Grizzly Maze
2
In review The Grizzly Maze: Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Obsession with Alaskan Bears Nick Jans Dutton Publishing. 2005 Unless you've been in hiberna- tion, you proba- bly know that in October of 2003, self-proclaimed bear expert Tim- othy Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huegue- nard were fatally mauled by grizzlies in Alaska's Katmai National Park. Treadwell's life and death have been documented in the Werner Herzog film "The Grizzly Man," a Vanity Fair aiticle, a "PrimeTlme" seg- ment, and in other media. So how do you write a story when everyone already knows how it ends? In The Grizzly Maze, Nick Jans does not show an answer to this problem. This book is easier to enter than to exit. By page 112 of this 274-page book, the final chapter of Treadwell's life has already ended. With the protag- onist out of the picture so early, the second half of the book drags at a rather excruciating pace. Jans pads his tale v^th information about the behav- ioral differences of black and brov^^n bears, how to store your food when camping, and his own experiences with grizzlies. Related information, but hardly captivating, especially since Jans often covers ground that he's already covered. Jans misses the most fascinating aspect of the tale, which, of course, is TYeadwell himself. What made him tick? Why would a man leave the comfort of his Galifornia home every summer for 13 years to rough it in the Alaskan wilds in such close proximity to one of North America's most powerful and dangerous creatures? How did he actually manage to co-exist with the bears for 13 years? You'll be no closer to such insight into Treadv*;ell's psyche after reading this book than you are now. You should, however, be better able to form an opinion on Treadwell's cho- sen avocation as environmentalist and protector of bears, a move that created controversy before and after his death. There are those who contend that Treadwell's presence among the bears was vital for their safety- Others assert that Treadwell was a detriment to the animals' welfare, and that his annual treks ultimately did more harm than good. Jans gives time to representatives from both camps. Unfortunately, he does so in a manner that is v^nldly erratic and disorganized, not only chronologically, but also thematically and stybstically. Add a handful of boring photos of such subjects as a park closure sign and a cleared campsite, embarrassingly ama- teurish sketches of the attack site and the Alaskan coastline, and the result is a bumpy, poorly edited book that barely does justice to such an exciting topic. — Audrey Webb The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide (2005-2006) David Helvarg, editor Island Press. 2005 This is the ocean decade. Hundreds of groups have sprung up across the United States to work on marine issues, from local watershed- and coast-protection groups, to networks working on issues such as coral reef protection or gillnetting. The Ocean and Coastal Conserva- tion Guide is an invaluable aid to these activists, or to anyone who wants to become one. The Guide - subtitled "The Blue Movement Directory" - is a list of more than 2,000 activist groups; federal, state, local, and tribal agencies working on marine or coastal issues; marine science schools and other edu- cational resources; and marine parks and sanctuaries. Each entry contains a^ description of the group s program area, as weU as updated contact infor- mation. Compiling this valuable resource was certainly a daunting task for editor David Helvarg and his staff. A must-buy for anyone concerned with the state of the oceans. — Chris Clarke (more book reviev\/s on page 44) Hemp & Organic Cotton Natural Body Care Safe, Non-toxic Cleaners Shop online or toll-free! goodhumans.com ©, ©, @, (866)420-4208 To receive free ground shipping, please use coupon code: earthisland-2 42 WWW.EARTHISLAND.ORa
Transcript of Grizzly Maze
In reviewThe Grizzly Maze: TimothyTreadwell's Fatal Obsessionwith Alaskan BearsNick JansDutton Publishing. 2005
Unless you'vebeen in hiberna-tion, you proba-bly know that inOctober of 2003,self-proclaimedbear expert Tim-othy Treadwelland his girlfriendAmie Huegue-nard were fatally
mauled by grizzlies in Alaska's KatmaiNational Park. Treadwell's life anddeath have been documented in theWerner Herzog film "The Grizzly Man,"a Vanity Fair aiticle, a "PrimeTlme" seg-ment, and in other media.
So how do you write a story wheneveryone already knows how it ends?In The Grizzly Maze, Nick Jans doesnot show an answer to this problem.This book is easier to enter than toexit. By page 112 of this 274-pagebook, the final chapter of Treadwell'slife has already ended. With the protag-onist out of the picture so early, thesecond half of the book drags at arather excruciating pace. Jans pads histale v^th information about the behav-ioral differences of black and brov nbears, how to store your food whencamping, and his own experienceswith grizzlies. Related information, buthardly captivating, especially sinceJans often covers ground that he'salready covered.
Jans misses the most fascinatingaspect of the tale, which, of course, isTYeadwell himself. What made him tick?Why would a man leave the comfort ofhis Galifornia home every summer for 13years to rough it in the Alaskan wilds insuch close proximity to one of North
America's most powerful and dangerouscreatures? How did he actually manageto co-exist with the bears for 13 years?You'll be no closer to such insight intoTreadv*;ell's psyche after reading thisbook than you are now.
You should, however, be better ableto form an opinion on Treadwell's cho-sen avocation as environmentalist andprotector of bears, a move that createdcontroversy before and after his death.There are those who contend thatTreadwell's presence among the bearswas vital for their safety- Others assertthat Treadwell was a detriment to theanimals' welfare, and that his annualtreks ultimately did more harm thangood. Jans gives time to representativesfrom both camps. Unfortunately, he doesso in a manner that is v nldly erratic anddisorganized, not only chronologically,but also thematically and stybstically.Add a handful of boring photos of suchsubjects as a park closure sign and acleared campsite, embarrassingly ama-teurish sketches of the attack site andthe Alaskan coastline, and the result is abumpy, poorly edited book that barelydoes justice to such an exciting topic.
— Audrey Webb
The Ocean and CoastalConservation Guide(2005-2006)David Helvarg, editorIsland Press. 2005
This is the ocean decade. Hundredsof groups have sprung up across theUnited States to work on marineissues, from local watershed- andcoast-protection groups, to networksworking on issues such as coral reefprotection or gillnetting.
The Ocean and Coastal Conserva-tion Guide is an invaluable aid to theseactivists, or to anyone who wants tobecome one.
The Guide - subtitled "The Blue
MovementDirectory" - is alist of more than2,000 activistgroups; federal,state, local, andtribal agenciesworking onmarine orcoastal issues;marine science schools and other edu-cational resources; and marine parksand sanctuaries. Each entry contains adescription of the group s programarea, as weU as updated contact infor-mation. Compiling this valuableresource was certainly a daunting taskfor editor David Helvarg and his staff. Amust-buy for anyone concerned withthe state of the oceans. — Chris Clarke
(more book reviev\/s on page 44)
Hemp & Organic Cotton
Natural Body Care
Safe, Non-toxic Cleaners
Shop online or toll-free!
goodhumans.com©, ©, @,
(866)420-4208
To receive free ground shipping,please use coupon code: earthisland-2
42 WWW.EARTHISLAND.ORa
