnails??? I guess the author doesn't live in Arizona. I wish there had been more variation in these size descriptions. It threw a bit of doubt on the accuracy or at least the breadth of the other information. But these two issues won't bother everyone.
"Look Big" is an entertaining book. And very beautiful. I'll probably read it again. I hope Rachel Levin writes more.
More accurate rating: 4.5
July 12, 2018
I found Look Big while browsing in my local library and picked it primarily because I hike and the book seemed like it would be a good overview of the topic. I was far from disappionted. Look Big provides short (usually 2 pages) overviews of different north american wildlife hazards (or wildlife hazards that people erroneously think they will be likely to encounter; sharks kill 1 person per year, but - as observed by the author and this reviewer - that doesn't stop people from freaking out about them). Not only is it short and sweet, but there is a wide range of wildlife covered - everything from bedbugs and racoons to bears and mountain lions - and author maintains a sense of humor throughout. I spent a good chunk of the book snickering over the snarky commentary.
The sole complaint I have about Look Big is that the skunk segment focuses on dealing with preventing skunks from spraying and warning sign of imminent spray. While that is undoutedly the problem that most people think of with regard to skunks, another issue is that skunks are one of the biggest animal hosts of the rabies virus. I felt like this would have prudent information to include, especially since segments on other small omnivores (such as foxes and opossums) included a sentence about rabies in those animals.
All in all, Look Big was an entertaining and educational read, and it is one that I would recommend.
The sole complaint I have about Look Big is that the skunk segment focuses on dealing with preventing skunks from spraying and warning sign of imminent spray. While that is undoutedly the problem that most people think of with regard to skunks, another issue is that skunks are one of the biggest animal hosts of the rabies virus. I felt like this would have prudent information to include, especially since segments on other small omnivores (such as foxes and opossums) included a sentence about rabies in those animals.
All in all, Look Big was an entertaining and educational read, and it is one that I would recommend.
February 27, 2018
I received this title from NetGalley for advance review (thanks NetGalley!) & wasn't expecting the author to be quite as suburban as she was - but I really appreciate her attempts to educate readers regarding certain species popularly regarded as unpleasant or scary, which really are quite beneficial. For instance, she pointed out that opossums, "America's only native marsupials," are not only (very) rarely rabies vectors, and also an excellent eradicator of lyme-disease-ridden ticks - and the best reaction is to just let them be. Of course, as the author points out, the creature everyone should most fear is the mosquito - but more folks want to know that wearing goggle-eyes on the back of their hats might deter a mountain lion (I among them). The tone is relatable for city-dwellers and those who occasionally venture into the forest or swamp, and clear and simple enough to remember in the event a reader does encounter Animal X in the future.
January 12, 2021
There was some decent info in here, but I disliked the way the author described some animals, particularly the bat. She continued the "bats are creepy" stereotype, while still admitting that they are useful in terms of ecological services. As an animal lover, I don't like to see sensationalization either, and I think Levin did this in some places. Levin overdramatizes some things, and the suggestions for dealing with the many urban "pest" species like raccoons and skunks were sometimes laughable. She sounds like someone whose encounters with wildlife are more negative than amusing, and she writes like a city dweller (because she is) with little to no practical experience. Uh oh, I'm about to get attacked by a great horned owl, because that's just SO common! Bye folks!
April 7, 2021
Die Angst vor (wilden) Tieren entsteht größtenteils durch Wissenslücken, Unsicherheit, fehlenden regelmäßigen Kontakt zur Natur und Horrormeldungen aus den Medien.
Die Autorin analysiert das unnötig riskante menschliche Verhalten gegenüber Wildtieren und gibt mit einem Augenzwinkern mehr oder weniger hilfreiche Tipps für den Notfall. Die wichtigsten Grundregeln sind das Abstand halten, das Fütterungsverbot und die Abfallentsorgung um wilde Tiere nicht zu sehr an den Menschen zu gewöhnen.
"Pro Jahr wird ein Amerikaner durch Haie getötet, sechs verlieren ihr Leben durch Schlangen, zwanzig durch Kühe."
Das gefährlichste genannte Tier ist weltweit gesehen allerdings die Stechmücke, weil sie Krankheiten wie Malaria überträgt.
Illustrationen von Jeff Östberg mit wunderschönen Farben.
