Book Description
Bill Jordan's life changed forever the day a stray cat nesting under his bougainvillea bit him on the hand. A reformed biologist, Jordan had no particular love for animals and felt vaguely contemptuous of those who did until the cat, beckoning with a wink and a yawn, led him on a journey to exotic lands, strange cultures, and fascinating discoveries. As their bond deepened and the cat's health began to fail, Jordan was forced into a commitment more devoted and sincere than any he had known before. Puzzling through his own feelings, he came to some remarkable conclusions: that those we love live in the synapses and molecules of memory, and that as long as we exist, they exist as part of our brain. It doesn't matter to our neurons whether the loved one is animal or human; the mechanism is the same. Even so, the two relationships are quite different: A cat is a creature with whom one shares solitude; with a human being, on the other hand, solitude generally means a failed relationship. And while communion with animals is usually considered inferior to communication with human beings, the truth is that the need for companionship is a human trait. In the absence of other companionship, the human mind will grow around any living thing like a vine. Bill Jordan learned that the first time your mind grows around a cat, you don't realize you have fallen in love until it's too late.
Customer Reviews:
You will never ever question why cats have been put on earth after reading this book.......2007-09-30
An eight year old female tortoise cat entered my life at the time my mother became ill and passed away. I did not believe a cat could become such a vital part of my existance and bring me compassion and love...but she did....what William writes about Darwin is so in line with what I have felt...and yet it is not shmalzy or cute..it is an honest assessement of what it is to be human if one allows oneself to be human....the fact that I too am single by choice, without even a room mate yet find the solitude of such important....and the cat named Mable has made that even more comfortable. I cried as I have not cried for any movie or book in a long time. This is a must read.
A Cat Named Darwin.......2007-02-09
This was a phenomenal book. I'm an RVT, so I had no problem with the technical language. I loaned the book to a neighbor who got a bit bogged down by the techno-speak at times, but still loved the story of Darwin. I've been there, done that, but cried like a baby when Darwin got tired and could not go on. I also totally understand Mr. Jordan's inability to see Darwin off. I loved the the incidental stuff, like his taking in Hoover (great name!) and stating he was not a new cat, but a "rescue". I totally love Lizard Brain, and Noggingod. A Phenomenal book! Would love to talk with the author about similar "rescues", but am pretty busy with feedings, cleanings and meds. I feel like a kindred soul...
Terilynn, RVT
A COMPLEX STUDY .......2007-01-20
Biologist/writer William Jordan's exploration of his relationships with two beloved rescued cats, Darwin and Hoover, make for interesting, if complex, reading, with high and low points aplenty. Though Jordan is not without serious flaws in his treatment of cats (and, in the past, a dog, and other animals), ultimately, this book is a tribute to the cats who penetrated his scientific detachment and, as he himself admits, turned him into a human being. For anyone who does NOT love cats and cannot understand those of us who do, I recommend this book -- it just may result in your wanting to find out for yourself what it's all about, and if that is the case, you'll never regret it. For those who already love cats, A CAT NAMED DARWIN is an unusual and unique look at the relationships of one man and two cats, told in a style unlike any other. In either instance, I recommend the book.
A Love Story.......2006-05-19
I found this book by seeing a newspaper item on the speaking engagement/book signing here in my town. I arrived early, purchased the book, then read the first half in the car. I had a hard time stopping to go in for the lecture. What a dear story. The author heroically resisted, but eventually succumbed to love's sweet sickness. I have read this book over and over with pleasure. Sure, he's a flawed being, but his love for Darwin overcame all. If you liked Peter Gether's books about Norton, you'll like this one too. Bravo:)
We learn ... and our pets are our teachers.......2004-08-20
This is a gem of a book. Well-written -- sometimes a bit too pithy and scientific -- but despite that, Jordan's inward reflections are the soul-baring and keenly appreciated narratives of the living interplay between human and cat.
This book chronicles the transformation of Jordan the human (who admits to past transgressions against animals in the name of research), as he rescues, struggles with, loves, accepts and pays worthy homage to the cat Darwin as the teacher, with the human as putty being shaped into something finer than the original because of this living breathing oh-so-wise (and which of the felines is NOT wise?!) cat-being.
I can very well appreciate Jordan's well-written almost hilarious definition of unwrapping sharp kitty teeth from his limbs as "defusing a bomb", having myself done that many times with my (totally mis-named!) Baby Twinkle, an equally huge and fearsome female counterpart to Darwin, herself a street rescue.
