The Wolves of Isle Royale: A Broken Balance

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful introduction to the wolves and Isle Royale.......2004-09-03

This book provides an introduction to the wolves of Isle Royale. Peterson certainly knows the material, since he has led the island's wolf-moose study for decades. The book presents a mix of scientific findings, stories from the wolf-moose study, and Peterson's personal experiences and the island. It's well-written, though the mixture of these materials sometimes seems a bit random.

If your primary interest lies in the science of wolves, I'd read Durward Allen's Wolves of Minong instead. But for everyone else, this should be your first book on Isle Royale and the wolves.

The greatest strength of this book is its photographs. These include wildlife shots, pictures of study staff dissecting carcasses, landscapes of Isle Royale, and a few shots of Peterson and his family. The photographs, the color, and the paper the book is printed on are all top-notch.

Peterson argues that the wolf population may be in crisis. Fortunately, wolf numbers have turned around since he wrote this book. His concluding chapter, about whether we should reintroduce "non-native" wolves to Isle Royale if they died out naturally, is very thoughtful and thought-provoking.

Explore the Wolf-Moose dynamic on Isle Royale.......2002-05-01

If you've been to Isle Royale and want to know more about the wolves, then I highly recommend this book. Most visitors to Isle Royale hope to see a wolf, and most visitors leave the island disappointed. Isle Royale is the closest thing to a closed system to study a predator-prey relationship, and is the site of one of the longest running field studies. The book has some good stories about conducting research on Isle Royale, including the winter study when the research team are the only people in the park. It also provides some insight into how theories about the wolf-moose relationship are still evolving after years of research. It also discusses the challenges the researchers faced when the wolf population took a nosedive in the late 1980's, and ponders the question of what should be done if the wolves die out on IR. This book is several years old now, so if you're interested in more recent data, contact the IR Natural History Association [URL] to get the latest report.

Of wolves and moose ... and more.......2002-03-03

I've been interested in the moose and wolves of Isle Royale since visiting the island in the early 1990s. While I spotted plenty of moose (swimming in the lakes, jumping out of the bushes in front of us on the trail, etc.), the wolves remained hidden--a mystery.

Fortunately, Rolf Peterson writes brilliantly of the side of Isle Royale that many of us will never glimpse. Peterson's work switches easily between the science and the 'experience' of studying wolves in a remote setting. The book is chock full of interesting anectodes collected from Peterson's many seasons studying the island's flora and fauna. From landing a bush plane in a white-out to dragging moose carcasses through the woods, Peterson gives us an interesting look at the what being a field scientist might be like.

It's important to note that this book is not just about wolves. Indeed, so many environmental factors shape life on Isle Royale outside of its 'headlining' mammals (moose and wolves): from beaver to fox, from spruce to elder. Peterson does a great job of explaining how the changing environment (some human-induced, some not) has impacted the island's populations.

The book also has some excellent photographs, which illustrate not only the science, but also the beauty that is Isle Royale! Highly recommended.

It will have you wanting to read more,you can't put it down........1999-01-16

This book has every thing drama humor and just about trying to save a beautifal anamal.the author is a respected man of science and with that you get brilant writing and great photos of the wonderful canis lupis (wolf).So If you are a wolf person like me or just someone looking for a good read it's all in this book.

Average customer rating:

Outdated but an interesting piece of scientific history

The Wolves of Isle Royale
L. David Mech
Manufacturer: University Press of the Pacific
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1410202496

Book Description

Mech's landmark study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior. The author lived among them during the three-years of his research. Isle Royale is an isolated wilderness ecosystem which is perfect for scientific study. Dr. L. David Mech is the best-known and most highly regarded wolf researcher in the world. He works with the Biological Services Division, U.S. Geological Survey, and is also the author of several other books on wolves. He has studied wolves and their prey full-time since 1958, except for a four-year period when he studied radio-tracking. During this record-long career as a wolf biologist, he has published numerous books and articles; this book was originally published by the National Park Service in 1966.

"Mech is the foremost expert on wolves in this country, possibly in the world, hands down." - Smithsonian magazine.

Customer Reviews:

Outdated but an interesting piece of scientific history.......2007-10-14

David Mech is the "alpha male" of wolf scientists, and Isle Royale is one of the most important locations for the study of wolves. This book is essentially his doctoral dissertation, based on field research under Durward Allen in 1959-1961.

