Wild New World : The Epic Story of Animals and People in America
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3.8 • 33 Ratings
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- $22.99
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
In 1908, near Folsom, New Mexico, a cowboy discovered the remains of a herd of extinct giant bison. By examining flint points embedded in the bones, archeologists later determined that a band of humans had killed and butchered the animals 12,450 years ago. This discovery vastly expanded America's known human history but also revealed the long-standing danger Homo sapiens presented to the continent's evolutionary richness.
Distinguished scholar Dan Flores's ambitious history chronicles the epoch in which humans and animals have coexisted in the "wild new world" of North America-a place shaped both by its own grand evolutionary forces and by momentous arrivals from Asia, Africa, and Europe. With portraits of iconic creatures such as mammoths, horses, wolves, and bison, Flores describes the evolution and historical ecology of North America like never before.
In thrilling narrative style, informed by genomic science, evolutionary biology, and environmental history, Flores celebrates the astonishing bestiary that arose on our continent and introduces the complex human cultures and individuals who hastened its eradication, studied America's animals, and moved heaven and earth to rescue them. Eons in scope and continental in scale, Wild New World is a sweeping yet intimate Big History of the animal-human story in America.
Customer Reviews
Informative but self righteous
The author produced a wonderfully informative work on the natural history of North America, BUT… couldn’t resist sprinkling it with his own self righteous judgements, opinions, and commentary on historical actions, people, and political issues that are much more complex than represented in the book. After finishing, I learned a lot, but somewhat dislike the author.
Incredible words!
Amazing book but you should have let Dan read it, it would have ben sooo much better. This is the kind of book i would put on to fall asleep to but this guys voice bugs me too much to re listen to it:(
Challenging, Missing Dan’s Voice
I’ve listened to Dan on several podcasts, including MeatEater and The Joe Rogan Experience, and I’ve listened intently, drawn in by Dan’s passion for all things wild(ish) and natural(ish). This was a painful listen. The reader’s attempts at accents, and when not attempting accents, his natural speaking voice, reminded me of a wanna-be royal Englishman who disdains of all who are unworthy of his high status in society. Frankly, it was obnoxious, and it constantly drew me out of the story.
Reader notwithstanding, I gave it the old college try, and did manage to make it through to completion. I found it an interesting listen, that challenged my deeply held belief that it is not only acceptable, but desirable, to be an active participant in nature’s dance as a human predator. I’ll be chewing on those thoughts for some time. As with Coyote America, it adjusted the lens through which I see wildness. I appreciate that.
I can’t tell if it’s Dan’s writing, or the holier-than-thou reader’s inflections, but it came across as deeply accusatory, and almost despising of the human species. While I acknowledge our failures of the past where wildlife are concerned, I also recognize that we were ignorant, however willfully. But we are learning, and that seems worth more than a casual mention.
I will read any future books by Dan.