But I gritted my teeth every time he let Darwin back outside at night and watched Darwin have his cat fights with the neighborhood cats. "For Heaven's Sake!" I wanted to yell at Jordan -- "One cat bite is all it takes! You're inviting a living death by Feline Leukemia or Feline Aids -- and you can easily avoid this by keeping Darwin inside, getting him vaccinated!!! So... when Darwin died a slow and terrible death (I have seen this TOO many times in friends' cats, and this disease is so easily avoidable!!!), I wanted to say "I really hope, Bill Jordan, that your next kitty stays indoors.....".
I commend Bill Jordan for his life-saving dedication to Darwin, his soul searching, his huge huge love for such an innocent being (as I see it, Adam and Eve were NOT thrown out of the Garden of Eden for anything that the cats had done!). Jordan's heart and soul were shining sweet and strong thru every page of his desperate tooth-gritting quest to save Darwin.
When the inevitable happened, Jordan's dialogue in the garden with Darwin is priceless.
Hope, in the form and name of Hoover, walked into Jordan's life at the right time. I hope Jordan learned from Darwin, and keeps Hoover indoors now. I also hope he refrains from any more strange (ie, unknowingly cruel) methods of discipline -- judging by his remorse, I feel that he has learned.
Despite some of my misgivings and heartfelt critiques, I still think Jordan's book is a treasure. I'm sorry Darwin is gone. But he was still a very lucky cat to have found such love in the form of William Jordan.
Book Description
In this endearing memoir, William Jordan's reluctant adoption of a stray cat leads to an unexpectedly deep bond, one that will be immediately recognizable to anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of a pet. When Jordan brings Darwin into his home, he is forced into a commitment more devoted and sincere than any he has known before. He observes Darwin not only with the lovestruck gaze of a doting pet owner but also with the keen eye of a trained scientist, and he ruminates insightfully on the complex relationship between humans and their pets. Through issues of territory and separation, sickness and health, Jordan's heartrending memoir of his relationship with Darwin is made irresistible by his "self-effacing honesty, his ever-present wit, and, above all, the unashamed nakedness of his emotions" (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Customer Reviews:
Disappointed!.......2007-08-13
I felt like I was reading a textbook rather than a heart-warming kitty story. It was boring and I had to skip those parts where Jordan analyzed and spoke as a "biologist" which sounded sarcastic to me. I couldn't stand Jordan's arrogance, which in fact explained how ignorant he was about cats and about being a cat owner. I was particularly frustrated and disgusted when he kept putting Darwin outside at night despite his cry, when his neighbor threw a shoe at Darwin (really, it's not funny at all), and when he kept spraying water at Hoover (he felt terribly afterwards but it was too late.) I guess the point of this book is to show how Jordan changed because of Darwin. I do get the point. However, his mistreatment of cats, stubbornness, stinginess, and scientific way of thinking were awfully irritating.
A book even dog lovers can appreciate.......2007-06-10
This book caught my attention as a loaner from a special lady friend via my mom, both cat lovers. I thought it would make a nice change of pace from works on political morality or economy, and I was right.
Like the author, Bill Jordan, I have a long history of relative disconnection from animal planet, whether the wide variety of wild fauna or domesticated pets. (My dear late brother Forrest was the true animal lover in the family; he possessed a rare sensitivity to all living things. He provided the family with the impetus to acquire dogs, cats, goldfish, and so on, and the inclination to care for them.)
Forrest was particularly fond of dogs...
For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]
Brian Wright
Copyright 2007
Awful, Selfish and Cruel.......2006-04-27
I have to disagree with pretty much everyone else who wrote a review. I, too, consider myself to be an animal lover and a cat lover. The author either has the worst judgement on the planet or is really terribly selfish.
WARNING: SPOILER
If Jordan really loved Darwin as much as he professed, why did he let him suffer so much for so long!!??? Either Jordan is "thick" or the author was indulging himself, not his pet. And to try to euthenize him at home!!!???? Either it was a cruel ego trip (Jordan is a scientist and a hunter he needed to prove that he could do it) or just a very stupid move. And what about exposing Hoover to FELV? What an awful thing to do!!!! You never put a healthy cat together with an FELV positive one. There is no rationalizing that!!! Hoover was fine in the office. Maybe the author wanted to conduct an experiment to see if he could make the two cats like each other.
Also, throughout the book, even when Darwin was healthy, the author mentions fleas. If he really cared about Darwin he would have done more to rid him of the problem.....there are other solutions besides combing. I could go on, but you probably get my point by now.
WARNING not for the recently bereaved.......2006-02-12
Yes, this is one of several "personal journeys" into discovering how delightful a human/cat relationship can be. It's approached with unusual openness and thoughtfulness, and for that I applaud it. But...
Warning! Although other reviewers have found this an appropriate book for those who truly love cats (and do not have to think of them as human to love them) realize this is one man's discovery of who/what a cat is and some may find him as frustratingly dense and insensitive as I did. By the end of the book I thoroughly hated the author and would have cheerfully choked him if I met him.
