Natural History of Parenting, A: From Emperor Penguins to Reluctant Ewes, a Naturalist Looks at Parenting in the Animal World and Ours

Amazon.com

One of the important points in Susan Allport's A Natural History of Parenting is made in the subtitle: ... A Naturalist Looks at How Parenting differs [emphasis added] in the Animal World and Ours. Everyone admits that not all adult humans are alike, and anyone with more than one child knows that not all babies are alike. Allport recognizes that not all sheep or puffins are alike, either. Her survey of the variability and stresses of parenting across the animal kingdom proves that seeing biological factors in human behavior doesn't mean seeing only one correct and natural way to raise children.

Book Description

"We humans parent our young longer than any other animal on earth. For us, parenting is such an essential part of reproduction that we tend to think of parenting as an essential part of all reproduction. . . . Most creatures living on the earth today do not bother with such things at all. Beyond producing good-sized eggs and finding, perhaps, a suitable spot to lay them, most animal parents never give their young any kind of care. They never even see their young. And were they to see them, they would be much more inclined to eat them than to offer them food, protection, or guidance."

In A Natural History of Parenting,Susan Allport, a naturalist and science writer, explores the exciting and often startling dynamics of maternal and paternal behavior among the species.

When one of the ewes Allport was raising refused to mother her new lamb, she was forced to reconsider many of her preconceptions about the world of parenting. She  began to explore the roots of parental instincts across the broad spectrum of the animal kingdoms. In A Natural History of Parenting, she examines the awesome diversity of nature to reveal what we share with insects, birds, and other animals, and, just as important, how we differ from them.

Allport's study takes the reader from caves in Texas filled with twenty million bats to huge tanks of beluga whales at the New York Aquarium, from the icy reaches of East Greenland where Arctic wolves raise their young to ant nests where huge labor pools have led to primitive infant care. Along the way, she gathers research on myriad creatures--beavers and wasps, birds and elephants, frogs and humans--to show us a magnificent variety of parental behavior among species, from a male emperor penguin forgoing nourishment to spend weeks protecting an egg balanced on the top of his feet to the manifestations of the human female's "nesting instinct.

Susan Allport is the best kind of science writer--knowledgeable, inquisitive, and entertaining. This invaluable book will ensure that you never again think in the same way of how and why we nurture our young.

"Susan Allport tackles a complex subject head on with penetrating analysis. Her acute observations, introspection, and logical conclusions capture the essence of the whole spectrum of understanding parenting, and make major contributions to the delicate art of rearing children. Allport has given parenting a fresh and exciting direction. The next century will need just such courageous and responsive attention to the underpinnings of the human society. "
--Kenneth A. Chambers, zoologist at the American Museum of Natural History and author of A Country Lover's Guide to Wildlife

Customer Reviews:

Parenting in perspective.......2000-06-26

What a remarkable book! Ms. Allport has all of her science together and presents it in a way that rivets the reader to the last page. I read this book, pausing to see the conceptual basis for so many of our concepts an actions as parents and as a society, and was sorry it was over.

A Natural History of Parenting: A Naturalist Looks at Parenting in the Animal World and Ours

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Intriguing look into both parenting and nature
We are animals too!
Chock full of fun facts--great gift for new parents
Great book! Annoyed all my friends telling them about it!

A Natural History of Parenting: A Naturalist Looks at Parenting in the Animal World and Ours
Susan Allport
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595271308

Book Description

Anyone who has ever held a baby or observed a nesting bird will find much to inform and entertain in this enchantingly written and thoroughly researched book. Allport revels in the marvelous diversity of care in the animal world. And she shows us our place in that world with great humor, knowledge, and common sense.

Customer Reviews:

Intriguing look into both parenting and nature.......2004-11-04

Naturalist Susan Allport takes a look at parenting in all animals, humans included, from a genetic evolutionary perspective. She discusses the different strategies animals have for choosing a mate, choosing a nest, hatching eggs versus bearing live young, and rearing their young. With every stage of exploration, she includes a discussion of how humans fit into this complex world.
The Good and the Bad:
This was a very good book, and I'm considering it as a present for parents I know.
One of the nice things about this book is that Allport manages to insert her own experiences into the book without seeming egotistical. I'm not sure whether women have a special talent for this, or whether my own male ego is offended by the intrusions of other male egos into my reading material, but I definitely notice a gender trend with regards to that quality of nature writing.
Allport manages to touch on a lot of interesting material in detail, with only a slight tendency towards dryness. She mixes in a good amount of interesting examples with her discussion of selfish gene theories. In my option, though, she may not have had to take us through the evolution of scientific thinking, and I would have rather had the information confined to what we think now. The sole exception to this reservation is when she is talking about how a flawed scientific study was the basis for a revolution in birthing practices in hospitals in England and around the world.
What I learned:
So much information was crammed into this book that it's too much to provide all of the examples that are interesting. But a few standouts include: almost every aspect of parenting behavior has the purpose of reproducing the genes of the parent, whether this means selfless devotion to the young, or the abandonment of an offspring, to that offspring's fatal detriment. This is true both of behavior and physiology. Humans have evolved to give "premature" birth to an undeveloped baby with an amazing capacity for development and learning.

We are animals too!.......2001-02-18

This fun insightful book began with the author's seemingly simply query based on something she witnessed on her own farm: Why did a ewe walk away from the lamb she had just given birth to? More importantly, why did the author expect that the ewe should have a mothering instinct and that it was wrong/bad for her to walk away? From here, she examines the behaviors of males and females in various species. The book illuminates gender roles and their origins in an evolutionary scheme, but also asks interesting questions like: isn't crying a problematic adaptation for primate and human babies, since it would draw predators near? (Answer: that is why apes sleep in groups, and in trees). When human parenting has got you down, sleepless, or just plain confused, this book will inform and amuse you, and remind you that we, too, are animals, and that some of our behavior is better understood in that way.

Chock full of fun facts--great gift for new parents.......2000-05-01

This is an incredibly fun read if you enjoy natural history. It is filled with info such as why male breasts do not produce milk, or how bats nurse upside down, why wolf milk is high fat, or why some ewes abandon lambs. It is also an excellent intro to the often radical ideas of Robert Trivers, an incredible story in his own right and about whom some book ought to be written. For example, in some primate groups alpha females have more female children than males--why?

Doesn't have much about human parenting and often avoid tough questions and issues (do alpha female humans also have more female children, and if it is natural for young inexperienced ewes to abandon their young, what about teen moms?). It veers away from anything controversial--teenage pregnancy,for example, and why we really should nurse human babies on demand-- it just offers up the science, bare, fun, sweet, and as harmlessly as possible.

You're left feeling a bit off--are there lessons to be learned or not, I want to know. The implications remain un-explored. That perhaps is a future book.

Still, great fun. Really a great gift for new parents.

Great book! Annoyed all my friends telling them about it!.......1999-03-26

This is a great book for people who like to look at nature or who are or will be parents. I learned so much about animal parents and their relationship with their offspring. It will make you reflect upon the behaviors of humans to their children. It is a great read, you will learn why ducklings follow the first thing they see upon hatching to how the percentage of milkfat in breastmilk will tell you how an animal parents.

NATURAL HISTORY OF PARENTING, A. From Emperor Penguins to Reluctant Ewes, a Naturalist Looks at Parenting in the Animal World and Ours.

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NATURAL HISTORY OF PARENTING, A. From Emperor Penguins to Reluctant Ewes, a Naturalist Looks at Parenting in the Animal World and Ours.
Susan. Allport
Manufacturer: Souvenir Press Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORWQW4

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Lefty Kreh's Presenting the Fly: A Practical Guide to the Most Important Element of Fly Fishing
Lefty Kreh
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guides | Fly Fishing | Fishing | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
General | Fishing | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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Fishing Knots: Proven to Work for Light Tackle and Fly Fishing with DVD

Longer Fly Casting

Advanced Fly Casting

Lefty Kreh's Longer Fly Casting, New and Revised: The Compact, Practical Handbook That Will Add Ten Feet--Or More--To Your Cast

ASIN: 1592289746

Book Description

A fly-fishing master teaches the intricate art of properly presenting a fly, with over 100 photographs and line drawings.

Presenting The Fly: A Practical Guide to the Most Important Element of Fly Fishing

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2nd Printing? Alas! No color plates/pictures.
Indispensable
Everything you'll need to fish-except the rod and reel!
Should be in every fly fisher's library.
an excellent compilation of Kreh's observations.

Presenting The Fly: A Practical Guide to the Most Important Element of Fly Fishing
Lefty Kreh
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1558217886

Book Description

A fly-fishing master teaches the intricate art of properly presenting a fly, with over 100 photographs and line drawings.