Both Mech and wolf research have come a long way since then. As a result, this book provides an interesting snapshot of how little leading scientists knew in the 1960s. Note to skeptics: science really does advance.

That's not to say that there are any big mistakes here, just that Mech often comments that he didn't know something and that future research needs to figure it out.

Of more lasting value, his appendix includes 71 summaries of wolf-moose interactions (successful and unsuccessful hunts) drawn directly from his field notes. These could be incorporated into any future study you like.

Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale Annual Report 1992-1993

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Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale Annual Report 1992-1993

Manufacturer: Michigan Technological University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HCS9MM

National Park Conundrums: The Wolves of Isle Royale

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly good for an unmodified dissertation

National Park Conundrums: The Wolves of Isle Royale
Gary L. Wockner
Manufacturer: B-Store Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0963136232

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good for an unmodified dissertation.......2007-09-07

This book is apparently a self-published dissertation, and Wockner did not see fit to make any changes to the dissertation before publishing it. Given these facts, I would have expected the worst. But the book is surprisingly good, and provides a very useful outsider account of wolf policy on Isle Royale, a counterpoint to the insider accounts of Rolf Peterson and others.

The book looks like a dissertation in many ways: too much literature review, too many direct quotes, and in the first half, writing that stays too close to its sources. I found the literature review on ecological thinking and the national parks helpful, but the review of postmodernism spent too much time on the theory and too little on applications. The main payoff from that review was to connect his argument to landscape theory, but that served more to establish his "bona fides" in his home discipline of geography than to push the overall argument forward.

The book falls into two halves: a theoretical part and an application to Isle Royale. That works well enough but if I were on his dissertation committee I would have recommended that he try to synthesize the two halves more effectively.

The real payoff from the book comes in the second half. Wockner has apparently read everything written on Isle Royale - - certainly, he's read everything that I know about, and I have a shelf full of books on the subject. He also conducted interviews with dozens of decision-makers in the National Park Service, the wolf-moose study, and a few informed outsiders. He has the fullest documentation of the wolf-policy decisions on the island, with information about decisions that Durward Allen, Rolf Peterson, and John Vucetich have not mentioned in their writings on the wolf-moose study.

Wockner also has the advantage of being an outsider to these discussions, unlike almost everyone else who has written on Isle Royale's wolves. As a result, he can describe their thinking from the outside, using analytical categories that they might not have developed themselves. He can also be critical when appropriate, or point out tensions and inconsistencies in their thinking.

All in all, this book is a must-read on the topic of wolf policy in Isle Royale.

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Wolf Country: A Mystery in Progress
Barbara Robbins
Manufacturer: Robbinspring
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0963006029

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The Wolves of Isle Royale
L. David Mech
Manufacturer: U.S. Dep't. of Interior
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NUO4CM

The Wolves of Isle Royale (Fauna Series 7, 7)

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The Wolves of Isle Royale (Fauna Series 7, 7)

Manufacturer: United States Government Printing Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HLYG7A

Product Description

Tells of the Wolves and other wildlife of Isle Royale National Park. Illustrated with many photographs. Paperback.

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THE WOLVES OF MINONG
Durward L Allen
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Wolves of Minong: Isle Royal's Wild Community (Ann Arbor Paperbacks)

Average customer rating:

An academic classic
This is a wonderful book!

Wolves of Minong: Isle Royal's Wild Community (Ann Arbor Paperbacks)
Durward L. Allen
Manufacturer: University of Michigan Press/Regional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Wolves of Isle Royale

ASIN: 047208237X

Book Description

A lively study of the relationship between predator and prey

Customer Reviews:

An academic classic.......2004-08-03

This is a great book if you are interested in the academic study of wolves. It can be a bit dry if you are not used to academic prose, though this didn't bother me (I'm an academic in a different field). Allen's text is enriched by extensive charts, figures, and BW photos. On the down side, he spends more time than I would like on non-wolf topics and on the logistics of the long-term wolf study on Isle Royale. I would also have liked more comparisons with wolves living elsewhere in North America as the Isle Royale environment has its peculiarities.
Criticisms aside, it's a very good book and I almost gave it five stars.

This is a wonderful book!.......2000-06-04

I read this book years ago when it was first published in hardcover. It was the best book on wolves I have ever read. The fact that it is scientifically accurate actually made it more readable, not the least bit dry or dull. The wolves are complex, intelligent creatures that you come to admire even more as you read about their elaborate social rituals. I am buying this book for the second time!