I would REALLY warn off any who have just lost a beloved cat companion: during Darwin's struggle with dying, Jordan brings a new cat onto the house (which I find horribly cruel), and worse, he decides to euthanize of Darwin himself instead of taking him to the vet, and botches it. I will live with that horror forever. I read this after having to euthanize my fur-friend and this book tore me to shreds. I truly did not need the added pain reading this book created.
Sorry if I "shared" more than you wanted to know, but I'd rather that if I spare anyone else from the damage I incurred.
IF YOU LOVE AND HAVE EVER RESCUED AN ANIMAL..........2005-03-03
I cannot say enough about this book. Not only is it an insightful, beautiful story about acceptance and sharing, it explores and asks the right questions. Why do humans feel superior to animals? Why do they find it alright to have "dominion" over animals. And, in that all powerful role, how can one not value, or even hurt, such a helpless creature.
This is my favorite book ever. If you are a conservative christian, do not get this book. You will not be told you are the center of the world as you have heard your entire life. And some of Jordan's insights will likely offend you. If you are a serious animal lover, welfare, rights person, you will love it. If you never kick your cat off the place you usually sit, you will love it. If you let your cats get away with most everything, you will love this book. If you are responsible enough to never let your cats outside, you will love this book. If you have risked life and limb, literally, to save a helpless creature, this book is for you. If you are ready to relate to frustration with our species and how we treat other creatures, you will love this book. If you are ready to cry, you will love this book.
Product Description
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Average customer rating:
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Theory and Models in Vegetation Science (Advances in Vegetation Science(discontinued))
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 9061936462
Release Date: 2007-01-24 |
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Book Description
Every golfer who’s worth his favorite putter knows where golf is great: Scotland, birthplace of the game and still its most important shrine, from the splendor of St. Andrews to the regal resort at Gleneagles; and Ireland, where the links like Ballybunion and Royal County Down are of unsurpassed beauty and challenge. Whether golfers actually make the pilgrimage or arm-chair it, Where Golf Is Great is indispensable: the most luxurious, entertaining, informative, and exhaustive book on these most important destinations. Written by the bard of Scottish and Irish golf, it combines the most authoritative information with the most beautiful prose and the most stunning color photographs—an unsurpassed celebration of the places where golf is, indeed, great.
Not only is the golf great, but so are the sights, the dining, the lodging—and it’s all here: the pub lunches and three-star dinners; the country-house hotels and full-service resorts. Jim Finegan’s singularly insightful advice includes the very best play-and-stay combinations for once-in-a-lifetime perfect golf days, in this once-in-a-lifetime perfect golf book.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Greens.......2007-04-12
If you're planning a golf trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland, check out the courses in this book. Full-color photographs will whet your appetite before you go.
Outstanding Work.......2007-02-19
The photographs alone make this book a bargain. All the right courses are featured along with considerable coverage of those lesser known. For anyone considering a golf excursion to Ireland or Scotland this book will show you which courses to play and help with your planning. My thanks to Mr. Finegan.
Great Pictures.......2007-02-19
Mr. Finegan has produced another in his very successful series of books about the pleasures offered by the golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland. The text is of the same high quality as the photographs by Messrs. Lambrecht and Thompson. The result is an elegant book which stimulates happy memories for those that have played the courses and which should whet the appetites of those who have not.
Where Golf is Great.......2007-02-07
Very good coffee table book with numerous large photographs of the great golf courses of Scotland and Ireland, many of which are unique. Instead of using existing very recognizable stock photos, the author has composed photos of well known holes from some very interesting perspectives - that give new insights. The narative is equally strong and worthy. Where Golf is Great is well worth having as part of any golf library.
Golf is great.......2007-01-19
Golf is truly great and this book show you how beautiful golfcources can be by the most georgeous pictures I have ever seen. The book is huge and heavy, but the best cources in Scotland/Irland are mentioned. The reason for not getting 5 stars is that such a huge book should really have covered much more. There are just too few courses discribed. The one in it though are probably the best and if you have enough cash when travelling here you are ok.
Average customer rating:
- A beautiful pictoral guide to golf in Ireland
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Great Golf Courses of Ireland
John Redmond
Manufacturer: Gill & MacMillan, Ltd. (Ireland)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Where Golf is Great: The Finest Courses of Scotland and Ireland
ASIN: 071712875X |
Book Description
This ultimate tribute to the best of Irish golf includes updates on the 30 golf courses covered in its first 1992 edition, as well as comprehensive information on four of Ireland's top new courses, with superb, specially commissioned color photography of Ireland's best courses.
