I really enjoy Mowat's stories. They are so conversational they read like novels. "Never Cry Wolf" is of Mowat's personal experiences with a pair of Arctic wolves. As such, it is a pro-wolf book for pro-wolf people. I include myself in that number but, whereas not disputing Mowat's work, I like hard cold facts and realism.

It is true, as Mowat discovered, that wolves eat a lot of small animals, including mice. Logically, this is more true on the denning grounds, a time when small animals are abundant and large animals--especially migratory animals like caribou--are relatively scarce. Wolves are obliged to hunt for prey within a reasonable distance of their dens i.e. they can't migrate dozens or hundreds of miles in pursuit of large animals.

Predictably, when the cubs leave the den and are able to move long distances, the adult wolves do, too. They tend to pack up and hunt really large animals. Right now the island of Newfoundland is experiencing a catastrophic decline in Woodland Caribou populations...but they have no wolves. Evidence supports the thesis, however, that the decline is due to the relatively recent arrival of that wolf relative, the coyote. Coyotes don't ordinarily attack adult caribou but a newborn fawn is at real risk.

Conservation practices should be realistic. Wolves are wonderful predators and a major asset to wilderness ecosystems. They aren't, however, sacrosanct. Sometimes ballooning wolf populations hurt populations of othr desireable wildlife. In these cases, it is perfectly appropriate to cull excess wolves.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

The author has a unique way of keeping you captivated and he will renew your thoughts about wolves. This book was recommended, it was not something I would have read, but after reading it I could hardly put it down, I found myself clued to this book, very funny and touching at the same time. This by far was the most revealing book about wild animals I have ever read. You will not regret reading this book; I bought 3 others after reading it.

This book is a quick and enjoyable read that will dispel some myths about wolves. The author traveled to a remote are of northern Canada in the summer of 1948 to study wolves, which were supposedly destroying the caribou population. The actual culprit turned out to be human hunters. His sympathetic descriptions probably didn't do much for his career with the Canadian government, but may have changed some minds about the threat that wolves pose to people.

Excellent descriptions of wolf behavior in their natural habitat, including the interaction of an immediate family with pups and various groups that live in adjacent territories. Some of the behaviors he observed had not been seen before by scientists, and he was accused of fabricating them, but most of these observations have since been verified by others.

At times, Mowat could be accused of attributing human motivations to animal behaviors. If this bothers you, you many not fully enjoy this book.

I've been a wolf lover for all my life and I found that even to me, Mowat's book was a refreshing treat. Most of the wolf-related books, fiction or non-fiction, usually describe wolves as bloodthirsty, cruel killers. This occurrence is not always intentional, but even so, it happens. Mowat started out with these same myths, but he learns to see wolves as they truly are. It's unlikely that the average person with the stereotypical view of wolves will pick this book up, but I still hope that NEVER CRY WOLF will help change a few views. Wolves are incorrectly and unfairly branded as evil, and NEVER CRY WOLF helps dispel some of the most common myths associated with these beautiful creatures, who in reality, are more similar to us than most of us imagine.

Mowat keeps the reader's attention with humor and interesting anecdotes, which makes it an enjoyable read for all. His attachment to the wolves he studies makes the read warm and inviting, and the reader may come to know the wolves as if they were there themselves.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a humor-infected, myth-dispelling, thrilling bit of non-fiction. Enjoy!

I decided to read the book after watching the movie, created by Disney, of the same name. While the movie is based upon the book and generally entertaining I found the book to be so much more fulfilling.

I have always had an interest in wolves and Mowat provides the right touch in his writing to entertain as well as educate the reader on their behavior. He also provides insight into the bureaucratic functions of the Canadian government which provokes laughter throughout the story.

If looking for a general introduction to Wolves I thoroughly recommend this book. It provides wonderful insight into their behavior, public misconceptions, and the affects that hunters and trappers have on wildlife in the northern regions of North America.

NEVER CRY WOLF starts out as one more take on that old standby; the incompetence of the government. In this case, Canada and its rather confused manner of dealing with the problem of wolves "killing" caribou. Sending a lone naturalist out to investigate the problem without the mere suggestion of a plan and then losing him to the wilds, Mowat's tale starts as a farce, but as time goes on, the author shifts his focus to the true heart of the book, the life of a family of wolves and his eventual understanding of their place in the natural order. Working alongside local Inuits, he sees the wolves for what they are, not murderous predators, but feeling and affectionate animals. His research into how the wolves actually survive in the winter is hilarious and insightful. The book does suffer a bit from the superior attitude the author adapts at times, but NEVER CRY WOLF is another example of informative and entertaining writing about an aspect of the natural world.