Amazon.com

One of fishing's wisest of sages, the indomitable Lefty Kreh, has so authoritatively condensed his art down to science--without losing the art--that when he begins this expansive volume on how to get the fly to the fish with "Some Guidelines for Presentation" he doesn't bother rounding off his list to a falsely neat and packageable 50 guidelines. Kreh deems there to be just 47, so 47 there are. Some are obvious--"Always approach the fish as quietly as possible before you cast"; "If you can see your line in flight, you can make a more accurate cast"; "Never cast farther than is comfortable for you"--while others are quite specific: "Always approach a single fish, or school of fish, from upwind"; "After you dress a dry fly, be sure to remove any oil before you make your next cast"; "When you fish extremely clear waters, switch from bucktail and natural-hair streamer flies to those made from the more transparent synthetic wing materials." The rest of the book riffs on the guidelines in depth, the first half focusing on elements like casting, retrieving, tackle, and wading; the second on how to catch specific species, all with essential illustrations.

This is an absolutely essential and practical guidebook, a how-to for every level of experience. Kreh's talent is his knack for thinking about fishing in a thorough, nuts-and-bolts way; he leaves the more poetic meditations to colleagues like John Gierach, Paul Schullery, and Nick Lyons. The beauty of angling literature, of course, is that there's enough room in the river for both camps, but if you sign up for Lefty's, you're guaranteed to catch more fish. --Jeff Silverman

Customer Reviews:

2nd Printing? Alas! No color plates/pictures........2003-04-26

As ever, Lefty Kreh's works are well worth adding to your fishing library. I first discovered this book in my local library, read it, and knew I had to have my own copy. Amazon showed it no longer available new, but soon to be reissued, so I ordered it and eagerly awaited the arrival. Ahhh - it arrived. The info was all there, the techniques the tips, the recipes - great! Unfortunately, no mention was made in the ad copy that this was to be an all black and white (inside) edition. Too bad - it detracts from the work, especially when Kreh refers in the text to pictures of flies for color suggestions for the tie.
While I am happy to finally have the book, and will keep it handy, I am disappointed the publisher went "on the cheap" to get the book back on the shelves. My hope is that Kreh wasn't informed of the change, rather than him giving it the "OK."

Indispensable.......2003-04-03

What more can be said about Lefty Kreh that hasn't already been written? Regardless of the number of years that you've been casting the long rod, be it in freshwater or in the salt, this book will open your eyes to many unspoken rules and ideas that can truly increase your success as a fly fisherman. It's by far the best [money] I've ever spent for a fly fishing book, and I have quite a library. It's been said countless times before, I'm sure, but this is one book that you should own, written by the man that is arguably the best source of fly fishing wisdom in the last 100 years.

Everything you'll need to fish-except the rod and reel!.......2001-01-19

Whether you've been fly-fishing five minutes or fifty years, you can learn something from Lefty Kreh. And thank God, he's willing to teach. Primarily that's what this book is all about, teaching. Kreh sets out in clear, straight forward prose, the lessons he has learned from a lifetime on the water. Literally everything is in here. Questions as diverse as how to cast and what clothing to wear are covered. As is proper wading technique, knots and leaders, tackle selection, and more, all to introduce the concept of presnting the fly to the fish, because that's really what it's all about. What it boils down to is this, you buy this book and apply the lessons it contains and you will be a better fisherman. Period.

Should be in every fly fisher's library........1999-11-03

As I looked through a friends copy of Lefty Kreh's PRESENTING THE FLY I said "gee, I don't need this book, I already know a lot of this stuff." You see I've been fly fishing for almost 30 years and 30 years of frustration, trial and error and lost fish taught me much of what I found in this book. I realized that all I need is another 30 years of frustration, trial and error and lost fish and I'll probably figure out the rest of it as well. Then I came to my senses and bought the book, you should too. If I only had one book on fly fishing this would be it. I wish I had it 30 years ago. I imagine a lot of fish are glad I didn't.

an excellent compilation of Kreh's observations........1999-09-24

Lefty has probably forgot more about the sport of flyfishing than his peers will ever know. The book is a masterful compilation of a life of on-the-water experience, and is a critically valuable source for the angler looking to improve.

