The Whole Hog: Exploring the Extraordinary Potential of Pigs - Hardcover

Watson, Lyall

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1588342166 ISBN 13: 9781588342164

Publisher: Smithsonian Books, 2004

Synopsis

Not all animals are created equal. For a start, pigs have it, sheep don’t; that is, that special quality of intelligence, a sense of play, and a gregariousness that make these tragically misunderstood—yet no less endearing—creatures more like us than any other animal. Best-selling author Lyall Watson takes a delightful look at the occasionally amusing, often instructive, and completely admirable qualities of pigs in this indispensable book, not only for everyone interested in natural history but also for fans of Babe, lovers of Piglet, readers of Charlotte’s Web and Animal Farm, gourmands and truffle hunters, folklorists, and, of course, believers in meaningful interspecies communication.

The book is filled with both realistic and wonderfully fanciful illustrations of pigs that illuminate everything you could possibly want to know about the extraordinary family of Suids, from their origins and evolution, rich social lives, and combat strategies, to their special relationship with truffles, popularity in art and literature, and increasing use today in cutting-edge medical transplant technology.

About this title

About the Author

Lyall Watson was born and raised in Africa and holds degrees in geology, botany, zoology, and anthropology. He has written more than 20 books, including the bestselling Supernature, Jacobson's Organ, and Elephantoms. He lives in Santa Fe.

Reviews

Naturalist Watson offers a worthy successor to 2002's well-received Elephantoms with an entertaining and highly informative survey of the humble pig that blends scientific fact with personal insight. Watson investigates several distinct pig types, including bushpigs, wild boars, forest hogs and peccaries ("Honorary Pigs"), and offers anecdotes about his childhood pet warthog—"Hoover was a gentleman," he recalls fondly. With an eye to "counteract some of our misguided perceptions about [pigs] and shed some light instead on creatures a lot like ourselves," his analysis of the pig snout shows how it is "at the same time arm, hand, spade and primary sense organ"; his discussion of pigs' ears ("like radar dishes") and vocalizations offers insight into the animals' communication system; and a run down of human/pig structural similarities (and the resultant crucial role pigs have come to play in modern medicine) may put some folks off their pork and chops. Anthropology, biology, geography, psychology are all here in a clearly written, amiable text peppered with trivia tidbits (Josephine Baker used perfumed dancing pigs in her stage act) and lots of photos. Even those who read but a handful of these pages will find their opinion of pigs much rosier. 45 color illus. not seen by PW.
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Watson, who grew up in Africa with a pet warthog, pays tribute to the family Suidae, both wild and tame. As the author points out, a pig is a pig no matter what the species, and gregarious would more than adequately describe their nature. Herds of wild pigs are found over most of the continents, with their domestic brethren having been introduced just about everywhere else. Watson examines the wild species, ranging from the African warthogs to the island-living babirusas, South America's peccaries, and the ancestor of domestic pigs, the Eurasian wild boar. Comparing these wild pigs with their tame counterparts, the author works in information on the evolution of pigs, their behavior and adaptations, and, most importantly, their intelligence. Enlivening the text with stories from his own encounters with pigs, Watson adds a personal touch that makes all the facts read like fiction, with period illustrations, photographs, and drawings adding further charm. The extensive notes and bibliography complete what will become the sine qua non of books on swine. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Smithsonian Books
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1588342166
• ISBN 13: 9781588342164
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256