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Animal Series
Pieni karhukirja
Vihainen harmaakarhu (Ursus arctos horribilis) ja pehmoinen halinalle - harvalla eläimellä on yhtä monta persoonaa kuin karhulla. Robert Bieder sulkeltaa valtaisaan karhuja kuvaavaan myyttien ja tarinoiden mereen. Ensimmäiseksi hän tutustuttaa lukijan karhun esi-isään, pieneen koiran kokoiseen eläimeen, joka eli 25 miljoonaa vuotta sitten. Bieder kertoo koko karhuperheen kiehtovan kehitystarinan, johon kuuluvat niin sukupuuttoon kuolleet luolakarhut kuin jättiläiskarhutkin. Tarina päättyy niihin kahdeksaan karhulajiin, jotka evoluution muokkaamina ovat säilyneet meidän päiviimme saakka.
Pieni karhukirja esittelee karhulegendoja, -myyttejä, -tabuja, -rituaaleja ja muita tapoja, joita liittyy karhujen kanssa elämiseen, niiden metsästykseen, tappamiseen ja syömiseen ympäri maapalloa. Vahva karhumaa Suomi on teoksessa hyvin esillä, myös alkuteoksessa.
Karhu on myös suosittu aihe kirjallisuudessa, lauluissa ja elokuvissa, samoin sirkuksissa ja eläintarhoissa sekä luonnollisesti leluissa.
Vaikka karhulla on kulttuurisesti vahva asema ihmisten päivittäisessä elämässä, luonnossa sitä uhkaavat elintilan supistuminen, salametsästys, ilmaston lämpeneminen, sairaudet ja ihmisen toiminta ylipäätään.
Teoksessa on usean kuvaliitteen kiehtova valokuva- ja piirroskuvitus. Pieni karhukirja on houkutteleva ja sivistävä lukuelämys kaikille, jotka ovat joskus halanneet sylinalleaan, lukeneet Nalle Puhia tai muuten vain ihailleet Metsän kuningasta.
Pieni karhukirja esittelee karhulegendoja, -myyttejä, -tabuja, -rituaaleja ja muita tapoja, joita liittyy karhujen kanssa elämiseen, niiden metsästykseen, tappamiseen ja syömiseen ympäri maapalloa. Vahva karhumaa Suomi on teoksessa hyvin esillä, myös alkuteoksessa.
Karhu on myös suosittu aihe kirjallisuudessa, lauluissa ja elokuvissa, samoin sirkuksissa ja eläintarhoissa sekä luonnollisesti leluissa.
Vaikka karhulla on kulttuurisesti vahva asema ihmisten päivittäisessä elämässä, luonnossa sitä uhkaavat elintilan supistuminen, salametsästys, ilmaston lämpeneminen, sairaudet ja ihmisen toiminta ylipäätään.
Teoksessa on usean kuvaliitteen kiehtova valokuva- ja piirroskuvitus. Pieni karhukirja on houkutteleva ja sivistävä lukuelämys kaikille, jotka ovat joskus halanneet sylinalleaan, lukeneet Nalle Puhia tai muuten vain ihailleet Metsän kuningasta.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2005
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170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 21, 2012
I've read of a few of the Reaktion Series books and this is my favourite so far.
As usual for the series, it starts with a brief overview of the evolutionary history of the subject, then an overview of extant species and then a sketch of human cultural interactions and portrayals. This one also rounds off with a look at the precarious status of the seven remaining bear species, most of which are teetering on the brink of extinction, and the one species that isn't is classed as threatened (as at publication date of 2005).
This format is a good one, but due to the relative slimness of the books, and the copious illustrations, the degree of depth is variable depending upon the scope which it has to cover. I was rather disaapointed in this regard with Spider, which just had too many species of spiders and their varying ecological niches to deal with properly. However, the present volume is able to provide a reasonable layman's guide to the rather smaller number of bears still around.
The folklore and mythology chapter was very interesting, showing that human attitudes towards bears are quite similar around the world, with most cultures feeling that people and bears can interchange and, to some extent, are actually the same species.