Ecological studies of the wolf on Isle Royale: ... annual report, covering the ... year in the Isle Royale studies

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Ecological studies of the wolf on Isle Royale: ... annual report, covering the ... year in the Isle Royale studies
Rolf Olin Peterson
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006XUKM4

Average customer rating:
Turkey Hunting Tactics of the Pros: Expert Advice to Help You Get a Gobbler This Season
Richard Combs
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Hunting | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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Secrets to Successful Turkey Hunting (Outdoor Classics Field Guide)

ASIN: 1585745537

Book Description

With chapters on every important aspect of turkey hunting, Turkey Hunting Tactics of the Pros is the complete guide to this fast-growing and challenging sport. Author Richard Combs interviews many well-respected experts in the filed; what he learns form them may surprise you, and will defintely help you when you head into the turkey woods this spring. Containing major chapters on turkey habits and behavior, both spring and fall; choosing gear, from shotguns and bows to camouflage; reading and interpreting turkey sign; how to set up on roosting birds; how to hunt birds that won't gobble; how to hunt toms that are with hens; how to deal with different weather conditions; how to effectively use diaphragm, box, slate and push/pull calls; and much, much more, this book is one that no serious turkey hunter should be without. It's all here-all the information you need to get started turkey hunting if you're a beginner, or improve your success rate if you've been hunting for a number of years without getting birds consistently. Written by expert turkey hunter Richard Combs, Turkey Hunting Tactics of the Pros is like no other book on the subject-because no other book has ever assembled so many experts in one place. (6 1/4 x 9 1/4, 208 pages, b&w photos)

Richard Combs, a field editor for Bowhunting World and Ohio Sportsman magazines, has written for many of the major outdoor publications. A dedicated outdoorsman with a passion for turkey hunting, this is his second book on the subject.

Book Description

Learning Modern Persian as easy as 1-2-3

With this book, Modern Persian is attainable for any beginning student. You can use Teach Yourself Modern Persian Complete Course at your own pace or as a supplement to formal courses. This complete course is based on the very latest learning methods and designed to be enjoyable and user-friendly.

Prepared by experts in the language, Teach Yourself Modern Persian begins with the basics and gradually promotes you to a level of smooth and confident communication, including:

Up-to-date, graded interactive dialogues
Graded units of culture notes, grammar, and exercises
Step-by-step guide to pronunciation
Practical vocabulary
Regular and irregular verb tables
Plenty of practice exercises and answers
Bilingual glossary

Package includes two 60-minute CDs and a book.

Customer Reviews:

Try Colloquial Persian or Introduction to Persian for a better course.......2007-08-31

The books in the Teach Yourself series are very uneven in quality. I just surfed through the amazing Teach Yourself Afrikaans, an excellen language course. This one, sadly, is far from good. Believe it or not, Persian is one of the easiest languages you'll come across, the grammar is exceptionally easy. For that reason, the lack of indepth grammar in this course is no big problem. A far bigger problem is the very weak pronunciation section. Persian is an easy language to pronounce once you learn the rules, but you won't with this course. The worst problem is the vocabulary, you'll learn very few words. Having read and reviewed hundreds of language courses at a professional level, I've encountered very few with such a limited vocabulary. So, almost no help with the pronunciation, not much grammar and a far too limited vocabulary. What do you really learn with this course. Not much, hence the low rating. There are many courses that are better, such as Colloquial Persian, An Introduction to Persian or Modern Persian. Any of those three books will teach you far more than this one.

this set comes with one book ( beware: it's the 2004 , 1. edition, only ! ), & two CD's each 60 minutes long........2007-04-21

Book is 256 pages; not counting the 30-pages introduction.
The book has altogether 47 pages of vocabulary. Lots of scripts and exercises.

If you're not too thorough and meticuosly about it, you might not bother about the 'Better Together. Buy Together... ' revised 2. editions book suggestion !
This Amazon product link: Teach Yourself: Modern Persian (Teach Yourself) in fact points to the book's second edition,(July 1, 2004, 266 pages long). It's the revised book, only - * no CD's * !

You should read this other review 'Decent, but could be a lot better, July 21, 2006 ' before you make up your mind, wether or not you actually need to have this set (with or without the revised 2. edition) ;; or if you in fact must have one of the many newer editions of this 'TY' set!

