
audiobook
This work takes listeners on a sweeping tour of humanity’s partnership with the animal kingdom, tracing how the first tentative tamings blossomed into the complex relationships that underpin modern life. Written from a scientific viewpoint, it examines the gradual shift from occasional hunting to the deliberate breeding of beasts that would become essential to work, food, and even status.
Rich, full‑page illustrations bring the story to life, showcasing everything from African elephants and Egyptian camels to English polo ponies, Japanese silkworms, and the myriad poultry that have filled farms worldwide. The author weaves these vivid images into a narrative that highlights the practical benefits of domestication—ploughing fields, hauling loads, guarding flocks—while also hinting at the cultural bonds that have formed between people and their animal companions.
Through clear, engaging prose, the book reveals how the rise of domesticated species has been a driving force behind the advancement of societies across continents, offering listeners a thoughtful glimpse into the intertwined evolution of man and beast.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (393K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Julia Miller, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2008-05-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1841–1906
A Civil War veteran turned Harvard scientist, he helped shape American geology while writing for a wide public on evolution, education, and the natural world. His life joined field science, teaching, and big questions about how nature and society change.
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