by Mark Rowlands
The Philosopher and the Wolf: Lessons from the Wild on Love, Death and Happiness is a non-fiction book that is part autobiography and part philosophical musing.
It tells the story of how Rowlands came to have a wolf as his "pet" and companion for over a decade, and how this experience led him to many insights into human nature and our differences from other animals. In this book Rowlands, a philosophy professor and author, reflects on this time in his life and describes how it came to be that a wolf gave him vital lessons on what it means to be human.
Their story begins when Rowlands comes across an ad in the newspaper, advertising wolf pups for sale. Curious, Rowlands drives out to have a look at the pups, half expecting them to turn out to be Huskies or some other dog breed being passed off as wolves. But when he gets there, he meets first the parents and then the pups, and he is shocked to see that they are indeed pure wolves.
When he goes to have a closer look at the pups, he is won over by one in particular, whose even-temperament and youthful adorableness convince Rowlands to buy him then and there.
He names the wolf pup Brenin, and their adventure together begins.
Rowlands learned very early that he could not leave Brenin home alone; the destruction to his house was far too extensive, as Brenin enthusiastically and thoroughly dismantled everything in sight, from curtains, to furniture, to entire walls.
Rowlands used dog training techniques to teach Brenin basic obedience, and it was not long before Brenin was accompanying Rowlands off-leash wherever he went, including class lectures, restaurants, rugby games, and parties.
While Rowlands is quick to advise strongly against people keeping wolves as pets, it is not for the usual reasons people would assume, such as that it is an "unnatural" existence for a wolf, or that the wolf could not possibly be "happy" in such a life.
Instead, Rowlands uses his philosophy background to challenge these arguments and to offer his own, alternate explanations.
He explores "happiness" and what it means for humans and other animals.
He argues that humans are not the only animals able to adapt and thrive in various circumstances.
Using examples from Brenin's life and from animals in nature, Rowlands argues that wolves and other animals are not "biological marionettes," restricted to being only one way.
Instead, like humans, they are able to adapt and thrive in various circumstances.
Rowlands also explores the nature of human evil and its evolutionary origin, as presented through examples of human and ape behaviour.
Through a comparison of apes versus wolves, Rowlands presents his argument that deception, scheming, and malice are defining characteristics of ape societies.
Ultimately, he argues, this is the true reason why wolves have no place in human society: they do not lie or scheme, nor do they display any form of malicious intent.
The Philosopher and the Wolf: Lessons from the Wild on Love, Death and Happiness is an intriguing and thought-provoking examination of what it means to be human and what we can learn about ourselves from other animals.
He challenges the common conception that wolves are too savage for civilization and instead turns that argument on its head: civilization is actually far too savage for wolves.
In addition, Rowlands shows how, through an unbiased appreciation of other species, we humans can find characteristics in them to admire and even emulate in ourselves: honesty, courage, love, and the ability to find happiness in the present moment, regardless of circumstance.
Find this book in the adult non-fiction section or download the eBook for free from the library website to use on your PC or Mac.
reviewed by Teresa Taggart,
readers' advisor
at the Prince George Public Library
My Kid Could Paint That
Prodigies are fascinating.
Young children who master adult skills in music or mathematics or sports receive special attention for their magical abilities.
From Mozart to Michelle Wie, history is filled with the accomplishments of gifted youngsters.
As a teenager, Pablo Picasso was already attracting attention. At 14, Picasso painted Man In A Beret, clearly demonstrating his awesome talent.
Now compare that with Zane Dancing by the four-year-old Marla Olmstead. Say what you want about abstract art but there's something special about Marla's work.
Or is there?
My Kid Could Paint That is a documentary about Marla's meteoric rise in the art world, a preschooler selling paintings for tens of thousands of dollars.
The bubble burst when 60 Minutes questioned whether Marla was the true artist, suggesting that her father was having a significant input in the finished work.
The documentary leaves the viewer hanging, presenting numerous doubts about the authenticity of Marla as the sole artist of these brilliant works, while still noting the young girl's impressive eye for colour and movement.
My Kid Could Paint That is in the DVD section at the Prince George Public Library
reviewed by Neil Godbout, the administrative communications co-ordinator
at the Prince George Public Library