Decent, but could be a lot better.......2006-07-21

For the price, it's a good deal if you get the CDs. But like all TY books, it goes very quickly, especially the second half. And it really focuses on grammar. There is surprisingly little about Iran or Persian culture, there is no color anywhere (and uninteresting layout in general), the images used are terrible (couldn't they afford actual pictures?), and there are mistakes in every chapter, although they're generally pretty small and easy to see. On the other hand, there isn't exactly much competition.

Vocabulary is also an issue - sometimes they give you tons of vocab to help with the readings and exercises, other times barely any. And short vowel markings are inconsistent, which is a little confusing for the beginner.

Overall, it's an okay book, but could be a lot better.

Good addition to my class.......2006-03-15

this book has been a welcome addition to take to my Persian - Farsi class

Kudos!.......2006-01-29

This book's amazing. Frankly, all of the ''Teach Yourself's'' are the best as far as learning a language. Kudos for all of the teach yourself resources.

Teach Yourself Modern Persian (Teach Yourself Complete Courses)

Average customer rating:

words words everywhere just not the right words!
The original was better for most independent learners

Teach Yourself Modern Persian (Teach Yourself Complete Courses)
Narguess Farzad
Manufacturer: Teach Yourself Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0340802650

Book Description

Learning Modern Persian as easy as 1-2-3

Prepared by experts in the language, Teach Yourself Modern Persian begins with the basics and gradually promotes you to a level of smooth and confident communication, including:

Up-to-date, graded interactive dialogues
Graded units of culture notes, grammar, and exercises
Step-by-step guide to pronunciation
Practical vocabulary
Regular and irregular verb tables
Plenty of practice exercises and answers
Bilingual glossary

Customer Reviews:

words words everywhere just not the right words!.......2005-05-08

I am not new to Farsi and have been trying to learn it for atleast 5 years, i am getting good at it and am going to Iran this summer.
well, I picked up this book as a refresher and whilst Its one of the better Farsi books out there its NOT the best and I found a few things that are hampering when using this book.

for one, I ntoiced in the exercises in the sentences you need to translate often she uses words that HAVE NOT been introduced previously...not in the vocabulary or anything like that so its necessary to go to the inadequate dictionary in the back and try to find the word.

another thing is that again in the exercises often she will write, say something like "i have friends in Tehran" and then you need to translate it into Farsi. well, when you go to the answer key the answer would be "I have friends in Iran" or soemthing of this sort!!!
So there is quite a bit of disunity between the exercises, answer keys and words chosen to be used for the exercises.

It would of been far better if she'd of either put ALL the new words used in the vocabulary pages OR of not of used words she hasnt used before keeping things very simple.

all this is exceedingly frustrating...even for a non-newbie like me.

on the other hand I do like how she transcribes Farsi into English and I also like her formatte, what she introduces...its really good.

The original was better for most independent learners.......2004-05-28

Having started my study of Persian over 30 years ago with the original "Teach Yourself Modern Persian", by John Mace, first published in 1964 and reprinted numerous times since then, I was eager to compare this newly released book by Narguess Farzad with the original.

Unfortunately, while apparently more modern, the latest version will likely prove more difficult going for most people trying to learn Persian on their own. The original version featured a bit-by-bit approach, taking 36 pages to introduce the reader to the Arabic alphabet as used in Persian; this book merely provides two charts of the entire alphabet, one for tracing purposes, and then appends a bit over one page of exercises in combining the letters. After that, apparently, you're expected to have it down cold. The approach by Mace was certainly more user-friendly to readers with no background in the alphabet.

The book then proceeds at a quick pace; the vocabulary lists can be dauntingly long for learners, and transliteration is used sparingly, sometimes leaving any reader not fully accustomed to the Arabic script at a disadvantage in terms of proper pronunciation. In contrast, the original book by Mace included transliteration for all vocabulary items and example sentences. Farzad's order of presentation is a bit unusual; the present tense of verbs other than "to be" and "to have" is not presented until page 127, for example.

I am no longer as innocent of Persian as I was 30-odd years ago, but when I think back to my situation then as a total beginner, the original book by Mace strikes me as being much more suitable for someone working on his/her own to learn Persian. (It is still readily available through used-book channels.) I would thus recommend that people indeed looking for a "Teach Yourself" book for Persian get a copy of the original "Teach Yourself Modern Persian" by Mace, if possible, and then perhaps use the latest "Teach Yourself Modern Persian" by Farzad as a follow-up book to solidify the basics. Another useful book after getting the basics down is "An Introduction to Persian" by Wheeler Thackston, which would likely be fairly hard slogging for most true beginners.