After dealing with our love for bears in literature, as teddy bear toys and with some of the products that seek to associate themselves with this affectionate symbol, the author certainly didn't shy away from our incredible cruelty towards real bears. The photographs of bear-baiting in Pakistan in 1997 are gruesomely brutal, and the photograph and descriptions of bear gall-bladder farming in the Far East in 2002 are heart-rending.
The final section is about the global conservation efforts being mounted to protect the viability of bear populations, their habitats and larger ecosystems, notably from corrupt or venal politicians and their corporate interests, in both Western and Eastern economies.
As usual, at the back of the book there is an "animal timeline," bibliography, textual notes, a list of bear-related organisations and website address and an index. Also as usual, the book is very well out together with high quality paper which really does justice to the beautiful illustrations, most of which are in colour.
Now I need to decide which of the series to read next: an iconic animal like the Wolf, or something a bit more leftfield, such as the Eel. Hmmm, decisions....
As usual for the series, it starts with a brief overview of the evolutionary history of the subject, then an overview of extant species and then a sketch of human cultural interactions and portrayals. This one also rounds off with a look at the precarious status of the seven remaining bear species, most of which are teetering on the brink of extinction, and the one species that isn't is classed as threatened (as at publication date of 2005).
This format is a good one, but due to the relative slimness of the books, and the copious illustrations, the degree of depth is variable depending upon the scope which it has to cover. I was rather disaapointed in this regard with Spider, which just had too many species of spiders and their varying ecological niches to deal with properly. However, the present volume is able to provide a reasonable layman's guide to the rather smaller number of bears still around.
The folklore and mythology chapter was very interesting, showing that human attitudes towards bears are quite similar around the world, with most cultures feeling that people and bears can interchange and, to some extent, are actually the same species.
After dealing with our love for bears in literature, as teddy bear toys and with some of the products that seek to associate themselves with this affectionate symbol, the author certainly didn't shy away from our incredible cruelty towards real bears. The photographs of bear-baiting in Pakistan in 1997 are gruesomely brutal, and the photograph and descriptions of bear gall-bladder farming in the Far East in 2002 are heart-rending.
The final section is about the global conservation efforts being mounted to protect the viability of bear populations, their habitats and larger ecosystems, notably from corrupt or venal politicians and their corporate interests, in both Western and Eastern economies.
As usual, at the back of the book there is an "animal timeline," bibliography, textual notes, a list of bear-related organisations and website address and an index. Also as usual, the book is very well out together with high quality paper which really does justice to the beautiful illustrations, most of which are in colour.
Now I need to decide which of the series to read next: an iconic animal like the Wolf, or something a bit more leftfield, such as the Eel. Hmmm, decisions....
May 30, 2022
Read for university.
May 19, 2024
Raju, mutta mielenkiintoinen.
February 2, 2013
In theory, I really liked the idea of these books: a discussion of a particular kind of animal in terms of its natural history, the human myths and legends surrounding it, historical and cultural attitudes, and ecological issues. In practice, I was left wanting a lot more.
I enjoyed what I did read -- the brief survey of different types of bears, a few choice retellings of myths, historical stories, and lots of pretty pictures of everything from cave drawings to teddy bears to photographs of bears in the wild. I guess I just kind of expected more of everything, especially when it came to the behavior and ecology of bears. I feel like this is probably a good starting point, though, if you want to know more about a particular aspect of bears in human culture, especially with regards to a lot of the myths and legends I had not heard of.
I enjoyed what I did read -- the brief survey of different types of bears, a few choice retellings of myths, historical stories, and lots of pretty pictures of everything from cave drawings to teddy bears to photographs of bears in the wild. I guess I just kind of expected more of everything, especially when it came to the behavior and ecology of bears. I feel like this is probably a good starting point, though, if you want to know more about a particular aspect of bears in human culture, especially with regards to a lot of the myths and legends I had not heard of.
January 17, 2013
A slim read, yet informative and broad in scope. Covering the evolutionary history of bears, their place in human myth (why so many tales of human/bear mating?), their recent history alongside man and the heart-breaking state of current world populations and treatment, especially in Asia and the US, this is a great place to start finding out about this most beautiful animal. Plenty of suggestions for futher reading too.
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July 20, 2011Valistava ja viihdyttävä. Todella loistava kirja, jos haluaa oppia jotain lisää karhuista.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews