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Narrated by Angela Brazil
Wendy WilliamsUnabridged — 11 hours, 41 minutes
Narrated by Angela Brazil
Wendy WilliamsUnabridged — 11 hours, 41 minutes
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The author promises "a scientific travelogue, a biography of the horse and a worldwide investigation into the bond that unites horses and humans," and she delivers all three in this restless, surprisingly compact…affectionate, thoroughgoing, good-hearted book.
07/06/2015
Journalist Williams (Kraken), a lifelong equestrienne, intertwines her personal experience with horses with a history of these noble animals and their changing relationship with people. Gone are the days of relying on them implicitly for transportation, farming, battlefield warfare, and hauling, yet human fascination with horses remains strong. From the discovery of well-preserved eurohippus fossils to the modern day’s equus, Williams documents the evolution of the horse. She examines the most early equine/human interaction, famous horses throughout history, and the international intrigue surrounding them. Williams’s book educates, entertains, and enthralls; it’s part scientific discovery, part social commentary, and part history lesson, while always focusing on the relationship between horses and humans. This accessible profile of equines through the ages pays homage to an animal that had a crucial role in the modernization of the world. (Oct.)
A New York Times Bestseller and New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
A Best Book of 2015, The Wall Street Journal
Silver Winner, Nautilus Book Awards (Animals and Nature category)
Long-listed for the 2016 Massachusetts Book Award
Holiday Gifts List, Equus Magazine
Discover magazine's "What to Read in November"
"Love is the driver for Wendy Williams's new book, The Horse . . . [an] affectionate, thoroughgoing, good-hearted book." —Jaimy Gordon, The New York Times Book Review
"Charming and deeply interesting . . . Ms. Williams does a marvelous job of exploring the nature of horses, from many different perspectives. She is spot-on in her explanations of scientific information, treading that thin line between accessibility and scientific accuracy. I have read many books and articles on horses, but this must surely rank among the very best for a general audience." —Pat Shipman, The Wall Street Journal
"Whether you believe that you know horses intimately or only admire them from afar, you will find Wendy Williams's fascinating natural history The Horse to be illuminating. Williams is a charming tour guide through the history of the horse-human bond. This book will delight you and deepen your understanding of the ongoing love affair between humans and their equine companions." —Elizabeth Letts, bestselling author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion
"A remarkable treasure chest of a book. Wendy Williams ropes together history, science, and fascinating personal experiences to give new insights on every page. You'll never look at a horse the same way again." —Nicholas Evans, bestselling author of The Horse Whisperer
"Lifelong equestrian enthusiast Williams takes on the topic at full gallop, weaving scientific analysis with cultural and historical anecdotes in this lively, fascinating read." —Discover
"[A] fascinating account of the relationship between humans and horses. Not only will horse lovers find The Horse a great read, but so will those with just a passing interest in these animals." —Chicago Tribune
"An informative and engaging account of an animal that’s both familiar and mysterious . . . [The Horse] provides an illuminating glimpse at what we know—and what we may someday learn." —Megan McDonough, The Washington Post
"[E]ngaging, comprehensive . . . Wendy Williams combines a love of horses with a keen interest in natural history . . . an accessible read and a gift for horse lovers." —Lucy Popescue, The Independent (UK)
"[The Horse] takes us on both an intellectual journey and an equine adventure." —Fran Jurga, Equus
"A compelling journey into the evolutionary history of the horse we know and love today . . . It’s detailed but clear, and surprisingly fun in places as well." —The Eloquent Equine
"An ambitious undertaking . . . Reading The Horse will no doubt cause you to look at horses (including your own) in a whole new way." —EquiSearch
"A magnificent natural history of this magnificent animal. Wendy Williams pursues the wild and ancient creatures who put into relief the very particular horse-human relationship we have today. If you get a thrill when a horse thunders by, you must read this book." —Alexandra Horowitz, bestselling author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
"For every equestrian, here finally is a book that explains in great detail the long journey that has given us the modern horse in all of its magnificent varieties. Wendy Williams's The Horse is full of love and firsthand experiences that make the book a most pleasurable and informative read." —Frans de Waal, author of Peacemaking Among Primates and The Age of Empathy
"An enthusiastic history of and appreciation for all things horse . . . Anyone with a love of horses will treasure this book, which provides scholarly yet accessible insight into a beautifully constructed animal that has chosen to domesticate man, just as dogs have." —Kirkus Reviews
"Williams's book educates, entertains, and enthralls; it's part scientific discovery, part social commentary, and part history lesson, while always focusing on the relationship between horses and humans." —Publishers Weekly
"Wendy Williams has done her homework. She has roamed our world of horses-past, present, and future-revealing cognitive processes, emotions, and behaviors similar to those of humans. What a gift. Reading The Horse, I felt a kinship with horses and a deep yearning to bond with these marvelous creatures." —John W. Pilley, emeritus professor of psychology at Wofford College and bestselling author of Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words
"Riveting and moving. A beautiful celebration of the deep evolutionary fellowship between horses and people."—David George Haskell, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Forest Unseen and professor of biology at the University of the South
"I have never owned horses, but reading Wendy Williams's fine new book made me feel as if I've known them all my life. And that, of course, is her point-to explore not just the history of horses but the human fascination with them. She makes her case in clear, compelling prose, warmed throughout by her obvious fondness for the subject." —Thor Hanson, author of The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers
"The Horse is a scientific ode to one of the most charismatic mammals on earth-it is an essential book and a loving exploration of our complicated relationship with the charming animal that we've variously hunted, tamed, and venerated. Readers could not ask for a better guide than Wendy Williams as she takes us to the badlands where mustangs still roam, the bones of their ancestors beneath their hooves." —Brian Switek, author of My Beloved Brontosaurus and Written in Stone
"Williams details her conversations with various experts and her own visits to archaeological digs as she navigates the evolution of the horse, its development in a variety of landscapes, and its general adaptability."—Booklist
"Anyone with a love of horses will treasure this book, which provides scholarly yet accessible insight into a beautifully constructed animal that has chosen to domesticate man, just as dogs have." —Kirkus
2015-06-15
An enthusiastic history of and appreciation for all things horse. In this "scientific travelogue…biography of the horse…and worldwide investigation into the bond that unites horses and humans," one of the only elements Williams (Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid, 2011, etc.) doesn't address is how to ride a horse. But there's more than enough to teach readers how to approach a horse and how it will communicate its feelings. The author begins by asserting that horses had their beginnings in the New World rather than the long-held belief that Europeans introduced them to the Americas. When the land bridges were available, horses could travel through Asia to Europe, and Williams notes that horses are not only herd animals, but that they don't stray far from their environments. As she traces their evolution, she makes it clear that horses tend to adapt to their surroundings rather than move away in search of comfort. The evolution of their hooves, from three to four toes, was caused by the change from marshy ground, where toes helped balance, to dry grass plains. In an equally thorough manner, Williams explains the changes to the animals' eyes and teeth, which changed with their diet as grasslands formed and they required teeth that could grind effectively. Horses are also red-green colorblind because their eyes only have two types of cones, whereas humans have three. That, as well as the placement of their eyes, affects their acuity and depth perception. The author also explores how horses' eyes moved back in their heads, allowing wider vision. This made room for larger teeth, which evolved to adapt to the grass that appeared due to changes in global temperatures caused by tectonic plate movement and changing ocean currents. Anyone with a love of horses will treasure this book, which provides scholarly yet accessible insight into a beautifully constructed animal that has chosen to domesticate man, just as dogs have.
| BN ID: | 2940171012441 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tantor Audio |
| Publication date: | 04/12/2016 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
