Conversations with a Pocket Gopher

Jack Schaefer, better known for his popular novel 'Shane' has written widely on the American West and natural history. In this wonderful collection of articles written originally for Audubon Magazine, Schaefer dialogues with a number of different animals, giving them a voice for us to hear what their points of view might be on environmental and other issues. The blurb on the back of the book says it best: "These are not children's tales, but rather weighty discussions with animals whose world we share. In these conversations with gopher, kangaroo rat, shrew, bat, puma and jaguar, Schaefer (author of "Shane") has elicited dialogue with these animals and brings their fears, frustrations and philosophies to light. Land rights, for example, becomes a hot issue for the pocket gopher. In another conversation, Schaeer sat alongside a shrew while it lunched on a locust larva and complained bitterly about Aristotle. The author cautions us, 'Reading this book may be dangerous to your peace of mind.'" Schaefer describes how he came to be able to talk with animals, emphasizing that listening is the only "trick" there is to learning what our animal friends have to tell us. The dialogues are well-written and thought-provoking, funny at times, and often also quite moving. After finishing this book, one can only agree with Schafefer that it is a shame so few of us bother to listen to the perspectives of animals. What more pressing time to do so could there be than now? Reading this book is a great beginning. An attractive publication, nicely illustrated by Irene Brady. All naturalists and nature lovers will find this captivating reading. Recommended.