Thanks to Diane S., Munchy has two copies of a new book to give away! This is Being with Animals: Why We Are Obsessed with the Furry, Scaly, Feathered Creatures Who Populate Our World by Barbara J. King. This hardbound release from Doubleday has a value of $24.99 ($29.99 in Canada).
Here is a synopsis of the book:
We surround ourselves with animals, and yet rarely do we truly stop to think about the pull they have on us. Animals have dominated our lives for tens of thousands of years and continue to rule our existence, but why? Why do people the world over respond to a cartoon mouse named Mickey? Why do sports teams name themselves the Bears and the Eagles? Why does the pet industry thrive even in difficult economic times? Why are we compelled to share our lives with cats, dogs, fish, snakes, turtles, or any other kind of domesticated creature?
In Being with Animals, King offers answers to these questions and more. She looks at this phenomenon, from the most obvious animal connections in daily life and culture and over the whole of human history, to show the various roles animals have played in all civilizations. She digs deeply into the importance of the human-animal bond as key to our evolution, as a signficant aspect of understanding what truly makes us human, and looks ahead to explore how our further technological development may affect these important ties.
King’s fresh look at the human-animal relationship will resonate deeply with animal lovers, the environmentally minded, and the armchair scientist.
Barbara J. King is a biological anthropologist and Chancellor Professor of Anthropology at the College of William and Mary. She has studied monkeys in Kenya and great apes in various captive settings. Together with her husband, she cares for and arranges to spay and neuter homeless cats in Virginia. (To this, Munchy says Yeowk!)
To enter our giveaway contest to win one of two copies of Being with Animals, you can either post a comment here or send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to Josephsreviews@gmail.com . This will count as a first entry. For a second entry, answer this question, “How is it that an animal has added value to your life and/or to the lives of your loved ones?”
Munchy will pick the 2 winners at random. In order to be eligible for this giveaway, you must live in the United States or Canada and have a residential mailing address. Books will not be shipped to a P. O. box or to a business-related address. You have until Monday, February 28, 2011 at Midnight PST to submit your entry or entries.
This is it for the “complex” contest rules. Good luck and good reading!
Joseph's Reviews 
My dog, Annabelle, has added so much joy to my life. Not only is she SO much fun, I truly think she lessens my stress level. After working a full day with 8 special needs children, I come home to a house full of teenagers and a special needs child of my own, a husband who works hard and is often stressed out himself and housework!! It’s stressful. But, when Annabelle comes running to me so excitedly, wagging her tail and acting like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to her….how can I possibly remain stressed? She makes me smile…everyday!
Sounds like a terrific book! I think I could have written it, given that I’ve had so many pets in my life, and my girls are equally pet crazy. Thanks for sharing this book! Please enter me for the giveaway.
I’ve shared my home with two birds, a cockatiel and a yellow nape amazon. My cockatiel used to ride on my shoulder all day when I was at home. She shared my food and was always ready for a cuddle or a kiss. She also knew when to expect my husband to come home from work. She would chirp once when she heard the garage door open. If he came home early though, she would chirp, cry and be very agitated. It was like she understood that something wasn’t right if he wasn’t at work.
I follow Barbara J. King on Twitter. She’s @bjkingape
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
My first dog that I adopted from the shelter about 10 years ago kept me active after I became unable to work. He was a min pin who wanted to walk constantly. We didn’t have a yard so we walked 2 miles 5 times a day. He passed away 5 years ago from renal failure and I adopted a second min pin. Now we have a yard so I don’t have to walk as much but we walk most every day for about an hour. It is the highlight of our day. I had a heart problem a little over a year ago so our walks keep me alive.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
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I have always had a dog. When I was growing up we had a small mix who lived 18 years. This adorable and sweet dog, Ginger, gave our family love, and devotion. When I had my family I got a rescue dog who is a sweetheart. Smart, and a great watchdog whose instincts are always correct.
This book sounds fabulous and unique. thanks.
I love animal stories and would enjoy this. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
My mother was in a wheelchair for years and had a pet cat that was by her side a lot of the time. The cat was such a comfort to her. My mother and the cat have both passed on now but they had a special bond.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
If win a copy of Dr King’s book, I will donate it to the library of the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula FL. They provide a permanent home for 13 orangutans and 31 chimpanzees who are either retired from performing in ads, TV and movies, or were kept as pets. I have spent my whole life Being With Animals. I was an ape keeper at National Zoo in DC( where Dr King was a research associate while she was in grad school!) for more than 30 years. I retired in 2006 and moved next door to the Center so I can continue Being With the Animal species I love the most – orangutans!
I have two cockatiels right now, both with distinct personalities. Squeaky is the old man who held a grudge against me for three years! I went to China for a three week tour and he couldn’t understand why I left him at my cousins. I know the exact moment that he got over the grudge. His eye softens and he went back to riding on my shoulder. He defends my slippers against Speckles, he always says thank you when the bird food is put out,
he says thank you when his living area is cleaned up. He puts on a display when he just feels happy. He is crazy for showers with me. He loves to sit on my finger and feel the water rushing against his little body.
Speckles is the youngest and the explorer. He is always the one to try tings out fist. If Squeaky does something that he is not supposed to (like chew on a picture frame) he will puff his chest out and fly to my shoulder as if saying “I am the obedient one”. He never complains when it is time to quit playing and retire the evening.
Both bird love their wastebasket turned on the side with a soft towell floor.
They go in their to snuggle.
When I married my second husband, he was wondering why I kept birds,
now he loves them dearly and calls them, “the boys”.
Our birds have given us a little glimmer of the wonder of birds. It always makes me wonder about what we don’t know about the birds outside. What are their personalities, how do they survive the winters at all? Is it any wonder that we love animals. I would love to read this book to learn more.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This sounds like a wonderful book for one of us animal lovers! Me included!
quzy(at)mac(d0t)com
My fur baby has given me his unconditional love all of his furry life, and a person couldn’t ask for anything more. No matter how my day goes, my little guy can bring a smile to my face in a millisecond! My stress level goes down and life is back into balance!