Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat (1983-11-01)

The reading of this poignant accounting.... the 'review' is ineffable, as the effects of this book touch the spirit. .. I was mowed, enlightened and finally outraged by this powerful account.... hallelujah Mr. Mowat for the voice you sounded. By far.... the BEST book I have ever read.

I found this book to be very interesting, was well written and kept me captivated. I love stories about animals and I find the wolf an interesting subject. The company I bought it from provided prompt service.

This is an excellent reading for the entire family. It raises important nature preservation issues in a very humanistic manner, at the same time being written by a really gifted writer - it's absorbing, it's witty, it's like a gulp of fresh cold spring water on a hot day.

This is an outstanding book for anyone, not just animal lovers. A true admiration and respect for these magnificent animals is developed throughout the read. It's written for anyone to understand. I bought 4 more copies to share with friends. All of which loved it as much as I.

The author is a master storyteller; combined with his narrative, the information about the social lives of wolves was indeed fascinating and compelling to read. The folly of man is also a point of interest certainly worth some contemplation....

Really purchased this book for my grandson, who attends a community college. It was on his reading list. He said it was one of the best books that he has read, which piqued my interest. I am now in the process of reading it.Glad that I made this purchase.

Another bleeding heart story of a wuss man, pretending to be doing something of value. It was a ridiculous misrepresentation of wolves as a whole. Yes, in that place in time, I'm sure his portrayal was accurate, however we in Montana who have dared to live amongst them know better, as the wonderful herds of elk in our meadow disappeared in a very short time after their introduction to a non-native habitat. This writer was just too glib, too cavalier and fortunately his whole exercise paid for by the government, no skin off his neck... no passions of his own. I threw the book across the room upon finishing it. In all fairness the author did at least compel me to read on, hoping for some sort of enlightenment. A total waste of money.

Never Cry Wolf is Farley Mowat’s personal account of his observation of wolves in subarctic north Canada. As a biologist working for the government, he is called on to discover the mystery of how the population of caribou is decreasing dramatically. The thought is that wolves are largely responsible. Mowat heads out on a small plane into the coldest reaches of Canada to find out if the wolves are the ones responsible.

I liked Mowat’s writing style and tone throughout, just how he presents himself as a regular guy and personable. There’s a genuine quality that comes through in his narration, and you get the sense that he has deep concern for the fates of the wolves, particularly those he got close to during his study. As a writer, he also injects some humor and wryness within his passages that really keep this read more enjoyable, less technical report writing. He comes across very personable, like the kind of guy that you could share stories with while having drinks, as he calls out to man behind the counter, “Another round of Wolf Juice!”

The most rewarding aspect of Never Cry Wolf is Mowat’s account of his experiences as he gets closer to the wolves. His interpretation of the wolves at the beginning is very human and typical, as he does not trust them and fears often for his safety. As he continues to observe, though, he forms a bit of a bond from afar, even giving all of the wolf family names and seeing their personalities and characteristics. We come to understand that maybe the image and legend of the “big bad Wolf” as a savage killer is a bit reaching, as Mowat debunks this myth. We come to understand through his narration that there is much more complexity to this animal.

There is also a Disney (yes, Disney) film for Never Cry Wolf (1983). Although the film does contain some of the parts of the novel, it definitely changes many aspects of Mowat’s book.

Hard to put down, interesting and entertaining, easy reading. It's also hard to describe - just a really nice man-wolf story, with a few Eskimos thrown in and a dash of bureaucratic silliness. Readers learn interesting details about wolf diet (mostly mice, ground squirrels, caribou, fish), hunting techniques, communication, games (tag, ambush, visiting relatives), findings on the prevalence of disease among the caribou they kill, and hunting techniques.

The point of Mowat's government-sponsored research was to confirm that wolves were decimating the caribou population in northern Canada. Turned out that instead it was the local mushers - killing caribou to feed their dogs.

Some background here -- Farley Mowat is a much celebrated and very good author of things Arctic - the desolate Canadian Barrens and the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. He has a rich (intelligent and dry) sense of humor. He's an excellent observer and storyteller, and apparently not beyond pulling one's leg, as the saying goes.

In this 1963 work of Mowat, he chronicles his paid academic employment by the government of Canada, when, on assignment, he traveled to the Barrens for the purpose of studying and documenting the wolf population there. He not only executed his assignment (perhaps "loosely"), but the trip also produced this entertaining, informative, and easy reading book.

I would like to believe what Mowat recorded in Never Cry Wolf is all truth. Maybe it is. But he presents a much different animal than what Jack London wrote about. London was fascinated by them and loved them also. But Mowat's wolves are timid, mouse eating, family-oriented animals. He does give a nod to their regal bearing and power, but Mowat's wolves are a non-threatening lot . . . killing sparingly and only the minimum needed for subsistence. Mowat lived very near them, interacting, and at one point even came face to face with a pair while actually investigating inside their den. And nary a scratch or serious threat.

Is Mowat's report accurate and realistic? I hope so. Clearly, Mowat has sympathy for them. He causes me to have symapathy also. I'm not sure that his objectivity was not colored. Certainly, after reading never Cry Wolf, the "bad guy" is revealed as not the wolf - but rather the hunter, the rancher, and the government(s).

An interesting side observation: One of Mowat's quirks, aside from a needful nip now and then, emerged. On more than one occasion in this book, Mowat seemed to come under a real physical threat. In each case, what should have been fear seems to manifest as anger, even to the point of retaliating via firearms (needlessly). Anyway, it comes across as rather strange in the book. So again, in trying to gauge objectivity and truth regarding wolf behavior, there is a lot at play here.

It's an easy read and well worth the time.