Customer Reviews

The Complete Book 0f Werewolves

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Leonard Ashley has compiled a modestly informed, error-filled book with far more interest in his inflated ego than any true scholarship. The glaring errors are not nit-picking either...he boasts of his own prowess as a scholar, then makes major mistakes when referring to some of the most classic werewolf films ever made - including Universal's "The Wolf Man". The volume does succeed in bringing together a fairly wide array of entertaining werewolf & shape-shifter lore, but with all of the really good books on the history of lycanthropy that have been published over the years, there's no reason to subject yourself to Ashley's condescending remarks and insults directed at his readers. Mr. Ashley clearly feels that werewolves (and fans of werewolves as well) are beneath him - but I get the impression that he must have been under contract to write the book anyway.
People looking for a great resource on werewolf legends should pick up Brad Steiger's "The Werewolf Book".

This book is not only incomplete, but filled with mistakes and should not rightly be called a "complete book". Funny how the author claims to be a expert on the subject of werewolves yet
gets all of the Howling movies titles mixed up. He also includes references to movies that may or may not be related. For example, he references the movie "Vampire Hunter D", a movie which he has never seen: "It's claimed there is werewolfery in it somewhere. I don't know." THEN WHY PUT IT IN A BOOK ABOUT WEREWOLVES?

Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Not nearly the book that the author seems to think it is, this is a rather superficial compilation of werewolf miscellany. The tidbits of folklore are very interesting and the book does suggest further avenues for exploring the topic. Ashley touts the section on werewolf movies as comprehensive but it really is just a compendium of smart-aleck remarks. And the werewolves in literature portion is a good start but as with the rest of the book it begs for a more substantial treatment.
There is the outline of a really excellent book here but one gets the feeling it should be twice as long to live up to the title. Still, it is an enjoyable read. Ashley tipped me off about several good werewolf-themed novels that may have otherwise escaped my notice. For that I thank him. But the next time anyone writes a book called "The Complete Book of...(whatever)" it would be nice if it really were complete.

I have never seen such an incredible mishmash before, but then I didn't read Ashley's other books. This one is far from complete, extremely superficial, thrown together way too quickly and full of errors. Slightly useful as an additional reference guide to US werewolf culture -if you can stand the style-, but checking the information is crucial.
Willem.

I consider myself lucky in that I paid about half the listed price for this book. Unlucky because I paid for it at all.

After reading the introduction ("Read This First"), I wasn't sure what to expect or even why the author wrote the book in the first place. I'm not even close to half-way through the first chapter and already I get the feeling Mr. Ashley has great disdain for anyone with an interest in werewolves, let alone the paranormal.

The way the book is organised is confusing- each chapter is broken into short sections consisting of one or two paragraphs, or an excerpt from another source. The material jumps around a lot, and covers a lot of subjects within the main topic of werewolves, but I don't feel like I'm learning anything.

At this point (page 20), I'm not even sure I'll finish the book. Though there is a lot of material referenced/used, it's organised in such a weird way and written in a rude, condescending fashion; the amount of information can't make up for it's presentation. Look somewhere else for your werewolf needs.

This book starts of bad, and never gets better. The "author" (and I use that term very loosely) writes in an extremely pompous style that is just impossible to take seriously let alone tolerate.

The childish remarks, the weak play on words, the inaccuracies all make this book one of the worst I have ever had the misfortune to read.

The only thing positive about this book is that it will give proof to any aspiring writer, that pretty much anyone can get their work published.

Do not spend any money on this or any other book thrown together by Leonard R.N. Ashley.

This has to be the worst written book I have set eyes on in years. I suppose the author was gong for a easy to follow style so that non-specialists could read it. However, those reading for fun will be confused, and specialists will just be infuriated.

The book is written in brief sections, ranging from two sentences to a page. They have no relation to one another, and often are not even about the subject matter. There is no order or cohesion in this book, it is just random tidbits of information and personal opinions.

The author repeatedly mentions his other publications, gives "I think" and "I feel" statements, and cuts and pastes large chunks of information from other scholars. From a former professor, one would expect more then this egotistical, lazy junk. How this got published is beyond my comprehension.

The only section that may be of use to someone are the sections on the werewolf in the media. If you are doing a report on the subject, the book has many short synopses of the movies and books on werewolves. If you are interested in anything else, you'd be better off looking on Wikipedia.

I enjoyed reading the Complete Book of Werewolves. Especially the historical section. Since I'm not an expert on werewolf movies I can't say much about those chapters involving the cinema, but the sections with folklore were interesting. I particularly liked the discussion of "Fascination," and the different types of were creatures such as were-bears and were-pigs. Overall, a good read for those interested in were-wolf lore.

If your intrested in the myths and legends of werewolves then this may be your bible. This book contains lots and lots of info on the topic. As a matter of fact I used this book to help me write an essay for school. This is a real page turner if your into werewolves. Even if your not, you will most likely find this book interesting. I loved this book and I think you will too.