Mowat is not only a scientist but also a social reformer. The fact is nature has been thrown out of balance in most areas in the North American continent because preditory animals have been eliminated. This past year, wolves have been reintroduced into Yellowstone. I wonder how much Mowat had to do with this. When this was written people still feared their babies would be stolen and relished by packs of roving wolves. They feared the image of the wolf while our present day society loves images of the wolf on posters, in paintings and even t-shirts. After the movie was made into a film, more people were touched by the message that wolves are not to be feared. Mowat wasn't afraid to go live with them for awhile and document their behavior much like Jane Goodhal did with chimpanzees. He ate field mice to prove that wolves could subsist on them as a diet during lean times. He marked the path to his cabin with trails of his own urine to prove that wolves have their own social standards and respect for other's territory.
Mowat is consistently a de-mystifyer in his writings. I've been enjoying his other writings on Inuit tribes, their customs and struggles. He's a boat-rocker too not finding much favor with corporate people and government bureaucrats who either ignore or exploit the area and its indigenous peoples to the point of near extinction. So to read all of the books of his I've read so far is to be educated about the arctic region, its wildlife, people and peculiarities. He fell in love with the area as a very young man and gave most of his life to it. I'm crazy about his stuff and am working my way through all of his work.

Wasn't sure if I would like this book, since fiction doesn't interest me, and I wasn't sure if Farley wrote fiction or shaded the truth. I had seen part of the movie, and that's probably why I had questions, but for someone who only can stay with reading things, to help me solve problems, and trouble shoot things, I Couldn't put the book down. I needed to know what happened next. If you love wildlife, and would like to know facts instead of lies that man makes up about the scary world out there, get This book, and Learn.

Found Farley recently, and I want to read more of his work. I might just learn more about the creatures that inhabit the earth, and WE are one of them. Can't hurt to see through someone elses eyes, who has a love of nature, and got to places to do things, that most just dream about.

Farley Mowat is what every scientist should be; dry, sarcastic, clinical, hilarious, and not afraid to eat mice. The biologist who spent two years in the Arctic wild won me over with his warm descriptions of the wolf family he watches (George, Angelina, and Uncle Albert). Brilliantly funny and informative!

This book is one of the many books on wolves that I have read. This is a wonderfull book compared to some of the best books I have read. Anyone who loves wolves or just loves reading will be thrilled with the one in a life-time experience for all ages. It brings out the human part of wolves and shows what we as humans have done to them. I would recamend this book to anyone.

In the introduction Farley Mowat writes that his intent was to write about the bureaucracy and misinformation which Mowat felt was pushing the Canadian government in the wrong enviromental direction. Granted, there is parts of the book dedicated to that but Mowat becomes so obsessed with the wolves he is studing that they soon become the stars of his own story.

Never Cry Wolf is an adventure story about a scientist relocated to the Canadian wilderness to study the effects that wolves have on the depleating numbers of carabao. Mowat not only links the decline in carabao to man but he also ends up taking some fasinating notes on wolf behavior.

The only problem with the book is that it is around 40 years old. From this book today, there is no way of knowing how accurate and relevant Mowat information still is.

In this excellent non-fiction book, Farley Mowat provides new insights into wolves and wolf behaviors. Using a wonderfully dry, often satirical, sense of humor, Mowat blends a tale of his real-life duties as a Canadian Wildlife Service biologist with that of a wolf family he studies and befriends. Mowat is sent to the Arctic barrens to "prove" wolves are decimating the caribou herds of northern Canada. After a year of scientific study, which he details in his narrative, Mowat finds evidence that it is "man", not the wolf, who is responsible for the decline of caribou populations. He does this through careful study of the wolf family which consists of George and Angeline (the parents), their four pups, and Uncle Albert (a single male caretaker). What makes this non-fiction story so fascinating is Mowat's ability to make scientific method and inquiry easy to understand and, oftentimes, humorous. This book would make a wonderful read for reluctant teenage readers, as well as anyone who loves wolves and/or nature. The vocabulary in the first few chapters may be difficult, but after those introductory chapters the wonderful story takes over and you can forgive Mowat's use of elevated, difficult language. The "found" poem at the end of the book leaves the reader with much to think about concerning the role of humans in the environment. A definite must read!