Book Description

The Hawaiian Dictionary, by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel Elbert, has for many years been the standard work of reference for the Hawaiian language. Based on frequency of usage and cultural importance, 10,800 entries, from the 41,500 in the revised and enlarged edition of 1986, have been selected for inclusion in the New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary.

In a compact and portable format, this dictionary up-dates scientific and common names of plants and animals; Hawaiian equivalents of given names; words borrowed from other languages; numbering and counting; practical phrases, and much more. The chapter on grammar, explained in nontechnical terms, includes a pronunciation guide.

This convenient book will be appreciated by residents, visitors, and beginning students of Hawaiian alike.

Customer Reviews:

great on the inside.......2007-08-24

I have the first print of this book and I thought the cover color and layout was better. The content is still the same and that mattered the most.

Valuable reference.......2007-05-23

Have owned this book for several years. Comes in handy for all manner of translation

new pocket Hawaiian Dictionary.......2005-09-26

This is an easy cross reference book. This book was part of the selection of books at a home we stayed at on the Bid Island, and I was happy to find it on Amazon. I am having fun with it.

A great little resource........2002-07-30

This book has around 11,000 words with adequate definitions.

I like the fact that the people that compiled this dictionary included names and even a guide to assist in pronounciation.

This nook is not an exhaustive researh on the Hawaiian language; but will greatly assist in research; Two Bears.

Aloha nui loa (I love you very much).

makamae.......2002-04-29

this little book is a hidden treasure!I know,for I spent most of my life growing up in the islands.
hawaii is a place unique in the sense that the spirit and the beauty can actually be captured by the words in the language...I highly recomend these priceless pages of fun and enjoyment.if for no other reason than to learn a new word to describe something...the languageis sweet,the words simple,and "the new pocket hawiian dictionary"no ka oi! mahalo to the authors!!!!

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More than you expect!
Excellent Writing Reference....
I like one book.....
Great for finding out the real truth about "Hawaiian names"
Well written, researched and laid out

Hawaiian Names--English Names
Eileen M. Root
Manufacturer: Booklines Hawaii Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0916630625

Product Description

Today most people choose a name because "it sounds nice". In ancient Hawaii, and indeed in most traditional societies a name involved more than its sound. A name (inoa) was a possession, an influence for good or evil and perhaps a part of a societies history. Ones inoa was a precious personal possession and also a force in its own right. Although a person possessed his or her name, he or she was also possessed by the name. Once spoken, the inoa assumed a mystical existence and the power to help or harm the bearer. And, so went the belief, the more a name was spoken, the more powerful it came, and the more powerful the influence - good or evil.

Customer Reviews:

More than you expect!.......2005-09-16

I bought this book with the intention of naming our firstborn with a Hawaiian middle name to pay homage to his roots. Da book delivered and then some! The book has many, many Hawaiian names to read through, along with short (and generally flattering) definitions. It also talks about the roots to MANY non-Hawaiian names, which was an addition that I didn't expect - very cool! Finally, the book was well thought out - not thrown together by some company to make a buck, but written by a local who obviously cared about the result.

Excellent Writing Reference...........2003-07-07

Eileen Root's book on Hawaii'an and English names is an excellent reference for writers and for those who are looking for names for their children. The first half is a list of Hawaii'an names and their definitions. The second half is a list of Anglo names and their Hawaii'an equivalent.

This is a must have for those interested in finding authentic Hawaii'an names for your research.

I like one book............2003-04-11

This is a great little book to have if you need to look up Hawaiian names or refresh your memory of the Hawaiian language. I find it very enjoyable to browse and I am very happy to have it in my library. Never a disappointment.......

Great for finding out the real truth about "Hawaiian names".......2003-03-27

I first found this book years ago (sadly, I need another copy!) when I was visiting Hawaii and was well, rather shocked to find out that my Hawaiian name, Kinipela, translated into "a mound of decomposing flesh!" I like how the author does her best to correct things like this and find names based on their meanings and what words may correspond to that in Hawaiian. Definitely a book to read before you get into "Hawaiian names!"

Well written, researched and laid out.......2001-01-20

I found this book to be exceptional not only for its namelists but also in selecting the appropriate intonation for the prospective name, something that not too many books can lend aid in a clear and concise manner. I am Hawaiian (although many years removed from the island and culture) and found the explanations thought provoking and meaningful. The author is to be commended on her excellent interpretation not only of the names but in her understanding of the aloha spirit which she conveys so well.

