Power in the Wild, by behavioral ecologist Dugatkin, reveals the realpolitik behind the lives of sweet-looking creatures from meerkats to field mice, as he examines the eternal struggle for dominance in nature. * New Scientist, Don't Miss *
From ants to cuttlefish to wolves, this entertaining book surveys various species' strategies for maintaining control. . . . Dugatkin's snappy prose enlivens his evolutionary explanations, as of a discussion of how new technology aids in data collection. He is deliberate about highlighting the work of women researchers. Power in the Wild is a charming tour through the wonderful, sometimes bizarre realities of animal behavior. * Foreword Reviews *
Power struggles in the animal kingdom are still not entirely understood, not least when they take place in many more arenas and forms than the most obvious one of physical conflict. Spying, deception, manipulation, shifting social networks-all these are covered here. The author looks at more than thirty species across six continents. * Bookseller *
Timely and fascinating. . . . Dugatkin's book is great food for thought regarding the nature of power, equality, and equity, the origins of justice and the origins of sociality in animals-including our own species. -- Sheng-Feng Shen, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan * Nature Ecology & Evolution *
A brilliant journey into the intricate dramas of animal behavior and evolution. Along the way, we also see the scientific process in vivid light, a wonderful exposition of how to deepen understanding of the living world. -- David George Haskell, Sewanee: The University of the South, author of Pulitzer finalist The Forest Unseen and Burroughs medalist The Songs of Trees
Power, and the way it is won and lost, unites angelfish and weaverbirds, ravens and cockroaches. By revealing its stunning variety in nature, Dugatkin shows how power isn't necessarily abusive, or ugly-it's simply a fact of life. From confrontation to espionage, with coalitions formed and dissolved, his absorbing stories explore how animals juggle their relationships and play a long game. -- Marlene Zuk, Regents Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, author of Paleofantasy and Sex on Six Legs
Entertaining anecdotes and scholarly science effortlessly entwine in this delightfully raucous romp through decades of research on the nature of power in the animal kingdom. A great read whether you're a student, scientist, or amateur animal behavior enthusiast. -- Athena Aktipis, Arizona State University, author of The Cheating Cell
'Biology' means 'the study of life,' and it requires the story of life. Admirers of Dugatkin's acclaimed books such as How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog) know that he tells rousing stories about nature and how scientists decipher its mysteries. There could not be a more pervasive aspect of life than power dynamics, nor one that more greatly influences nature's slow change over time. For fans of both science writing and nature writing, Power in the Wild teems with enough animals and scientists around the world to satisfy David Attenborough-whose urbane narration comes to mind as one enlightening glimpse of nature follows another in this lucid and lively celebration of nature's diversity. -- Michael Sims, author of Adam's Navel and The Adventures of Henry Thoreau
Timely and fascinating. . . . Dugatkin's book is great food for thought regarding the nature of power, equality, and equity, the origins of justice and the origins of sociality in animals-including our own species. * Nature Ecology and Evolution *