My first reaction to the story was it is slow paced but with lots or thrills around every cornor. This book's style is definatly slow paced but he keeps the action coming and coming. My evalution of this boook is that it is for the slow paced reader but also for someone that likes lots of thrills and adventure. Mowat was placed on the frozen ice to search for wolves. Mowat and his party were going to move to a differnt location but all of a sudden the plan did not want to start. After they got the plan in the air they were forced to jetasun dead weight out. They had to land on the ice and Mowat had to live under his canoe. The next day he sought out to find another place to live because he did not want his canoe recked. He found a man in the woods that would let him in but Marley freaked him out with all of the tools he uses to disect animals. I reccommend reading this book because it is fuled with lots of action

This is very much a period piece as Mowat was trying to dispell fifty-year-old myths about wolves. The Canadian government sent him into the Arctic to study the wolf's role in killing caribous that human hunters wanted to kill instead.

What makes this a great book is Mowat's understated humor in many places, his humorous sarcasm of bureaucracy, and a handful of funny set-piece situations -- such as how he ended up chasing wolves naked for several miles, inadvertently shocking Inuit women and children.

Also, Mowat really did study wolves in the Arctic, but not in the way that he describes here. There's a fair amount of fiction in the book, though broadly inspired and shaped by his experiences. Don't take it all as literally true. Maybe these funny stories really happened but I wouldn't bet the farm. They are still fully, though.

Mowat writes very well, though the vocabulary will be a bit advanced for some teens (and for anyone younger).

While I can't speak to the veracity of the facts involved, I can say with certainty that I loved this story of a man in the wilderness making friends with a wolf pack. He lovingly dedicates the book to one of his wolf friends.

Mowat goes alone into the Alaskan wilderness to study the wild wolves, who are being exterminated because of a belief that they are eating livestock. Mowat tries as well as humanly possible to live as he sees the wolves living. He drinks gallons of tea so he can pee around his camp to mark his territory. He eats rodents to see if he gets his full complement of dietary needs. He takes "wolf naps" so that he can watch them interact with one another during all hours. He even notes baby-sitting habits.

Unusually, the movie that was made from this book keeps to the story pretty accurately. I would recommend that, also.

For me this book was a real page-turner. Mowat's writing has an exquisite simplicity to it. His entire experiences in the Arctic with wolves is facinating. I must admit that I did find some of the events unbelievable, but that could just be due to my preconceptions about wolves in general (the very types he is trying to dispel). However, for me, these unbelievable moments did not detract from the narrative in any way; I still found myself wanting to know what happened next. In my own mind while reading the book, I couldn't help but consider how our negative stereotypes of wolves are very similar to the negative stereotypes people often feel about other groups of people. In both cases, when one begins to truly know the other, he finds that there is really no basis for the negative sterotype. Mowat makes it point not to rely on anecdotal evidence when studying the wolf, and instead only gives merit to the anecdotal evidence after he has observed behavior that would back it up. It would seem that this should apply when judging people as well.

The only improvement I think could be made to this book is for Mowat to include whatever became of his report. I realize he is telling the story to reveal his own experiences with the Arctic Wolves, and not to reveal the post report offical government position; but it woud have been nice to have that included anyway.

Overall, I think this is a great book, and well worth the few hours it takes to read it.

This book was a real eye-opener. I've read it many times and it never ceases to amaze me. Mowat has such a noble insight on all of nature. Living among a wolf family, he breaks down the barriers and pre-conceived notions that human society gives the wolf. Highly recommended.

Never Cry Wolf is a compelling autobiographical account of a scientist's research into wolves in the wild. The descriptive story of Farley Mowat's scientific expedition to northern Canada, including his detailed observations of wolf pack behaviour is told clearly in chronological order. The major characters in this account: the author, a wildlife biologist on his first assignment; the Innuit, an indian tribe native to northern Canada; and the wolf pack, subject of Mowat's study; are vividly brought to life. The author uses well-selected events to describe the wolfpack, the Innuit and himself in their daily lives; his first-hand descriptions of interactions with the the natives, the animals, and their environment make for interesting and informative reading.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the life of a biologist studying wolves in the wild.

Never Cry Wolf is one of the more enjoyable books that I have read, and if there is a book that best evokes the Farley Mowat style, this is it.

There has been some doubt as to whether some of the experiences that Mowat writes about in this book are fudged in order to make the story more appealling. It's an accusation that Mowat of course denies, but who knows? There is really no one but the author himself in a position to know what really happened, what has been left out, what has been embellished all for the sake of making the book more readable and entertaining.

