Ocean State Libraries

"Ludo is a dog--Simon Garfield's beloved black Labrador retriever, one of millions of canines who have become integral parts of our lives. But how did the humble dog become top dog? How did these faithful animals come to assist us not only in hunting, but in bomb disposal and cancer detection--and ultimately become our closest companions? Dog's Best Friend examines how this bond developed over the centuries, and how it has transformed countless lives,...

"Of all the animals on the planet, dogs have the widest range of roles in our daily lives. They're protectors, helpers, lifesavers--but most of all, they're family. And they've taken a fascinating journey to get to this point. Long ago, early wolves evolved from fierce predators into trusted partners. They became dogs! While we know dogs to be lovable and full of personality, they have also historically improved our lives in many practical ways, like...

"Horses and humans share an ancient, profoundly complex relationship. Once our most indispensable companions, horses were for millennia essential in helping build our cities, farms, and industries. But during the twentieth century, in an increasingly mechanized society, they began to disappear from human history. In this esoteric and rich tribute, [the author] chronicles the dramatic story of this most spectacular creature, thoroughly examining how...

Chronicles the rivalry between the human and insect worlds that draws on myriad disciplines to explain the varying roles that bugs have played in building and toppling empires as well as the bug stories behind infamous disasters.

Explores the connection between dogs and humans from hunter-gatherer partners to modern day pets, focusing on how humans have influenced dogs' evolution and raising new questions about the species' shared future.

"The author traces a group of ideas about elephants in the West - that they are wise, deeply emotional, have a special understanding of death, have great memories, and are afraid of mice - to paint a general picture of what he calls "our elephant," the idea of the elephant that has been part of our thinking for millennia. The book is an intellectual and cultural history of the elephant that uses a broad range of published sources along with traditional...

The 50 animals include the horse, dog, rat, whale, reindeer, beaver, flea, leech, dodo, falcon, oyster and shark. These creatures, great and small, have played central roles in the evolution of humankind, but they have remained at the periphery of our understanding of history. Whether it is an advancement in scientific knowledge, a trade war, disease and death, battles won and lost, or encounters with explorers in unknown lands, these animals have...

"Throughout the history of civilization, humans have embraced it in every form imaginable--as a messenger of the gods, powerful sex symbol, gambling aid, emblem of resurrection, all-purpose medicine, handy research tool, inspiration for bravery, epitome of evil, and, of course, as the star of the world's most famous joke. In [this book], science writer Andrew Lawler takes us on an adventure from prehistory to the modern era with a fascinating account...

Draws on history, archaeology, anthropology, and twenty-first-century ideas in biology to explain domestication as an evolutionary process.