Die Autorin analysiert das unnötig riskante menschliche Verhalten gegenüber Wildtieren und gibt mit einem Augenzwinkern mehr oder weniger hilfreiche Tipps für den Notfall. Die wichtigsten Grundregeln sind das Abstand halten, das Fütterungsverbot und die Abfallentsorgung um wilde Tiere nicht zu sehr an den Menschen zu gewöhnen.
"Pro Jahr wird ein Amerikaner durch Haie getötet, sechs verlieren ihr Leben durch Schlangen, zwanzig durch Kühe."
Das gefährlichste genannte Tier ist weltweit gesehen allerdings die Stechmücke, weil sie Krankheiten wie Malaria überträgt.
Illustrationen von Jeff Östberg mit wunderschönen Farben.
July 25, 2026
“Look Big” is clever, hilarious, and beautifully illustrated. So many of the negative reviews miss the point—while providing sound advice, it is supposed to be funny and entertaining. This is not a scientific or academic journal, and it’s not meant to be.
My wife and I read it on a road trip and vacation with our kids, and it provided laughs, conversation, and questions. Levin strikes the perfect balance of research, expert quotes, personal anecdotes, and guest essays.
The ideal coffee table book as one can read a page or two at a time. Book is arranged alphabetically by animal name, so the overall reading progression is irrelevant.
My wife and I read it on a road trip and vacation with our kids, and it provided laughs, conversation, and questions. Levin strikes the perfect balance of research, expert quotes, personal anecdotes, and guest essays.
The ideal coffee table book as one can read a page or two at a time. Book is arranged alphabetically by animal name, so the overall reading progression is irrelevant.
September 2, 2021
Did you know for 100 bucks, you can wrestle a live alligator at the Gators Reptile Park in Colorado? That foxes mate for life?
Yeah, me neither.
Did I know to "assume that every moose is like a serial killer standing in the middle of the trail with a gun?" Yes. And to steer very far away.
There's not too much new information here, (if you've spent any time outside), but it's pretty good for a laugh. If you leave it on your coffee table and it generates some funny conversation, it's probably worth the cash.
Yeah, me neither.
Did I know to "assume that every moose is like a serial killer standing in the middle of the trail with a gun?" Yes. And to steer very far away.
There's not too much new information here, (if you've spent any time outside), but it's pretty good for a laugh. If you leave it on your coffee table and it generates some funny conversation, it's probably worth the cash.
June 9, 2019
This is a great book. We know that bears and wolves and rattlesnakes can be dangerous. You might think you won't come into contact with dangerous animals, but there are some we might not consider as dangerous. Squirrels. Ants and roaches. Mice. Pigeons. Rabbits. The list goes on...
The book is well written and easy to read. It is humorous and the artwork is wonderful. It is an informative and fun book.
The book is well written and easy to read. It is humorous and the artwork is wonderful. It is an informative and fun book.
May 17, 2018
A quick read and informative, not just about large, wilderness animals but suburban critters, insects and sea life. A lot is common sense: keep your home and yard clean, don't feed wild animals, don't turn your back on animals, don't be oblivious to wild life by using ear buds or reading your phone out in the wilderness, etc.
August 4, 2021
Are you active outside? Travel to different states to fish, hike or camp. Well here is a simple easy to read on animal and bug encounters. What do you do if face to face with a coyote or mountain lion. Well here is you chance to find out what to do or not do. some are charming and funny, other advice could possible save your life.
August 2, 2022
I don't really trust this book for useful information. It felt like more of a humor book with a faint whiff of practical information. And the humor aspect made me feel dubious about the facts. Also it's really focused on animals (not) killing you, but what about getting maimed?
My biggest complaint though is that there isn't a chapter on goats. Mountain goats will mess you up! Beware the goats.
My biggest complaint though is that there isn't a chapter on goats. Mountain goats will mess you up! Beware the goats.
May 25, 2018
This book was such a fun read. Practical information on some things I have always wondered about and information on things I didn't expect. This is the kind of book I will keep but lend out to my other hiking/camping/backpacking/exploring friends.
July 18, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for review. This book is cute, witty but easily skimable. The illustrations are great and the gist of this is just "dont be stupid around wildlife" but with a few helpful facts.
May 29, 2018
Great book. Funny and informative.
June 23, 2018
Quick entertaining read!
October 5, 2018
Cute with great artwork. This is a good reminder of what to do around different animals and which are actually the dangerous ones.
December 9, 2018
Equal parts instructive, humorous, gross, and terrifying.
August 23, 2020
This was a cute and informative read. I enjoyed the small anecdotes here and there, the tone, and the imagery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews