Customer Reviews

Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with Animals

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Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with Animals blends science, humor and observation to explore the behaviors and oddities of all kinds of animals, from lemurs that eat cyanide to your local friendly piranha whose ferocity has been mistyped. Little-known truths about exotic species are imparted in a fine field survey following biologists' animal studies and favorite experiences - all seasoned by the author's often-humorous, personal observations. Any general collection catering to lay readers of science facts and animal oddities will find this an accessible, popular lend.

This book is such fun - tells you a lot of scientific facts in a simple, humorous, engaging way.

OK, So I only took Biology 101 in college 35 years ago, because I wasn't into that kind of thing, but needed it for a requirement. This book is a page-turner--I could hardly put it down. Richard Conniff writes with a definite attitude and strange sense of humor--this was right up my alley. He should be lecturing at some college or high school on a regular basis--there would be standing room only--including those not even officially enrolled in the class.
His real life accounting of his adventures out in the world of nature is truly fascinating. Ever wonder about how all of the animal species/genuses are named? This will help you understand why it's sometimes 'a revenge business' amongst the nerdy folks who discover them and then are awarded 'naming rights'. Perhaps we need these people naming all of our sports arenas--would definitely be more entertaining than The 'Sprint' or 'Staples' Center. How about the sex habits of ants? Yep, it's in there, along with lots of other cool yet factual explanations about what's happening out there in the world of nature that we aren't normally aware of.
Buy this book!

Richard Conniff got a lot of public attention recently when he wrote a column called "The Consolation of Animals" for the NYT. It discussed how much of his career has sent him to remote parts of the globe to study strange forms of life -- but due to the state of the world, he's been traveling a little less. So he started studying the creatures and biology around his house. The ecosystem he described struck a chord with a lot of readers -- not least for the pitch perfect descriptions and writing. It was an excellent piece, but people might have forgotten that no one does gonzo natural world adventures better than Conniff. And THIS BOOK is all about the FUN stuff. And there is much fun stuff to be had. Check it out for the story behind those National Geographic articles where the author is blithely waltzing through the rainforest. It definitely proves even top science writers can have a touch of the Wildboyz.

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This book is a rare combination of fascinating animal information and laugh-out-loud humor. The author gets himself into some very strange situations, and writes about them with great skill and wit. And believe me, you will never step on a spider again!

I admit, I downloaded this book as a compulsive response to the sub-$3.00 price inducement offered at the time. While not a huge risk -- I had encountered Mr. Conniff's prose once or twice earlier in the pages of Outside Magazine and NatGeo -- I still wondered about the relatively fire-sale pricing. Bad eBook formatting? Poor editing? Turns out, the book is fine; I merely lucked into great pricing for a solid book.

Nature enthusiasts will surely enjoy the breadth and variety, if not the depth, of Mr. Conniff's exploits and descriptions thereof. Which is not to suggest that the vignettes do not contain thought-provoking moments, because they do. This is because Mr. Conniff sticks largely to describing, very clearly and succinctly, what he saw and experienced during a very brief frozen moment in the life-cycle of a given creature and those who study it. In doing so, Mr. Conniff invites the reader to ponder those big-ticket philosophical and conservation issues -- the relevance of anthropomorphism in primate study, or the role of hunters in attaching economic value to a stressed species, for instance. Want more depth? Mr. Conniff provides plenty of names and organizations in each chapter, as well as a perfectly succinct list of citations by chapter at the end of the book.

Kindle users will be happy to know that the table of contents is linked and that it is as easy as ever to highlight a name or book title provided by Mr. Conniff and, with a few button presses, instantly learn more via the Web.

I was't quite sure what this book would be like, and I put off reading it for a while (waiting until 'I felt like it'), but once I started, I couldn't stop! Even though it's a real page-turner, it's written in such a way that it's perfect as a 'palate cleanser' between other books. Each chapter is less than 10 pages long, is entirely self-contained and relates to a single subject. The author's style is very easygoing, amusing, and somewhat self-deprecatory. These are not stories about *animals*, but *stories* about animals and the people who study them. Every chapter is full of fascinating trivia and ancedotes. The scientists are all real 'characters', and their love/admiration for the animal they study shines through clearly. I bookmarked several chapters to share with different friends, depending on their interests.

A definite 'must read' for just about anyone, of any age. No blood, no gore, no sad endings - just the tales of some quirky people who have dedicated their lives to studying other creatures, great and small, likeable and not, endangered or plentiful, wild or captive. As another reviewer said - buy this book!

Had the pleasure of meeting the author who spoke to our class. He was funny, witty and the book was fantastic. Conniff's writing gives you a first hand look on animals you probably never thought about before. From spiders to pirahannas there are many stereotypes he proved wrong. This is a must read for everyone!