by Henry Moscow
First published 1979
Moscow examines the transformation of wild creatures into the domestic animals that share our world today. He focuses on four key species: cattle, cats, dogs, and horses. The book explores the specific social conditions and biological factors that brought these animals into partnership with humans thousands of years ago. Moscow details how early human societies created the circumstances that made domestication possible, while also explaining the genetic and behavioral changes that allowed certain animal populations to adapt to life alongside people. He traces the evolutionary pressures and mutual benefits that cemented these relationships across millennia. The work reveals how domestication reshaped both human civilization and animal biology, creating the interdependent bonds we see today between people and their animal companions.
Genres: animals, domestic-fiction, evolution, non-fiction, biology, academic
Vibes: educational, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-study, scientific-exploration
Setting: Moscow
128 pages · Library Binding · Silver Burdett Pr