Does it really matter, though? To my knowledge, Mowat never mentions that the intention of this book was to serve as an accurate and scholarly study of wolf behaviour. The intent of the book was to put forth his personal opinion concerning why wolves were supposedly slaughtering cariboo indiscriminantly.

The government had sent him up there with the belief (or at least professing the belief) that there was a problem with the wolf population. What Mowat discovered, however, was that wolf behaviour was in fact very regulated, that wolves hunted selectively. These mass killings of cariboo, he found, were not the result of the wolves, but of hunters from the South, primarily from the United States, who would fly in, blast away, and take a few trophies home, leaving the rest to rot. Trappers, in turn, exploited this situation: they complained to the government that the wolves were a problem and wanted a bounty to be implemented, so that, obviously, they could then cash in on it.

Whether authentic or slightly altered, Never Cry Wolf is a fascinating story and an important work of Canadian literature. Mowat's advocacy for such issues as the environment and Native rights was ground-breaking and of fundamental importance to current and future generations. I would hope, then, that people who read this book will regarded as more than just a "good read" and that they will make an effort to understand its deeper message.

Farley Mowat's wonderful account of his observations of the arctic wolf never fails to send the imagination on a soaring journey to that remote land near the top of the world. Mowat is sent north to observe the wolf in his natural habitat to determine if the wolf is responsible for the disastrous decline of the caribou population. In so doing he discovers the wolf to be far from the "savage brute" that he expected. In studying a family of these creatures he presents a unique and beautiful picture of natural life. He comes to love the wolves for their purity, their dedication to family, and their intelligence. In addition, there are several fascinating episodes involving the local eskimo peoples, particularly an old and wise man named Ootek.

Although it reads like a novel, it is a true account of Mowat's experience. We are fortunate however that such a spirit as his shines through with such clarity in the narrative. Mowat is a writer of great power, worthy of the attention of anyone who is remotely interested in the plight of the natural world against the neverending onslaught by humanity.

In 1948 the Canadian government sent Farley Mowat out to the frozen tundra to study the wolves. The object of their desire was to link the wolves to the decimation of the Caribou herds and thus a reason to eradicate them. What Mowat discovered was a creature in perfect harmony with its environment, thriving on only what it needed and no more. The story is interspersed with a terrific sense of humor that kept me laughing and smiling throughout the whole story. If your interested in wolves or the outdoors I couldn't recommend a better book to read.

As a true lover of reading, I rarely run into a book I truly detest. However, I found Never Cry Wolf truly awful. I found it very difficult to actually finish it. I thought it would be a good outdoors book, but boy was I wrong.

The problems begin in the first chapter. It seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the book, or anything, for that matter. After that, it was simply too slow and too boring. Nothing ever really happens. I was still waiting for the excitement to begin when I reached the last page. No excitement ever came.

I would really like to warn anyone off who is thinking of reading this book for pleasure. I guess if you are a professional environmentalist or are obsessed with wolves or something, you might find it interesting, but I sure didn't.

"Never Cry Wolf" is one of Canadian author Farley Mowat's first works and it's a beauty. Told with humour and verve and a tongue very much in the cheek, it is nevertheless a serious inquiry into what motivates man to do the things he does. One can see Mowat sitting up there in the ice and snow of the Arctic, scratching away at what was then a healthy head of hair and the beginnings of a very respectable beard, wondering, "what on earth can they be thinking of," as he tries to deal with the odd behaviour of government machinery thousands of miles away to the south. Further, and this is I suppose the point of the book, what is he to do about this animal he has been sent, not to study, but to convict, who simply won't behave like the awful predator he is alleged to be? Why is man disposed to decide upon things first, and then learn the truth afterwards (often when it is too late)? And having found out the truth of the matter for himself, what should Mowat do about it? Well, I think the subsequent career of this ardent defender of natural causes speaks for itself. In fact, just before you read his environmental masterpiece, "Sea of Slaughter," you should read this. It's the tip of the iceberg, but it will perhaps soften the blow.

It's disappointing to see this review section turned into a forum for poorly & reluctantly written high school book reports. I read this book voluntarily when I was in high school, & loved it. Sure, it has it's "educational" sections, which were apparently tough on some of the "readers" herein, but there are laugh-out-loud episodes, moments of insight into the human condition and our place on the planet, and an outcome which should enlighten any thoughtful reader as to how our misconceptions can lead to mistreatement both of other species and members of our own. A terrific read, highly recommended.

This book is about a guy who near peru somewhere and lives with this eskimo guy named mike. This book is full of weird stuff like wolf juice. Ofcourse I didn't ever read it by myself the teacher made us read it. one tip from me would be use a dictionary when you are reading it.

