The Deadly Balance: Predators and People in a Crowded World

by Adam Hart

The predators that can hunt, kill and eat us occupy a unique place in the human psyche – and for good reason.

Whether it's lions in Africa, tigers in India or sharks in the world's oceans, we are fascinated by – and often terrified of – predators. Animals that can hunt, kill, and eat us occupy a unique place in the human psyche, and for good reason. Predation forms a big part of our evolutionary history, but in the modern world there are many people who live alongside animals that can, and sometimes do, make them prey.

In The Deadly Balance, biologist Adam Hart explores the complex relationships we have with predators, and investigates what happens when humans become prey. From big cats to army ants, via snakes, bears, wolves, crocodiles, piranhas and more, Hart busts some myths and explores the science behind such encounters. Despite their fearsome and often wildly exaggerated reputations, these animals have far more to fear from us than we do from them. By probing the latest conservation science, Hart explores how we might both conserve the world's predators and live safely alongside them.

Genres: Natural History

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2023

About the author

Adam Hart was born in Brixham, South Devon and is an English scientist, author and broadcaster. He has co-presented three BBC TV documentaries on social insects (BBC4's Planet Ant: Life Inside the Colony, BBC2's Life on Planet Ant and BBC2's Hive Alive). Hart has written and presented numerous BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service documentaries and written more than eighty scientific papers.

In 2015, he authored the popular-science book The Life of Poo about our complex relationships with bacteria. His latest book, Unfit for Purpose, covers mismatches between human evolution and the modern world and is published by Bloomsbury in 2020. In 2017 he presented the BBC World Service weekly science programme Science in Action.

Reviews

[Foggygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, educational and faintly terrifying read about the magnificent animals out there that try to and sometimes succeed in eating us.

[Sue Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Captivating and eye-opening look at predators in today’s world.

Lions, tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, and other predators hold a special place in people's hearts throughout the world. Most of us want them to thrive and fill wild places with their primal dialogues and raw beauty. Yet, the people living side-by-side with these dangerous species often view them with fear and loathing. And, as you will discover in The Deadly Balance, their dread is well-founded.

Hart dives into human predation and human-wildlife conflict in vivid, often gory detail. These horrific tales are not to frighten and intrigue us; they are told to help us understand the mentality of the people who suffer the consequences of living with such creatures…because, ultimately, they are the ones who will determine if they live or die. If we want predators to thrive in our ever-increasing human-dominated world, it is critical to incorporate the welfare and perspectives of rural communities.

Indeed, The Deadly Balance is a well-researched book containing many facts, predation accounts, and scientific data. But these truths are told in an engaging, easy-to-read style with witty observations (for such severe and often gruesome subject matter) that is utterly captivating. This is a must-read for anyone who loves wildlife and wants to ensure predators remain forever a part of the wild.

[kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hart covers a lot of topics from predators' reputations, co-habitation with locals, how wealth and privilege effect our views on conservation, and how conservation could be better achieved. Some things feel controversial, others simply had just never occurred to me. This is a great read for those interested in learning about the balance of predation in the ecosystem and thinking about how we can continue to coexist with animals that can (and sometimes do) eat us.

[Michelle]

dnf because i thought this book would be about how like humans are their own predators but its actually about humans and their relations with actual animal predators like lions LMFAO (in my defense i just picked it up from a shelf in the library after reading the title). Mayhaps I will pick it up again if I ever feel the urge to live in Australia or Tasmania or something.

[Kenrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched and with a lot of urgent things to say about the imbalance in how we, in the U.S. and Europe especially, talk and think about the costs imposed by predators on the people who live alongside them.

[Ed Stoddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb and brings attention to issues that I have also been covering. Stay tuned for my Daily Maverick review ...

[Morgan]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Connor Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, informative, very good writing style that makes you feel like you're just having a chat with Adam! Amazing!!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting discussion of the large animals that attack humans and how people try to live in these environments.

[Josh Gidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, very informative and entertainingly written. Very balanced and logical; not preachy.