Stunning nature writing for the environmentalist reader. Discussed quite a few conservationist movers and shakers. I especially liked the discussion on Aldo Leopold. The general history of environmental biology was fascinating especially discussing human impact on bio-makeup. Some chapters are duller than others but a great overall read for environmental conservation.

I really enjoyed this audiobook that gives a general history of environmental biology, and how we are affecting the bio-makeup of the whole world. I really liked learning about how a politician set up where certain non-human things have rights, like the ocean, forests, etc. and can have a lawyer stand up for them if something affects them negatively. I sincerely hope we can help defend life on this planet rather than destroy it.

I received an e-ARC of this book by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* loved reading this! i would totally buy this and recommend it for sure

3.5 stars for this interesting review of the history of animal conservation - the good, the misguided, the successful, the calamitous, the controversial. Good audiobook narrator too.

Great on audio! An excellent history of the modern environmental movement and the high costs that it has had on both humans, animals the planet in general. Should be required reading! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced listening copy.

This was very dense, even for an audio book, but it was still interesting. It reads like a documentary as opposed to a text book which is very nice. The narrator has a nice voice for this kind of info heavy book.

Informative and engaging! This book takes an unflinching look at the history and realities of conservation and the state of animal protection today. There were moments of this book that were hard to listen to, but I still found it to be worth the time.

I did have an issue using the audio provided and had to download a copy on a separate app. That being said, this book is well narrated.

I received an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in the Age of Extinction tells the story of the modern conservation movement and those who have led the way. Nijhuis delves into questions such as how it is determined that an animal deserves to be protected as well as the consequences those protections have on the humans who live near them. This was an interesting read, and I would recommend it to those who are just learning about conservation and want to know more. Overall, Delaine did a good job of narrating the audiobook, although it jarred me every time I heard her mention “hooping” cranes.

Incredibly informative look at the progression of conservation and the people who made it what it is today. There are a bunch of great stories about how conservation got started and how a love for animals and hunting animals drove it through even the worst times in our history.

In Beloved Beasts, Michelle Nijhuis catalogs many of the efforts that have been made to preserve various species of wildlife. The result is a fascinating book about both successes and failures, and sometimes a little bit of both.

One of my favorite things about this book was the author's willingness to dig beneath the surface a little bit, and bring to light some of the less savory aspects of wildlife conservation. She doesn't hesitate to mention the fact that hunting and gaming organizations are very involved in many conservation efforts, which definitely adds some complexity to the situation. But she does a good job of helping the reader see both the good and bad in such arrangements.

The narration is very well done, and adds to the overall appeal of the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in wildlife conservation.

4.5 stars
Very interesting and informative. Good intentions don't always work as illustrated here. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Beloved Beasts is a somewhat in-depth exploration of the field of conservation and the key players who contributed to its shaping. We follow these players - both notable and more obscure - as they tackle conservation issues while exploring their personal agendas that fueled their actions. Nijhuis provides a very personal view into the psyche of these people and does not shy away from pointing out their racist, nationalist and straight up hypocritical principles. As a grad student studying conservation, this is something I have never seen tackled in other books on the birth of conservation and it brings some much needed and valuable insight to how the field has been shaped and ways in which we need to reframe it moving forward. Furthermore, by using case studies of well known and loved animals such as bison and rhinos, Nijhuis keeps the reader engaged and makes this book accessible and enjoyable for the masses. By far my favorite chapter was about community conservation and how we can decolonize the field while giving peoples the power to support their communities and also their animal neighbors. It also talks about complex issues such as trophy hunting that outsiders pretty unanimously oppose (myself included) yet the community and the animals can actually benefit from. It really made me step back and rethink my assumptions about some conservation issues that are clearly not as straightforward as they first seem.

Overall, I enjoyed the narrator and I think she did a great job. The author clearly did her research and brought to light many details about the field of conservation that I believe are important in framing where we go from here. Much of this book is depressing but I think there are also moments of hope in learning about the people and organizations tackling conservation and extinction. However, it is also clear that a few devoted individuals cannot do it alone and this book certainly exposed some of the cracks in our fundamental views on conservation.

Being interested in and passionate about conservation has become "hip" in recent years, but it wasn't always such an easy thing to support. Being a biologist and physiologist by training, I thought I knew the basic nuts & bolts of the conservation movement. Boy howdy, was I wrong! This book was a fascinating look into the history of human interactions with our fellow animals and environment. Should a national forest have legal rights? The answer is yes and Michelle will tell you why.
I appreciate the well-rounded history that Michelle provides, neither wholly demonizing those of the past nor putting historical heroes on pedestals. She doesn't shy away from the unsavory parts of the movement's history, often talking about the problematic and racist views of many considered to be heroes and fathers of modern conservation.
The narrator, Christina Delaine, did a great job. I always appreciate the efforts to not only pronounce non-native words properly but also with the correct accent.
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and have already recommended it many.

I received a NetGalley ARC of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In the times of environmental decline, global warming, and zoonotic pandemic, it is easy to despair. Now more than ever we need some good news and a bit of optimism. And here comes to the rescue this book.

Michelle Nijhuis recalls many of the most famous success stories in the history of conservation. It is heartwarming to read that despite experiences of similar feelings of despair, our predecessors managed to change the world in positive ways. We still have bisons and whooping cranes, after all!

It is a very engaging and interesting read. I especially appreciate including stories of brave and stubborn women, who challenged the status quo and made a difference.

The narrator’s voice in the audiobook version can at first appear as a little generic, but you stop noticing that after a few minutes, and her good diction is really important because of many Latin terms and unfamiliar names in the book.

Thanks to the publisher, Melville House Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook.