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Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo
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Kate Jackson
List Price: $27.95
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Product Details
- Author: Kate Jackson
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- Binding: Hardcover
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- Dewey Decimal Number: 597.96096724
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- EAN: 9780674029743
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- ISBN: 0674029747
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- Label: Harvard University Press
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- Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
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- Number of Items: 1
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- Number of Pages: 336
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- Product Group: Book
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- Publication Date: 2008-04-30
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- Publisher: Harvard University Press
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- Studio: Harvard University Press
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- Title: Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo
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Avg Customer Rating: 
Product Description: In 2005 Kate Jackson ventured into the remote swamp forests of the northern Congo to collect reptiles and amphibians. Her camping equipment was rudimentary, her knowledge of Congolese customs even more so. She knew how to string a net and set a pitfall trap, but she never imagined the physical and cultural difficulties that awaited her. Culled from the mud-spattered pages of her journals, Mean and Lowly Things reads like a fast-paced adventure story. It is Jackson’s unvarnished account of her research on the front lines of the global biodiversity crisis—coping with interminable delays in obtaining permits, learning to outrun advancing army ants, subsisting on a diet of Spam and manioc, and ultimately falling in love with the strangely beautiful flooded forest. The reptile fauna of the Republic of Congo was all but undescribed, and Jackson’s mission was to carry out the most basic study of the amphibians and reptiles of the swamp forest: to create a simple list of the species that exist there—a crucial first step toward efforts to protect them. When the snakes evaded her carefully set traps, Jackson enlisted people from the villages to bring her specimens. She trained her guide to tag frogs and skinks and to fix them in formalin. As her expensive camera rusted and her Western soap melted, Jackson learned what it took to swim with the snakes—and that there’s a right way and a wrong way to get a baby cobra out of a bottle. (20080415)
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Customer Reviews
A fascinating read for anyone
I'm no herpetologist but I couldn't put this book down! The author has a real knack for weaving together the details of how to do science with the excitement of real discoveries. She brings alive the magic of science, travel, survival, interacting with other cultures, and curiosity for how the world works. A great read!
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I'm no herpetologist, but I loved this book!
I found Kate Jackson's "Mean and Lowly Things" both interesting and informative. I thought Jackson did a great job combining the scientific aspect of her work with the very human aspect of her research. For those of us that may not find it very exciting mucking around in swamps the interpersonal relationships between Kate and those she worked with were very captivating. Even when the focus was on the failed fish nets and drop buckets there was always a very human element to it! In a backhanded way I even learned something about snakes and frogs!
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Fairly intersting acount
The author is obviously a very courageous and dedicated person in pursuit of scaly critters. However, I would doubt that her adventures would be of much interest to anyone but another herpetologist. Her accounts of overcoming African bureaucracy, sloth and idiocy are pretty frustrating and not very enjoyable. My main feeling after finishing this account is my determination never to go there.
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Intrepid Adventure
"To understand the world, we must understand mean and lowly things." - Aristotle
Kate Jackson recounts her expeditions with the flare of the best natural field scientists from Jane Goodall to Frank Buck - every bit as fascinating and courageous. Scientific exploration - hardships, danger, daring, mysteries, accomplishment, exotic cultural surprises. Including a glimpse into modern scientific camaraderie around the world and government bureaucratic malfeasance. Highly recommended glimpse of an intrepid person enjoying herself physically and intellectually.
"No person who is enthusiastic about his work has anything to fear from life." -Samuel Goldwyn
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Gutsy science
Kate Jackson is a much-accomplished scientist at a releatively young age. I do happen to know Kate on a personal level...yet her blend of skills still amazes me. She is one part curiousity, two parts courage, and three parts intelligence. Her most impressive skill to me (with my more literary bent) is her sure ability at narrative---her descriptions pull you into the jungle and make you feel your rotting socks in the jungle heat. I think everyone should read Kate's book, as I am sure you have never met anyone like her either.
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