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Reviewed: My Human, My Slave: A guide to a well-behaved human By Echo Bird and Dust Bunny Too (as told to Elizabeth Aaron) (Legacy Publishing Group, West Palm Beach, FLA, 2000, 181 pp, ISBN: 0-9674383-0-6, US$ 24.95 hardcover)
You'll note I have not used the term "parrot owners" or "pet owners" in the headline of this book review. The
reason is quite simple, and becomes very obvious to anyone who glances at the
cover of this book. You don't even have to read it to understand why. The
book is "written" by a pair of parrots, with the aid of Elizabeth
Aaron, "a human who knows how to type and spell" as her mega-brief
back-cover bio states. The avian authors, on the other hand, receive some
lengthy background bios just above Aaron's. In a nutshell, this book is a guide not about how to train a parrot, but rather about how humans can best behave toward the domesticated parrots with which they share their lives. Or,
as it is so aptly stated in the introduction, "This book is for the
birds." Although
the book is written from a parrot's perspective, in a very humorous style, all
of the situations described within its covers can be applied to any human-parrot
relationship. There is some excellent advice in this book. It
lists the various kinds of parrots and some of their general characteristics (as
well as the different types of humans and their traits); it details some
approaches to behavior modification (it's easier to modify human behavior than
avian behavior) and dealing with problem situations (they are human problems,
not avian problems). It
is not all humorous. Some of the sections contain some very poignant stories,
especially the chapter of "case studies." Many of the stories in this
chapter are very touching, like the one about a woman who was sexually molested, and
recovered only with the help of her pet budgie. Other stories may cause responsible pet
humans to cringe, praying that they eventually have a happy ending. All
of them touched me in some way. There
are also sections featuring letters from birds and letters from humans
(including the "human slave" of Echo and Dust Bunny). If
the book has any weakness, it is the fact that at times I did have to stop,
scratch my head and think, "Is this real advice, or just some humor?"
and "Is this described situation more indicative of a parrot's behavior or
a human's behavior?" Despite
those drawbacks - or maybe because of them, as they force the reader to think
about, rather than just absorb the content - it is a very entertaining and
informative book that I would recommend to anyone who shares their life with
parrots. I would not suggest you purchase it as a first book if you are just
considering buying a parrot or if you have just bought a parrot, as some of the
material may not seem relevant. However, if you have spent a few months in a
relationship with a parrot, if you have already read a more "serious"
book about parrot keeping, it is a must-have item for any pet human's bookshelf. (You
can order this book at
www.toolady.com
- a
good parrot website; by calling 1-888-842-2549; or, at www.amazon.com
) - Reviewed by John Geary "Humans
are basically dumb animals. Whether you find them in your neighborhood pet shop,
disturbing your nap, or running wild through the Amazon Basin dressed in nothing
but a loincloth, one thing is certain: they CAN be trained to become obedient
servants! All it takes is a little patience and conditioning." This review was published in the Calgary Psittascene, Volume 7, Issue 2, 01/02 |
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