Customer Reviews

Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book

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

 

 

This book tells about acquiring a snake, caring for a snake, and some simple instructions for breeding snakes. The snakes in this book are mostly ratsnakes, garters&ribbons, and pythons. Perfect for those starting out, but no detail for any particular species. Still, it is a great book, especially for those who are inexperienced with the common diseases, mites, etc...

For someone who knows next to nothing about how to care for snakes, this is an OK book, as it covers most common beginner species. However, if you have an experince, you've heard it all before, and shouldn't spend your money (put it towards a snake instead).

I have always been fascinated by snakes, all my life I have learned all I could about snakes and I own several snake books, but this one tops them all! Just about anything you want to know about a snake will be answered in this great book. I really enjoy reading it. I am planning to become a snake expert soon and this book has really taught me a lot. It is a must have for anyone studying biology, zoology, or planning to become a herpatologist! The first section gives all the facts, it tells about how snakes evolved from lizards, how they hear see & smell, and how the snake body works. The second section, tells about the myths and tells the real truth. The third section tells about giant and the most dangerous snakes. The fourth is about snake bites, and the last section tells about snakes and humans. This book is incredible, and a must have for beginning snake enthusiast!

This book was absolutely fascinating.
I picked it up because I read the Smithsonian book about cats which I thought was absolutely outstanding, even though I knew a lot about cats. Thought this one about snakes, snakes which I find quite intimidating and scary, might also be fascinating. Not only did I find it exceptional but snakes no longer scare me. I am now intrigued by them (all from a book.. I didn't even need to see them in a zoo or in someone's home as a pet), their design, lifestyles, skills and abilities.

It only had one small section at towards the back about caring for snakes as pets. They gave some basic information (in about 3-4 pages), but clearly indicated that they don't condone the practice of snakes as house pets instead of favoring human's choice to maintain nature in a natural state to allow snakes to live as they always have.

This book addressed questions about their design, abilities, lifestyle and the interaction of these animals with others animals, some of the differences with other species, geographic localities, physiology (the limited information that is now available on them), venom and its characteristics, uses and services to them and also as medical and more.

I am signed up to get the answer book about Bats now, as the two I have already read (Cats and Snakes) just blew my mind in a great way.

What a great book! Even though I'm a lifelong herper, this book still had information that I did not know. Easy to read and understand. If you like snakes, this is a must for your library!

This eminently readable and entertaining book on snakes is the best one available for curious adults and precocious older children. The question and answer format and the copious illustrations make this a book for dipping into at short intervals, but beware-- you may not be able to put it down! The authors are experts with a gift of explaining their topic with ample and well-chosen details that enliven the text. And as readable as it is, the authors do include, for those who are interested, references to some of the specialized language: did you know, for example, that the word for warning coloration is "aposematism"? I do not consider my self a snake-fancier but I was delighted by all the wonderful and surprising things I learned. Perhaps the greatest surprise: how many invertebrates prey on snakes.

For the precocious child and preteen this book really conveys the important point that science is a process of continual inquiry, not inert facts and unchallengeable answers. The authors raise some questions of their own to underline their point, and I know that I still had many unanswered at the end. (If snakes have a larynx and some even have vocal cords, why haven't these long disappeared since they are apparently never used?)

The authors also appeal to younger readers with sound suggestions on careers in herpetology and advice on keeping a snake as a pet which, in short, is: DON'T, but if you must, here are some acceptable ways to go about it.

An excellent book with information on most snake species + information on setting up terrariums and different health problems you may encounter.