Book Description

This book shows how Chinese calligraphy reveals the deeper meanings - mysterious or playful - found in the names of taijiquan movements.

Customer Reviews:

Great, as far as it goes.......2005-12-03

I would encourage English-speaking taiji students to learn the names of the movements, and to learn the Chinese names too. As the other reviewers have said, this book does a great job of presenting the Chinese and English names in all their glorious ambiguity.
It's definitely worth having, in fact really fills a need. I'm grateful for it, but there was so much more that could have been done.

Unfortunately, the author never mentions, and show no awareness of, the fact that taiji has a history, and at least 5 distinct major schools, and martial origins, even a martial aspect if you get the opportunity to learn a fairly complete version of the art.

All of the movements presented are from the Yang style; it would have been nice to have common movements from other styles, such as Lazy About Tying Clothes or Cannon Fist, included.

A more serious criticism is that the author, seeking meaning in the movements or in their names, feels absolutely free to make up those meanings by free association, with no reference whatsoever to what the people who gave the names to the movements may have had in mind. The names of taiji movements can be prosaic and descriptive (turn body, chop and block); or may be poetic, like Fair Lady Works at the Shuttles; can refer to mythical or real animals (White Crane Cools its Wings, Carry Tiger to Mountain). Some of them are mistakes made by illiterate martial artists.

If you know that the "Sea Bottom" is the perineum, or that Tiger refers to the torso, that sheds some light on the applications of Pick Up Needle at Sea Bottom or Embrace Tiger, or Strike Tiger.

Many of the names, if you understand what was meant, not just the literal translation, tell you something about the martial application of the movement; in some cases they may say something else about the philosophical associations. Every name was originally given for some reason. It's nice to know what the characters are for Grasp Bird's Tail or Step Back and Repulse Monkey, but it really doesn't tell you a thing about what meaning was originally intended.

I don't really see why movements would have meanings anyway. What they do have is purpose, mostly martial purposes, since this is a martial art. The names do have meanings, but we haven't gotten to any of those meanings here, just to the most superficial layers of meaning. Still, it's nice to have this much, and as far as it goes, it's very well done.

A must for Taiji students and teachers alike.......2001-01-26

As a teacher of Taiji I often find my beginners classes full of people who have no other Martial Arts experience nor even take any other form of exercise - making the teaching of the complex movements and concepts of Taiji quite a challenge! One of my teaching tricks has been to have the pupils come up for their own descriptive names for the movements which, while useful and indeed entertaining, does result in some of the flavor and meaning being lost. This book, with it's breakdown and explanation of the elements of the Chinese characters, will allow teachers and pupils alike to understand the meanings of the names and their inferred movement concepts while still allowing the reader to use his/her creative imagination to reach a deeper level of understanding and retention. And as if that's not enough, it's an entertaining read. A winner!

Adding more value to your Taijiquan lessons. Great Book!.......1999-12-05

This great book gives a lot of valuable background information about the meaning of the Taiji movements. It adds much to taijiquan lessons thanks to its light-hearted look. Much too often taijiquan practitioners do not exactly know what the movements mean they practice. Diving into a Chinese dictionary is not easy either. My Chinese teacher explained a lot, but language often was some sort of a barrier. Thanks to Jane Schorre's book this barrier has gone. Further the book contains beautiful calligraphy by Marget Chang in a large size. I like the structure of the book; left side calligraphy, right side explanation. This book is a must for every taijiquan practitioner no matter the style.

Increase your knowledge of taijiquan and enjoy it!.......1999-02-16

It is not absolutely necessary to understand the origins and meanings of the movement names in taijiquan. But it sure is fun! This book scratches an itch. It informs without boring. It is added insight for the student of taijiquan, but it tickles as it goes down.

often amusing, completely fascinating, and very informative.......1998-12-12

It's sometimes difficult to understand why certain names have been used for some movements. To explain using just plain definitions and lecture would have been just plain boring. The author's approach is instead playful and enjoyable. A book of serious information, but presented with a wonderful sense of humor and in the spirit of tai chi.

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