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Important Hawaiian place names
Robert Boom
Manufacturer: Robert Boom Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Place Names of Hawaii, and Supplement to the Third Edition of the Hawaiian-English Dictionary.

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Place Names of Hawaii, and Supplement to the Third Edition of the Hawaiian-English Dictionary.
Mary Kawena and Samuel H. Elbert. Pukui
Manufacturer: Univ. of Hawaii Pr.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Geography | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000NDMVXI

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Hawaiianized English given names
David J Kittelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000712XSO

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Place names of Hawaii and Supplement to the third edition of the Hawaiian-English dictionary,
Mary Kawena Pukui
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Say it as it is!: Learn to speak Hawaiian, plus Island pidgin and hanai words : authentic easy pronunciations

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A language book with culture

Say it as it is!: Learn to speak Hawaiian, plus Island pidgin and hanai words : authentic easy pronunciations
MeneHune
Manufacturer: Hawaiian Isles Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

A language book with culture.......2005-07-04

When people think of Hawaii, they might picture sandy beaches, lush wilds, hula girls, and red hot magma spitting from a volcano. This little gem of a book is another addition to the imagery of the state of Hawaii, but prepares the visitor, potential resident, and interested reader by introducing pieces of a cultural world that he or she may encounter or overlook during a stay. While the main focus of the book is to provide the reader with names and phrases for the many facets of Hawaiian life, it also provides an introduction to the religion, wildlife, and history of its people. Chocked full of culture and loaded with illustrations, one can learn a little about Hawaiian culture and history on every page.

Book Description

Emerging in Spain after 1250, Jewish narrative figurative painting became a central feature in a group of illuminated Passover Haggadot in the early decades of the fourteenth century. Illuminated Haggadot from Medieval Spain describes how the Sephardic Haggadot reflect different visualizations of scripture under various conditions and aimed at a variety of audiences. Though the specifics of the creation of these works remain a mystery, this book delves into the cultural struggles that existed during this period in history and shows how those conflicts influenced the work.

Customer Reviews:

THE book on this unique style.......2007-05-30

If you are researching illumination of Spanish Codex and manuscripts this is the book to have. There are only two books written in English that cover this unique style; the other book on Spanish medieval illumination is: Early Spanish Manuscript Illumination. The quantity and quality of the pictures in "The Illuminated Manuscripts..." make the price worth it. Spanish 10-11th century illumination is quite separate and unique from the rest of Europe using lively imagery, repeating patterns and vivid color combinations. This book captures the spirit of Spanish medieval artwork and shows the world the finest examples of this form.

Spanish illumination..........2002-09-10

The quality of the reproductions in this book alone is worth the price tag. The fact that this book is in English (much of the material on this subject is not) makes it a valuable resource as well. Mireille Mentre is one of the leading students of Spanish medieval manuscripts, and this book surveys the most important pre-Romanesque (mozarabic) examples. This is a somewhat conventional art-historical analysis, as Mentre traces the development of the mozarabic style through numerous examples. The chapters are as follows:
1. Context and characteristics of mozarabic painting
2. Foundations and development of a distinctive style
3. The role and function of painting and illumination
4. Design and pictorial treatment
5. Painting and spirituality

There are also appendices listing principal mozarabic manuscripts and dated manuscripts, as well as an extensive bibliography about the subject.

thorough without overdoing it.......1998-08-04

This is the book to start your adventures in Medieval Spanish illumination. This looks at the influences of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic art - the fact that the majority of the plates are in color can only add to the value of the very reasonable price.

Highly recommended for anyone engaged in reproduction of this style of art. Beautiful rendition of the colors of the original MSS.

extremely thorough.......1998-06-15

The fantastic pictures of the manuscripts alone are worth the pricetag on this book. But don't buy it for that reason alone. Mireille Mentre has managed to strike an impressive balance between descriptive text, academic discussion, and outstanding photography. While the organization of the book as a whole suffers slightly from what appears to be the publication of parts of an excellent doctoral dissertation, anyone interested in the history of medieval Spanish illumination (especially members of organizations like the Society for Creative Anachronism) would do well to add this text to their library.

Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Spain

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Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Spain
Mireille Mentre
Manufacturer: Thames and Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MY52U2

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Illuminated Manuscripts Medieval Spain
Mireille Mentre
Manufacturer: W W NORTON & CO @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N64VYW

The Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Spain

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The Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Spain
Mireille Mentre
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MYBWRE

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