This is the 43rd issue of Sohu Culture's book list
Pangolins, which have been caged by humans, have now been shown by scientists to be intermediate hosts for the new coronavirus
Viruses from nature give us a chance to re-examine the relationship between humans and animals. Human beings, in the final analysis, are also animals, but they have always regarded themselves as "high intelligence". Ever since the birth of civilization, animals and their relationship with humans have left an indelible mark on history, animals are both threats and enemies, friends and assistants, and the ever-changing and complex relationship between humans and animals is even related to the rise and fall of civilization.
Brian Feigen, Intimate Relationships, translated by Liu Shijun, Zhejiang University Press, Qizhenguan, December 2019
Humans and animals have been intimate for more than 2.5 million years, but it wasn't until the advent of Homo sapiens that we crossed the predatory barriers. The story in this book begins in the Ice Age, when eight animals— dogs, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, donkeys, horses, and camels—become our tools, slaves, and family members over tens of thousands of years. Today, the concept of animal personality characteristics is in full swing, how should we deal with these "heroes of history"? Is it time to create a new intimacy between humans and animals? History provides context, but there are no ready-made answers.
Alice Roberts, Domestication: Ten Species Make Today's World, translated by Wentao Li, New Classic Culture reader's press, May 2019
If you look further away from animals, you will find that not only did animals make our world today, but plants were also involved in "collusion", and wheat, corn, potatoes, rice, apples and dogs, cows, chickens, horses, and even humans themselves were equally important. Tens of thousands of years of human evolutionary history, but also a history of species domestication, while human beings continue to domesticate new species for their own use, these species are also "domesticating" human beings, their imprint remains in the entire human society, precipitated in our genes, determines our tastes, but also buried the hidden dangers of our diseases, and will continue to affect the future of human beings.
[American] Hans Zinsel, "Rats, Lice and History", translated by Xie Qiao and Kang Ruichao, Chongqing Publishing House, November 2019
Then pull the field of vision back from the macro to two inconspicuous little animals— rats and lice. It is estimated that no one will like these two little things, they spread germs, create great plagues, and take hundreds of millions of precious lives, but this is how our history is "pushed" by them. Starting with parasitic phenomena, Hans Zinsel clarifies that the essence of infectious diseases is the struggle for survival between different life forms, combing through the history of the evolution of infectious diseases from antiquity to the 20th century, and giving a warning: as long as human stupidity and brutality give infectious diseases a chance, it will take advantage of the void and regroup.
[Us] Christie Wilcox Toxic, Translated by Yang Xi, Bass Beijing United Publishing Company November 2019
The horror of infectious diseases does not make us forget another deadly thing in animals - toxins. For thousands of years, humans have been fascinated by venom, whether it's its ability to quickly exert its efficacy or its power to cause casualties in tiny amounts. Christie Wilcox vividly tells how animal researchers are "putting themselves at risk" to explore the world's diverse poisonous animals, taking you through the evolution of venom, how it works in detail, and its impact on humans. At the same time, we should see that Venom also has extraordinary potential to transform the development of contemporary biochemistry and medicine.
Marty Kelp, Myths and Legends of Amphibians and Reptiles, translated by Li Yin, Guizhou People's Publishing House, January 2020
Chinese medicine has a theory of "attacking poison with poison": poisonous animals are good medicines for curing diseases, and things such as daily drinking snake wine can also be supplemented. The popularity of this concept depends partly on the trial and error of empirical medicine for thousands of years, and partly stems from the myths and legends of these animals. Herpetologist Marty Klempo explores folklore about amphibians and reptiles around the world, revealing their uses in folk medicine and magic, as well as their role in literature, visual arts, music and dance. Arguably, this book is an "ode" to toads and snakes, salamanders and lizards, crocodiles and turtles.
[Japanese] Teruyuki Kobayashi, "The Last Words of the Crested Ibis", translated by Wang Xin, Shanghai Translation Publishing House, October 2019
Why should we protect wildlife? Science can give many answers, but The Last Words of the Crested Ibis may give you a deeper reflection. The book tells the story of the crested ibis, the "sacred bird" that symbolizes the emperor, and despite the tireless protection of local bird lovers, it was not able to escape extinction in 2003. From the extinction of the Japanese crested ibis, we can see that utilitarianism has gradually deprived human beings of the most basic respect for life, and instead of holding them accountable, it is better to fundamentally reflect on how "love for life" has disappeared from modern society.
George Orwell, Animal Farm, translated by Xin Hongjuan, People's Literature Publishing House, October 2018
Animal Farm is Orwell's famous dystopian fable about a group of animals on a farm who rise up against human oppression and establish their own homeland, but this action deteriorates due to the dictatorship of the leader pig and the ignorance and blindness of the animals, and the farm is upgraded to a more unequal and cruel society. Orwell's metaphor of reality through allegory is a well-known interpretation, and this time we may wish to think from another angle, at a time when the concept of animal personification is prevalent, is there also some kind of prophetic change in the relationship between humans and animals?
Bai Guan, "100 Letters to Mankind", Gengyun Beijing United Publishing Company, September 2019
No matter what grand perspective we take to dissect the relationship between animals and people, all the love you get in the world will always come from animals. Bai Guan, a veteran artist who has selected 100 animals, has made a highly stylized artistic display, including the living ones and those that have died out. Through the onomatopoeia and a short note issued by each animal, we form a strong interaction with the reader emotionally - loneliness and love, survival and separation, rooted in our memories from childhood to adulthood, and also happening around everyone.
Millie Marota, The Loneliest Animal on Earth, translated by Sun Yijing, Houlang Sichuan Fine Arts Publishing House, February 2020
The hard-to-find chestnut-bellied heron, the spoon-billed sandpiper who loves to travel, the tiger-tailed seahorse with single-minded feelings, the curved lip fish that is difficult to distinguish between male and female... 43 endangered wildlife species by British illustrator Millie Marotta tell their own little-known routines. They are disappearing natural beings, caught in various threats and difficulties, but rarely enter the public eye, becoming "lonely animals on earth". Every animal deserves a place in this world, which reminds us of the public service slogan of CCTV many years ago - "Don't let humans become the last animals on the earth".
(Editor / Li Yinan, Judge / Ren Hui)