Let me start by saying that when I first heard about this book I was VERY excited to get a copy. With so many books being published on captive care or natural history, it was refreshing to see a book that focuses more on the history of the hobby.
To say that this book is in-depth would be an understatement. Throughout reading it I continually wondered how many hours of research and hunting for the documents or articles referenced took. The book starts quite literally from the beginning of reptiles being displayed for the public with the era of side-shows and circuses.
From there it progresses decade by decade, describing the evolution of the hobby as well as the people who helped shape what it is today. Some figures were at one point or another considered controversial in herpetocultural history but undoubtedly had an influence on what the hobby is today. It also touches on some of the species that helped propel the industry to its current state.
It will be interesting to see where the hobby continues to go as I look forward to going back to this book many years later and seeing how things have changed even MORE since this release.
This is a worthy book to add to any herp library. I’m a firm believer that you should know where you come from to know where you’re going. In an ever expanding hobby, its nice to know who helped pave the way for where we are now. Those individuals put in the real work via serious trial and error with all the species we keep today. I think we owe it to their legacy to remember who they were. This book helps us keep their legacy alive
