Book Review: Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

 

I don't just review fiction! I sometimes take a look at non-fiction books as well, particularly those about animals (usually wolves). So let's have a look at one of the most famous non-fiction wolf books out there: Never Cry Wolf.

This book takes place in a time where wolves were a much-hunted animal in the USA, with them being seen primarily as pests that had to be exterminated. Researcher Farley Mowat travels to the a remote northern part of Canada to study these animals, and comes to many stunning conclusions.

While I don’t find this read as engaging as some other non-fiction wolf books I've read, it’s definitely an important one. Never Cry Wolf came out during a time where wolves were still often seen as monsters, and it no doubt helped paint a more realistic picture of them.

Of course, today we know a lot more about these animals, but back then there was still a lot to be learned. I think that Never Cry Wolf definitely contributed to the lessening in demonization of these animals. I feel that, at times, Mowat does tend to nearly anthropomorphize the animals a bit too much, which is a nono when it comes to researching animals.

But, other than that, I still think this was a mostly engaging read that shows us a lot about wolves that was at the time unknown. Give this one a read if you want to know more about wolves and how their real behavior compares to the tales of the ferocious beasts that were historically thought. 

Rating: 3/5