Reviews
"Taking the kids to the zoo is as much a Sunday afternoon ritual as watching the NFL on television. But while the zoo is a pretty common experience, it is also an unsettling idea, causing the human animal to feel uncomfortable. . . . The ideas that sustained [zoos] were, as Elizabeth Hanson explains in Animal Attractions , progressive. These were not seedy, sideshow affairs where you went for cheap thrills but places for 'recreation, self improvement and spiritual renewal.'"-- Geoffrey Norman, Wall Street Journal, Animal Attractionsis an enjoyable overview of zoo cultural history, and will be of interest to scientific and cultural historians, as well as anyone curious about the context of what they are seeing during a day at the zoo., "If ever a book lived up to its title and subtitle, this one, an interesting and readable history of zoos and influences on their development in the US, certainly does."-- Choice, "Hanson's finely crafted chronicle of the American zoo traces the perennial struggle between the need to entertain, the desire to educate, and the yearning for natural and scientific authenticity that surrounds the public exhibition of wild animals in captivity. Animal Attractions is essential reading for anyone with an interest in zoos and their history." --James Serpell, author of In the Company of Animals: A Study of Human-Animal Relationships, Taking the kids to the zoo is as much a Sunday afternoon ritual as watching the NFL on television. But while the zoo is a pretty common experience, it is also an unsettling idea, causing the human animal to feel uncomfortable. . . . The ideas that sustained [zoos] were, as Elizabeth Hanson explains in Animal Attractions, progressive. These were not seedy, sideshow affairs where you went for cheap thrills but places for 'recreation, self improvement and spiritual renewal.', "An excellent summary of an often-ignored subject. . . . Hanson covers the social evolution of how we have seen zoos, and delves into changes in how zoos see themselves." --Adrian Barnett, New Scientist, An excellent summary of an often-ignored subject. . . . Hanson covers the social evolution of how we have seen zoos, and delves into changes in how zoos see themselves., " Animal Attractions carefully and importantly contextualizes the zoo amidst broader developments in American culture. . . . [A]n important contribution to the vital rethinking of zoos and urban space and the relationship of nature and culture in modern America." ---Brett Mizelle, Journal of American History, " Animal Attractions provides a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at an important but historically neglected institution: the American zoo. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a day at the zoo will want to read this book to learn more about why we find the experience so compelling." --Mark V. Barrow, author of A Passion for Birds, "This book is rich in striking examples. . . . [It] leaves readers with a clear appreciation of the pressures that shaped American zoos in the past and continue to drive innovations in display today."-- Elizabeth Blackmar, American Historical Review, " Animal Attractions carefully and importantly contextualizes the zoo amidst broader developments in American culture. . . . [A]n important contribution to the vital rethinking of zoos and urban space and the relationship of nature and culture in modern America."-- Brett Mizelle, Journal of American History, "An excellent summary of an often-ignored subject. . . . Hanson covers the social evolution of how we have seen zoos, and delves into changes in how zoos see themselves."-- Adrian Barnett, New Scientist, " Animal Attractions is an enjoyable overview of zoo cultural history, and will be of interest to scientific and cultural historians, as well as anyone curious about the context of what they are seeing during a day at the zoo."-- Lisa Faust, Quarterly Review of Biology, An excellent summary of an often-ignored subject. . . . Hanson covers the social evolution of how we have seen zoos, and delves into changes in how zoos see themselves. ---Adrian Barnett, New Scientist, "An excellent summary of an often-ignored subject. . . . Hanson covers the social evolution of how we have seen zoos, and delves into changes in how zoos see themselves." ---Adrian Barnett, New Scientist, "This book is rich in striking examples. . . . [It] leaves readers with a clear appreciation of the pressures that shaped American zoos in the past and continue to drive innovations in display today." --Elizabeth Blackmar, American Historical Review, " Animal Attractions carefully and importantly contextualizes the zoo amidst broader developments in American culture. . . . [A]n important contribution to the vital rethinking of zoos and urban space and the relationship of nature and culture in modern America." --Brett Mizelle, Journal of American History, "If ever a book lived up to its