Monkeys on the Interstate

by Jack Hanna

Hardcover

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Animals, Autobiography, Humor, Memoir

292 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 1989

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this over 20 years ago and remember absolutely loving it. It is a funny autobiography! Would love to buy this and read it again. I just love Jack Hanna.

[Nate Hood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written over thirty years ago (!) and you can definitely tell the difference regarding what things were more acceptable back then. Jack Hanna is a personality and animal lover (which is the most important) who tries to right a sinking ship in everything he does, and mostly succeeds.

While I think his writing style and stories are as exotic as the animals at the Columbus Zoo, it's not quite what I'm looking for in terms of books. There's practices I agree and disagree with he undertook in his life, but overall I think he's a good man with a good heart. Some dialogue might not be written to the truth, either.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty early book, so a lot has changed at the Columbus Zoo since it was written. It's interesting to read about the changes that Jack brought to the zoo, and the PR he did that put the zoo on the map, and helped make it what it is today.

I recommend this for anyone who likes to read memoirs of people who work with animals, or anyone who has been to the Columbus Zoo or plans to visit there.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It's not particularly well written but it's not horrible either. Jack Hanna is a joy in person or in print so this is not a big stretch to love this book.

[Debbie Tanguay · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute to hear the various stories from Jack Hanna's life with animals and how he came about in that career and life.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read. Loved getting the behind the scenes look at the zoo I visited so frequently growing up.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read about the history of a Zoo which I've volunteered at and too imagine how different it once was. Bit of an inspiration moving forward in the animal field.

---

"This quote may be overused in the zoo world, but that's because it so clearly defines part of what zoos today are all about.
'In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we know, and we will know only what we are taught.' - Baba Diom. (279).

"I hope Montana never gets discovered, at least in the sense that states like Colorado and Arizona have" (292).

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lot of fun. You learn how he came about being the lead man for the Columbus Zoo and how much he truly loves animals. He turned that zoo into one of the premier zoos in the United States. Jack Hanna always had a unique perspective and way about him and it comes through in the book as well. Many wonderful pictures too.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm no fan of Jack Hannah and I only read this because I was stuck with nothing else to read. The book is just like one of his tv appearances, goofy and giving a misleading idea of wildlife. If you like him you'll probably like this book.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monkeys On the Interstate: and Other Tales From America's Favorite Zookeeper by Jack Hanna (Doubleday 1989)(Biography) is the backstory to Jack Hanna's love for animals and his career as a zookeeper. My rating: 7/10, finished 2003.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In reply to a child telling Jack that he too wanted to own a zoo Jack replied, "Do you like to shovel shit?" From his own private zoo to directing Columbus Zoo, Jack has created a life that many of us would like to have. Here's to Jack Hanna!

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Hanna, with John Stravinsky, RDC-M, #1, 1990, @ 1989, 2/93. Autobiographical account of Jack Hanna, "America's favorite zookeeper", work revamping the Columbus, Ohio Zoo, and his account of the adventures he had with the animals. Okay.

[Stacy Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, give you a sense of who Jack Hanna really is..

[Minnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.

[Zachary Creekmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is laugh out loud funny

[Annie Hinkle-wszalek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while in high school, over 20 years ago and it has stayed with me through all of that time. Excellent read, especially if you're an animal lover.

[Margaret Boehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It was so enlightening. I learned much about zoos.