J. Zohara Meyerhoff Hieronimus does a fantastic job reinterpretating traditional tales from various cultures about the power of animals. She centralizes on five main animals: bears, lions, elephants, wolves, and buffaloes and does an in depth analysis of their origins as powerful totems across the world throughout history. Outside of the historical animal interpretation she also provides us with a small selection from her dream journal. Through her dreams she is able to tap into her shaman abilities and as a result she is given messages sometimes using these sacred animals. I loved this aspect of the book as dream interpretation is an important aspect of the past world just as much as animals were. No matter what your system of belief is, all of them note the importance of dreams. The last chapter of her book deals with the future of this world and our future as humans. It isn't until I get here that I realize the novel can be read as a sort of bible, from Genesis to Revelation. This last chapter really solidified my interest in the book there were so many different lessons that I took notes so that I could reread the previous animal chapters to delve further. The only thing I did not like was her focus on white animals alone being the harbingers of peace and balance in the world. While there a few ancient cultures that mention the importance of white animals, I still do not think she should have focused on that in the title. While I'm sure it was not her intent, interpretation is everything. This novel seems to be a conscious attempt to bring together humanity in an attempt to right the wrong we have done to Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants from animals to the sea). As someone who seems to have a passion for social justice, Meyerhoff-Hieronimus should be intuitive to how divise her focalisation on white spirit animals as being superior would be to readers. Notwithstanding, the novel as a whole is still a good read.