title and subtitle, this one, an interesting and readable history of zoos and influences on their development in the US, certainly does." -- Choice, This book is rich in striking examples. . . . [It] leaves readers with a clear appreciation of the pressures that shaped American zoos in the past and continue to drive innovations in display today. ---Elizabeth Blackmar, American Historical Review, "This thoroughly researched book explores the cultural and physical landscapes of America's zoos in fascinating detail. Hanson follows the progress--and the pitfalls--of every aspect of their journey from menageries to centers of conservation. She unflinchingly examines the wretched and the wonderful, the mediocre and the magnificent, and along the way she asks intelligent questions and reveals intriguing insights into an institution that is rarely examined with any seriousness." --David Hancocks, Director, Victoria's Open Range Zoo, Animal Attractions carefully and importantly contextualizes the zoo amidst broader developments in American culture. . . . [A]n important contribution to the vital rethinking of zoos and urban space and the relationship of nature and culture in modern America. ---Brett Mizelle, Journal of American History, If ever a book lived up to its title and subtitle, this one, an interesting and readable history of zoos and influences on their development in the US, certainly does., " Animal Attractions is an enjoyable overview of zoo cultural history, and will be of interest to scientific and cultural historians, as well as anyone curious about the context of what they are seeing during a day at the zoo." ---Lisa Faust, Quarterly Review of Biology, Animal Attractions is an enjoyable overview of zoo cultural history, and will be of interest to scientific and cultural historians, as well as anyone curious about the context of what they are seeing during a day at the zoo. ---Lisa Faust, Quarterly Review of Biology, Animal Attractionscarefully and importantly contextualizes the zoo amidst broader developments in American culture. . . . [A]n important contribution to the vital rethinking of zoos and urban space and the relationship of nature and culture in modern America., "This is an innovative, well-researched, engagingly written, and important study of the cultural history of zoos in America. Hanson is the first to tackle this rich subject in a book, and what she achieves is impressive." --Richard Burkhardt, author of The Spirit of System, This book is rich in striking examples. . . . [It] leaves readers with a clear appreciation of the pressures that shaped American zoos in the past and continue to drive innovations in display today., "Taking the kids to the zoo is as much a Sunday afternoon ritual as watching the NFL on television. But while the zoo is a pretty common experience, it is also an unsettling idea, causing the human animal to feel uncomfortable. . . . The ideas that sustained [zoos] were, as Elizabeth Hanson explains in Animal Attractions , progressive. These were not seedy, sideshow affairs where you went for cheap thrills but places for 'recreation, self improvement and spiritual renewal.'" --Geoffrey Norman, Wall Street Journal, "Taking the kids to the zoo is as much a Sunday afternoon ritual as watching the NFL on television. But while the zoo is a pretty common experience, it is also an unsettling idea, causing the human animal to feel uncomfortable. . . . The ideas that sustained [zoos] were, as Elizabeth Hanson explains in Animal Attractions , progressive. These were not seedy, sideshow affairs where you went for cheap thrills but places for 'recreation, self improvement and spiritual renewal.'" ---Geoffrey Norman, Wall Street Journal, "This book is rich in striking examples. . . . [It] leaves readers with a clear appreciation of the pressures that shaped American zoos in the past and continue to drive innovations in display today." ---Elizabeth Blackmar, American Historical Review, "Elizabeth Hanson's Animal Attractions is much more than a history of zoological parks, it is rather a phenomenology of zoos and zoo people." --Terry Maple, Director, Zoo Atlanta, Taking the kids to the zoo is as much a Sunday afternoon ritual as watching the NFL on television. But while the zoo is a pretty common experience, it is also an unsettling idea, causing the human animal to feel uncomfortable. . . . The ideas that sustained [zoos] were, as Elizabeth Hanson explains in Animal Attractions , progressive. These were not seedy, sideshow affairs where you went for cheap thrills but places for 'recreation, self improvement and spiritual renewal.' ---Geoffrey Norman, Wall Street Journal, " Animal Attractions is an enjoyable overview of zoo cultural history, and will be of interest to scientific and cultural historians, as well as anyone curious about the context of what they are seeing during a day at the zoo." --Lisa Faust, Quarterly Review of Biology
