Once a Wolf Audiobook By Bryan Sykes cover art

Once a Wolf

The Science Behind Our Dogs' Astonishing Genetic Evolution

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Once a Wolf

By: Bryan Sykes
Narrated by: John Curless
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The author of Seven Daughters of Eve returns with a lively account of how all dogs are descended from a mere handful of wolves.

How did wolves evolve into dogs? When did this happen, and what role did humans play? Oxford geneticist Bryan Sykes used the full array of modern technology to explore the canine genetic journey that likely began when a human child decided to adopt a wolf cub thousands of years ago. In the process, he discovered that only a handful of genes have created the huge range of shapes, sizes, and colors in modern dogs.

Providing scientific insight into these adaptive stages, Sykes focuses attention on our own species and how our own evolution from (perhaps equally aggressive) primates was enhanced by this most unlikely ally.

Whether examining our obsession with canine purity or delving into the prehistoric past to answer the most fundamental question of all, "Why do we love our dog so much?," Once a Wolf is an engaging work no dog lover or ancestry aficionado should be without.

©2018 Bryan Sykes (P)2019 Recorded Books Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Pets & Animal Care Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Wolf Dog Evolution
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I was a little disappointed because I was looking for more to discover my dog's skittish behavior. There were some chapters that lost my interest. I thought the narrator had a habit of starting the sentence talking louder than at the end and it was hard to hear the last word.

Disappointing

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I was expecting a book that would say more about how different breeds were developed, but what I got was a great review of genetics. I graduated from medical school in 1968 and the knowledge of genetics has exploded in the past sixty years. John Curless did an outstanding job of narration. I usually buy both Kindle and audible editions of books I read and follow alone as I listen. The book organization and subject matter was inticing and followed a sequencial presentation that was very educational. My only down point was Chapter 23 The Girl who Talks to Dogs, although interesting I though was a bit too longs. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone intested in the genetics of dogs, and the parralel between dogs and humans was particularly interesting.

Vern Usher MD age 84

Not what I expected but better

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What a great book. Just to make sure I got all of the splendid information, I listened to it twice, which is my ultimate compliment. If one is interested in where their family pooch came from, this is a must read! Genetics is a complex subject and I think I actually got it. The only flaw is....He did not write about Welsh Springer Spaniels, my true love!

So good I listened to it twice

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I’m not a educated man but I do like your books and your stories in them are alongside the data really good

Great book

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I found this book very engaging. The science is carefully explained and although the author admits he’s not a “dog person,” he makes up for that in many ways, including passages that are beautifully poetic.

Fascinating study

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This book does not seem to be up to date with latest info on dogs or humans (sapiens or Neanderthals). Gets downright silly - eg the wolf smells the Neanderthals as pungent and the sapiens as “sweet”. His interjections are too reminiscent of some old time Euro scientists of the 1800s and 1900s with their unexamined biases and laudatory portrayal of Man the Wise. Ugh too much. Wish I could return this for a refund.

Inaccuracies

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