Hobune: Kuidas hobune on mõjutanud tsivilisatsioone

by J. Edward Chamberlin, Rain Vaikla (Translator), Tiina Sildre (Illustrator)

Ammu enne ratta ja kirja leiutamist hakkasid inimeste eluviisi mõjutama hobused. Arheoloogia, kunsti, kirjanduse ja etnograafia abil valgustab “Hobune” inimeste ja hobuste suhteid läbi ajaloo –alates Aleksander Suurest kuni Tšingis-khaanini, Hispaania mauridest ja Prantsuse rüütlitest kuni Ameerika põliskultuuride hobutraditsioonideni. Tuhandeid aastaid on hobused aidanud meil elatist hankida, ringi rännata, staatust tõsta, seltsi leida ning impeeriume rajada ja laiendada.Terane, kirglik ja üllatusrohke Hobune jutustab ülimalt paeluva ja säravalt õpetliku loo hobustest ja inimestest, mis ulatub aegade algusest kuni tänapäevani

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Animals, Horses, Science

168 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

Reviews

[Wayland Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This jumps around a lot, between personal stories from the author, who is connected to some of the Indian Nations, to speculations about how some key events in prehistory went, to a summation of actual historical developments about the horse. He covers the initial evolution of the horse to its eventual extinction in the Americas and its later reintroduction.

There's lots of bits from parts of history, and even religion. The man clearly loves horses. It's an interesting read, and nicely done, just not quite what I was expecting, in terms of a more historical overview. Although parts of it do that.

I enjoyed it, and I think anyone interested in general world history and/or horses in general probably would, too.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In early May, 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant witnessed a teamster brutally beating a horse. Furious in a way that few of his officers had ever seen him, Grant ordered the teamster tied to a tree for six hours, and then had him sent out of the army camps. He then calmly ordered his men forward into the slaughterhouse that was the battle of the Wilderness, a battle that killed or wounded nearly 30,000 men. Afterwards, despite the heavy casualties, Grant moved forward, into a series of battles that cost anywhere from 40-60,000 men. Not once was it recorded that he reacted as when he witnessed one horse being abused.

Reaching back to take in nearly every significant society, “How the Horse has Shaped Civilizations” is a mix of the mythic and the factual, simply and clearly written, until the reader understands that the power and place of the horse in our world cannot be without both these aspects--spiritual and practical. The mix is what connects us so deeply to this animal, makes us place it in such regard, and in such a primal way.

The reader learns of the changes--subtle and overt that those societies wrought on the horse, and vice-versa. There are deep contradictions in the relationship that Ted brings out beautifully--how the horse enabled the adaptations necessary to human survival, and how they were also changed, themselves forced to adapt to survive as a species amongst humans.

Throughout the book, Ted Chamberlain traces modern events and societal behaviors back to horses. You'll learn how the cold war arms race, laws against miscegenation, even the wearing of togas and sandals in ancient Rome (and therefore modern frat house toga parties and the success of the movie Animal House--I'm the one making that connection here) all started with the horse. And how without his horse Alexander would have been known and Alex the Pretty Good.

“How the Horse Has Shaped Civilization” is a book that shows us horses at work, at play, wild, and in circumstances created for the benefit of humans that horse's adaptability turned into an environment natural to them, although their “otherness” will always make the horse a being of wonder and beauty to us.

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more an essay on the authors love of the horse and less about how the animal has helped shaped civilizations. I was looking for something more informative and better researched. This book has a few citations and sources, but nothing extraordinary.

I think this would be a good introduction for children but it wasn't meaty enough for me.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but it was alot more personal, subjective, than what I was expecting.

[Stormstar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually love horse books, but this one was too painful to finish. I thought this was a history book, not a mythology lesson. The writing reeked of college-style 'I'm going to drag this out so long that by the time you get to the end you'll forget what the point of this book is.' There are way better horse books.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do I love thee, O horse? Let me count the ways. J. Edward Chamberlin’s Horse begins with one lonely native American mare separated from her tribe recounting, from long memory, the many centuries that horses and humans have traveled together. Even after moving to more conventional historical narrative, the book remains highly storied, drawing much from art and poetry and never far removed from recollections of Blackfoot, Greek, Chinese, or other horse-related mythology. In terms of history, war and sports predominate, with the scant mention made to an actual workhorse appearing and vanishing in the last chapter like the twinkling of a star. The history itself sits under the shadow of mythology; the author's claim that chariots were used more to taxi infantry to the battle than as weapons themselves is illustrated with nothing more than The Illiad, and he manages to put the cart before the horse (ho, ho) by referring to Islamic expansion as a reaction to the Crusades. Say again? There’s useful information here – on the evolution of different breeds, saddles, riding styles – but it’s altogether very general. It’s a loving tribute to creatures that inspire awe and have been at the center of human history for thousands of years, but shouldn’ t be approached for too much substantial history.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chamberlin's book gives a nice overview of the horse in history, but does not give a detailed look. It is more a book about how wonderful and magical horses are than an in depth look at the history of the horse in the world. Chamberlin's writing, however, makes the book a wonderful and easy read. One of his best sentences is "Eohippus looked a lot like Eeyore, the donkey in Winnie the Pooh; but instead of losing her tail, she lost her toes" (5).

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a wonderful mix of stories that bring history alive and intertwines art, literature, anthropology, folk lore and other fascinating aspects of human civilizations via the ever-present horse

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative survey.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story to the horse. Sweetly written with a brief overview of the history of the horse.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating read, but it lacked cohesiveness.

[Louisa Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Thank you, J Edward, for being.

[₵oincidental Ðandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elegant, eloquent tribute to the noble horse.

[Deyanira Villalta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Used in my Horses & Humans class.