At the Hand of Man: Peril and Hope for Africa's Wildlife

by Raymond Bonner

Defying conventional wisdom even as it makes an impassioned plea for moral common sense, this book by an award-winning journalist sheds a new light on the history and politics of the African conservation movement. The book will anger and inspire anyone who cares about African wildlife and the people whose future is intertwined with the fate of these animals.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 1993

About the author

After graduating from Stanford Law School and serving in the U. S. Marine Corps (including a tour in Vietnam), Raymond Bonner practiced public interest law for several years before turning to journalism. He has been a foreign correspondent and investigative reporter for The New York Times, a staff writer at The New Yorker, and has written for The New York Review of Books. He has reported from more than a hundred countries. He is the author of four books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a shared Pulitzer, and the Louis M. Lyon award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism from the Nieman Fellows at Harvard.

Reviews

[Samantha Greenya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author kept the book factual, but was still able to move the reader greatly. Before reading this book, I didn't care that much about conservation. "Oh, yeah, save the elephants, sure," like most uninterested Americans. After reading this book, I have become truly passionate about African wildlife. I have a desire to visit Africa. I want to get to know the people, not just tourist my way through it. I want to support sustainable utilization. I want to help the African people as well as conserve the wildlife. I want to open others' eyes. It sounds cheesey, and I don't normally get this excited about books or causes, but this is different.
Bonner covers several relevant subjects in easily-identifiable sections and does not cross over except where relevant. He paints the full picture instead of just showing a small glimmer (which is often what is done when the whole truth is not being told).
While they certainly deserve to be recognized, Bonner seemed to over worship the Kaokoveld. Yes, they did a great thing, but it's not okay to use absolute words in their description (or any description, for that matter), especially in a nonfiction book.
Towards the beginning of this book the author provided information for both causes (ban/non-ban) and leaves the reader genuinely torn between the two. In the second half, he leans more towards the non-ban side, but with reason. He shows the reader why , not just, "I think this and you should believe it, here are a few weak examples and more ranting from me" (as many distasteful nonfiction writers do). Bonner provided hard facts without throwing them aggressively in the readers' face. It was also evident that he truly cared about his subject firsthand, that it was not something he wrote about this subject because he was passionate about it.
The author helped the reader to understand why it's important to understand the impact of wildlife on the African people and what the people think. He humanizes the Africans instead of letting the reader believe that they are a savage people without morals. He doesn't portray them as we often see them, spectacles to be ogled at, but rather as equals. He gives them value, he makes them "real" people.
And finally, one of the most important concepts, the author leaves his reader with hope. He leaves him wanting to act, to help the African people and their wildlife. He leaves them wanting to be a part of something bigger. He shows the reader that conservation of wildlife is not pointless and much more is to be done. He leaves you (as the best non-fiction, cause-driven books do) wanting to act.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced look at economic development and the nuances between people and environment in developing countries.