Customer Reviews:
A beautiful pictoral guide to golf in Ireland.......1998-05-20
This is a beautiful "coffee table" book, full of pictures and descriptions of the great golf courses throughout Ireland. The pictures give a good idea of what the courses are like, and the descriptions, although generally brief, are entertaining. It is the perfect book for anyone who has or is plannning a golf trip to Ireland. If only it were still in print...
Book Description
The ultimate guide to the best golf courses in Britain and Ireland.
Customer Reviews:
Classic golf links of England,Scotland,Wales and Ireland.......2000-06-04
A comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book devoted solely to the best 75 linksland style golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland, thoroughly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Golf Great Britain and Ireland: A Traveler's Guide to More
- An absolute must if you are planning your own UK golf trip
- A must-have for golfing travel to the British isles
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Golf Great Britain and Ireland
Contemporary
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0809223252 |
Book Description
From the famous Scottish links courses that play host to the British Open to the fine woodland courses near London, this is the definitive guide to more than 2,500 courses throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. It includes:
- What you need to know before arranging a golf vacation or business trip
- Complete descriptions of courses along with the latest details for visiting golfers on green fees, club and dining facilities, and nearby accommodations
- Special features on major championship courses and other courses that are historic or popular to play
- Easy-to-use maps and town directories
- A directory of driving ranges
Customer Reviews:
Golf Great Britain and Ireland: A Traveler's Guide to More.......2000-05-03
Excellent book for the traveler to visit the British Isles. Has helped me immeasurably in selecting the golf courses for my vacation trip. provides adequate description of surrounding areas including hotels and tips on making tee times. Could do a better job of describing courses that are not the top-notch courses. The top-tier courses are easy to distinguish by their descriptions, but the other 90% of the courses have no rating system.
An absolute must if you are planning your own UK golf trip.......1999-04-18
I found this book to be quite helpful. Travel agent should consider this book! Extremely accurate phone #'s and course information. Green fees varied somewhat from published fees. Looking forward to taking the trip I personally set up.
A must-have for golfing travel to the British isles.......1997-10-24
This book is invaluable. It gives all the details needed to plan and set up a golfing vacation to Great Britain. Golf reviews are short and to the point and quite reliable.
Book Description
With over 2800 courses and hundreds of hotels throughout Britain and Ireland, including a selection in holiday areas abroad, THE GOLF GUIDE the definitive resource for the golf-loving traveler. This fully revised and updated edition details the location, statistics and facilities no matter where you are. This complete guide includes golf tours and products sections as well as hundreds of hotels and other accommodation recommended to golfers by golfers. Choose your Company Day destinations. Plan your holiday, long weekend or outing. THE GOLF GUIDE includes maps, contact information, and an index, creating a quick and easy guide to plan your next tee time. Also includes an international golf section including France, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand, USA and Dubai.
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1000 Best Golf Courses in Britain and Ireland: Golf World
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Aa 2004 the Golf Course Guide (AA Lifestyle Guides)
Manufacturer: AA Publishing
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0749537434 |
Book Description
Packed with detailed information as well as color photos and maps, the AA Guides to Britain are the most complete and up-to-date guides to Britain's accommodations, golf courses, restaurants, and pubs. Visitors' details include hours, prices, directions, suitability for families, insider tips, and more.
Customer Reviews:
More of a picture book than a walking guide.......2007-09-09
This book is well-written, informative, and has wonderful photographs of the Cotswolds. That said, we were looking for a guide to hikes and walks in the area. While this book does discuss walks, it is not particularly useful for someone interested in a guide they can carry along on walks. It is much more of a coffee table book than anything else. Thus, if you're seeking a book to bring along on a vacation in the Cotswolds, this isn't it. If you want a souvenir book from a trip to the Cotswolds, this might be more appropriate.
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The AA Golf Course Guide 2005 (AA Golf Course Guide)
AA Publishing
Manufacturer: Aa Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0749542063 |
Book Description
Packed with detailed information and color photos, these are the most complete and up-to-date guides to Britain’s accommodations, golf courses, restaurants, and pubs. Visitors’ details include hours, prices, directions, suitability for families, insider tips, and more.
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Art, Music, and Writings from the Holocaust (The Holocaust)
Susan Willoughby
Manufacturer: Heinemann
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Art, Music and Writing from the Holocaust
Jane Shuter , and
Susan Willoughby
Manufacturer: Heinemann Library
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ASIN: 0431153701 |
Books:
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- Alaska Birds (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
- Alpine Flower Finder: The Key to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers Found Above Timberline
- An Unspoken Hunger: Stories from the Field
- Animal Tracks of the Rocky Mountains: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico
- Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History
- At the Mercy of the River: An Exploration of the Last African Wilderness
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