"Never Cry Wolf" is a true story about Farly Mowat's studies of wild wolves in Alaska. The book details his studies and observations of one particular pack of wolves. In his studies, he conducts an experiment to see if a large animal (human) can survive strictly on field mice, and he is the guinea pig. He does this because he notices that this is all the wolf family is eating in the spring, and he wanted to see if it was really possible.

This book is an excellent selection for any reader interested in wolves or an Alaskan adventure. Also any reader interested in a lot of feeling and emotion would be completely satisfied.

"Never Cry Wolf" is about a man who is sent to the Wolf House Bay to discover how wolves live. This is a desolate place and there are no other people living in that area for miles around. The man finds out where the wolves den is and when the wolves are not there he hikes over to the den and looks around. He learns a lot about the wolves and how they live and love him.

Mowatt tells in the story how the wolves communicate to each other and hunt together. Mowatt does a lot of research on the way wolves live. Mowatt explains all the details in the story, such as when the wolves leave to hunt and what they are hunting. Wolves hunt deer and caribou, but when there were no caribou they will eat mice. Wolves will generally hunt in packs so there are more of them if they have to bring down a large animal.

I enjoyed Never Cry wolf because it gives you interesting facts about wolves. Throughout the entire book the author shows you how wolves are misunderstod and pose no threat to man. I particularaly liked the wolves reaction to the authors mishaps. The comparison between people and wolves shows you how intelligent wolves are...(smarter than some people i know...namley, whoever is reading this review) That is why I give this book 4 stars

I gave Never Cry Wolf 5 stars beacuse it gave you an intimate relationship with wolves, not their blood thirsty myth. The wolf is not a blood thirsty kill everything in sight lone working creatures, but great parents, are wily, curios, clever,and intielligent. Another aspect I enjoyed about the book is it's portrayl with the wolves. The eskimos respect and will never harm wolves, and some may even be able to communicate with wolves. You will also enjoy Farley Mowats re-lived adventure. 'Never Cry Wolf' is a great book and you will not regret reading it.

This was an extremely witty and suprising book. People with dry humor (or enough intelligence to catch irony)will find it hilarious! Great book, changes your perspective on wolves.

I read this book because I liked the movie. Luckily this was one of those rare movies that was made pretty true to the spirit of the book. Mowat mixes all kinds of descriptions and facts within the narrative, and it's all the more compelling because he wrote based on his own experience. I have gone on to read every Mowat book I can find...

This book by the Canadian naturalist Farley Mowat, which was made into a film in 1983, is an account, often humorous, of Mowat's study of the natural behavior of the arctic wolf in the treeless environs of northern Canada in the late 1940s. He had been sent up there to study the wolf and bring back data on how much the wolf population had been the apparent cause of the large decline in the caribou population. What he discovered was a detailed family life and the controversial observation that there no threat at all for the caribou (or to humans) from the wolves. This book is a classic in conservation literature. It shows the love man has of nature and how we should protect it. As most ranchers will tell you, coyotes are much more of a problem than wolves and wolves help keep the coyote population down.

This is a book about wolves. It is a far cry from Dr. Seuss, but is still good for children. I as and adult, did not like the meaning behind it and it was treacherously boring, but if you want to read go ahead, because you probably have lots of time on your hands.

I am a high school student in grade 12. I read this book as a ISU novel study. I didn't really get into the book until the part about the mice. Otherwise it was pretty boring. But if you like that kind of stuff go ahead and get the book.

I recommend this book to anyone over 40 with a lot of time on their hands.

Never Cry wolf embeleshes a lost form of writing only seen by those who truly understand the outdoors. It's factual content is good, but the humor far exceeds it. I especially enjoyed the wolf juice.

This book as a lot of bloodthirsty wolves. The young boy went camping with his father. They met up with a pack of wolves when they went deer hunting. I like this book because it talks about wolves and has some gross stuff in it. Farley Mowat has a lot of detail about this book and the writing really lets you understand it better.

Saw the movie a long time ago; never got to read the book until now, and I am glad I did. Beautifully written and an eye-opener for those who do not realize the pressing problems inherent with resource exploitation and development in the last remaining (precious) wilderness we have. It will always be good to know that there are still places out there where nature rules!

This was a fascinating and wonderful book on the myths and realities of the arctic wolf. I definitely recommend this to everyone.

This is a great story and one I would definitely recommend to all ages. It made quite an impression on me as a teenager and then again as an adult. One to keep in the library and bring out on those cold winter nights..