... luminous ... In this superbly articulate cri de coeur, Safina gives us a new way of looking at the natural world that is radically different from our usual anthropocentric perspective. Becoming Wild demands that we wake up and realize that we are intrinsically linked to our other-than-human neighbors ... Safina helps us see the profound impact caused by the destruction of other species and their habitats, the inability to live in harmony with one another, and the demonization of environmental scientists battling to preserve our Earth’s delicate balance.
... living among the animals, in their world, Safina and the field scientists he visits show us something else, something too often overlooked in research and in conservation: who the animals are, and how they live...More compelling than facts about species are tales of individuals — characters, with personality — living among peers or kin. So it’s the stories of Safina’s days with these animals that move us ... The ideal way to observe animals is to see them through the words of others, frankly — which is what Safina lets us do.
... fascinating discussions ... It is also about giving the reader a sense of being near these creatures and experiencing some of the most seductive environments on Earth ... Mr. Safina tagged along with various researchers, exploring the lives of each of the species he highlights, and he incorporates these scientists into each narrative, while never losing his focus on the creatures in question ... If you haven’t yet been treated to the detailed accounts of chimpanzee behavior on offer from Christophe Boesch, Frans de Waal, Craig Stanford and Jane Goodall—or even if you have—you’ll be captivated by these sections ... Mr. Safina’s prose achieves the elusive goal of being both informative and luminously evocative...As well as the author’s poetry ... A reviewer’s job is to provide perspective on a given book. Normally, as I read, I do so with an eye toward my own perceptions and opinions; only rarely do I find myself so swallowed up by a text that I realize I’ve forgotten to take notes. Becoming Wild made me forget myself, more than once. At a moment when so many of us have been stuck inside, watching the walls, what better therapy than to visit the deep ocean, the upper Amazon and a central African forest, sharing the lives of their denizens with a superb guide?
Combining the knowledge of a seasoned scientist with the skills of a good storyteller, Safina invites us to leave our cultural worlds and enter animals' ones to see just how they work ... I wanted to burst with exasperation over Safina's moral judging of chimpanzees. Slowly though, I came to see that once again — as in the macaw section — Safina offers a rare gift, an opportunity to look over his shoulder as he experiences a shifting understanding.
Safina brings his considerable expertise to his research, and it’s clear he doesn’t leave his heart at home ... full of such rich observations, as well as many others by scientists who recognize their own humanity in the animals they study ... offers readers a window into the complex and curious lives of the three species it depicts and invites humans to observe the beauty and joy of each species’s nuances.
Becoming Wild teems with communication of all kinds, with complex, empathetic creatures solving the problems of their worlds ... Safina imparts a naturalist’s sense of unending wonder ... He also returns to the idea that humans are not the center of the universe. He recognizes that this makes some people uncomfortable. Among its many virtues, Becoming Wild eases such discomfort. It takes the concerns of Safina’s incredibly moving 2015 book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel, and puts more faces on its common-sense revelations.
Becoming Wild teems with communication of all kinds, with complex, empathetic creatures solving the problems of their worlds ... Safina imparts a naturalist’s sense of unending wonder ... He also returns to the idea that humans are not the center of the universe. He recognizes that this makes some people uncomfortable. Among its many virtues, Becoming Wild eases such discomfort. It takes the concerns of Safina’s incredibly moving 2015 book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel, and puts more faces on its common-sense revelations.
Safina’s frank conversations with experts and wonderfully descriptive writing from the field places readers right in the action. However, he also sometimes rephrases similar points and poses questions for thought, musing until readers lose an understanding of the initial thesis ... Though wide ranging at times, this work should interest fans of Safina and general readers seeking to learn more about animal behavior.
... involving, even addictive ... Safina writes with awe and wonder of what he observed and learned from the cultures of these remarkable animals, making us reconsider our sense of uniqueness.
... compelling ... Most books on natural history include pleas for preservation of the wild, and Safina’s is no exception. Sadly, none of his subjects are thriving, and few readers will doubt that these magnificent creatures need urgent attention ... Enthralling accounts of three animals that lead complex social lives and deserve to continue living.
... [an] eloquent treatise ... The text, written in an accessible style, is rich in similarly fascinating zoological tidbits. This revelatory work sheds as much light on what it means to be human as it does on the nature of other species.
