American Zoo

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Orangutans swing from Kevlar lined fire hoses Giraffes feast on celebratory birthday cakes topped with carrots instead of candles Hi tech dinosaur robots growl among steel trees, while owls watch animated cartoons on old television sets In American Zoo, sociologist David Grazian takes us on a safari through the contemporary zoo, alive with its many contradictions and strange wonders Trading in his tweed jacket for a zoo uniform and a pair of muddy work boots, Grazian introduces us to zookeepers and animal rights activists, parents and toddlers, and the other human primates that make up the zoo s social world He shows that in a major shift away from their unfortunate pasts, American zoos today emphasize naturalistic exhibits teeming with lush and immersive landscapes, breeding programs for endangered animals, and enrichment activities for their captive creatures In doing so, zoos blur the imaginary boundaries we regularly use to separate culture from nature, humans from animals, and civilization from the wild At the same time, zoos manage a wilderness of competing priorities animal care, education, scientific research, and recreation all while attempting to serve as centers for conservation in the wake of the current environmental and climate change crisis The world of the zoo reflects how we project our own prejudices and desires onto the animal kingdom, and invest nature with meaning and sentiment.A revealing portrayal of comic animals, delighted children, and feisty zookeepers, American Zoo is a remarkable close up exploration of a classic cultural attraction Best Read American Zoo [ by ] David Grazian [ Kindle ePUB or eBook ] – kino-fada.fr While not a weekend read, I enjoyed the deeper look at zoos the author provides Taking readers on a tour of the zoo from all angles from patrons to animals to keepers to those that support and criticize the institution David Grazian provided some interesting observations about the tightrope zoos must walk My husband is a zoo curator, so I found the behind the scenes stories particularly enlightening, even for one who has heard similar stories from her husband However, this is likely not a While not a weekend read, I enjoyed the deeper look at zoos the author provides Taking readers on a tour of the zoo from all angles from patrons to animals to keepers to those that support and criticize the institution David Grazian provided some interesting observations about the tightrope zoos must walk My husband is a zoo curator, so I found the behind the scenes stories particularly enlightening, even for one who has heard similar stories from her husband However, this is likely not a book for everyone, especially because of its length and academic point of view You can get the gist of Grazian s thesis by just reading the intro conclusion of each chapter...The Philadelphia Zoo has long been a part of my life I remember stampeding out of dad s 65 Tempest with my sister, racing ahead of mom and dad, elephant keys in hand, then laughing hysterically as dad impersonated the grunting of the walrus I remember mom s embarrassment as she pulled my sister and me away from the male kangaroo who was lounging in his enclosure, sprawled out like Burt Reynolds in that Cosmo centerfold, plea...First ever book to lay out what zoos are really all about The author gives you every aspect pro and con and fills the book with anecdotes that amuse and horrify, especially the ignorance of the public and the exploitation of zoo workers Up to date, thoughtful, insightful, thorough a very good book on the subject About the only gripe I have is the long wordy sentences full of repetition, over and over again listing animals, scenes, events, problems Dulled down the overall good clear writing First ever book to lay out what zoos are really all about The author gives you every aspect pro and con and fills the book with anecdotes that amuse and ...This was a bitacademic heavy than I was expecting, but it was still an enjoyable read Grazian did a good job of presenting all of the different viewpoints I wished he had talked a bitabout what the Association of ...Its a great look at understanding zoos, their importance, and the type of people who work in them And the fact that I m in the book doesn t hurt eitherThis was a well written ethnography that didn t repeat itself, which is hard to do when writing about field work Also as a hater of zoos since childhood, I can say this book challenged the way I think about zoos and our society s relationship to animals.I enjoyed this book, but it certainly was not a quick, easy read As another reviewer noted, this book is not for everyone due to it s length and academic point of view, but in general it is an honest portrayal of the zoo system that gives fair voice to both promoters and detractors.

American Zoo
  • English
  • 24 August 2018
  • Hardcover
  • 344 pages
  • 1400873614
  • David Grazian
  • American Zoo