The Fair Chase

The Epic Story of Hunting in America

By: Philip Dray

Narrated by: Will Collyer

Length: 14 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

An award-winning historian tells the story of hunting in America, showing how this sport has shaped our national identity. From Daniel Boone to Teddy Roosevelt, hunting is one of America's most sacred-but also most fraught-traditions.

It was promoted in the 19th century as a way to reconnect "soft" urban Americans with nature and to the legacy of the country's pathfinding heroes. Fair chase, a hunting code of ethics emphasizing fairness, rugged independence, and restraint towards wildlife, emerged as a worldview and gave birth to the conservation movement. But the sport's popularity also caused class, ethnic, and racial divisions, and stirred debate about the treatment of Native Americans and the role of hunting in preparing young men for war.

This sweeping and balanced book offers a definitive account of hunting in America. It is essential listening for anyone interested in the evolution of our nation's foundational myths.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 Philip Dray (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Less than ten percent of the population now hunts, but they still represent a large symbolic place in our national narrative. Philip Dray helps us understand why hunting and hunters continue to shape our ongoing debates about our relationship to wildlife, endangered species, and environmental policy. Given the dramatic changes in the management ethos of our natural resources brought on by the Trump administration, The Fair Chase is a timely and engaging reminder of what's at stake." (Jan E. Dizard, author of Going Wild and Mortal Stakes)

"A fluid and fascinating history for hunters and nonhunters alike." (Garden & Gun)

"Revealing...[Dray] does a marvelous job walking us, mostly chronologically, through nearly every aspect and controversy of hunting's long history, with themes of ethics ('fair chase, the idea that hunted animals must have a chance to evade or flee their pursuers') and conservation looming large throughout...A lively history that can be enjoyed by hunters and conservationists alike." (Kirkus)

An attempt to objectively look at hunting that falls flat through ignorance.

The author does a reasonably interesting job talking about the history of hunting. The historic account varies fairly widely delving into tangential issues that aren’t necessarily directly affecting hunting. It’s fairly obvious the author is out of his expertise in this book and had to rely on token passages or comments from various people “on either side“. Some of his temps to objectively look at both sides where I believe in good faith, but comically bad. For example he did a good job of looking at African hunting and getting feedback from conservation groups like WWF. WWF points out correctly that Kenya’s wildlife outside of Parks is basically gone and that process started once hunting was banned. That’s then “refuted” by someone saying the animals in Kenya’s parks are very placid to view. Anyone that drops right over the southern border into Tanzania (gasp a country with widespread hunting) can see the same placid animals in national parks and then go directly next-door to a hunting zone like Maswa which borders the Serengeti national Park and see the same placid animals in fantastic abundance outside of the park placidly walking around just like a photographic area. Asking the Humane Society of the United States on feedback about why hunting is terrible is about like asking neo-Nazis for an objective take on Jews. Bad information in bad product out.

Biased.

This book begins as a well written glimpse into the history and traditions of hunting but eventually evolves into a political anti-hunting rant. The author on one hand demonizes hunters while pretending to be somewhat tolerant of the lifestyle.

For the anti's

In my opinion, this book is not hunter or second amendment friendly. Information is present far more from the bunny hugger point of view.

slow and confusing

slow and confusing. unless you're a PhD in American hunting history you'll be just as confused.

Well written, but biased.

Well written, engaging, and informative, for most of the book. Unfortunately, the author's anti hunting bias is inescapable, especially toward the end of the book. If it were not for his moralizing rant at the end, it would have received a five star review, as he managed to retain at least the appearance of balance up to that point.

90%

First 90% of this book was very interesting and informative. Unfortunately the last 10% was political opinion. I wanted an unbiased history of hunting and the culture developed by fair chase practiced. Unfortunately the author makes several arguments against hunting and trivializes the arguments for hunting. I believe this is a complex issue that should be handled with understanding on both sides. But when one makes the assumption that either side is morally reprehensible there cannot be reasonable dialogue.

Partially Balanced

This book did a decent job of staying balanced, but gets too political at times. The author tries to hide his core belief that eating meat is bad by giving an untrue analysis of modern agriculture. Furthermore he quotes unscientific findings in human anatomy to justify not consuming meat. Sometimes one should educate themselves more before stating falsities as fact. This is the issue with a liberal artist writing in scientific issues, one must read more and write less until you have seen all sides of science. This was written close to accurate but takes the typical Dr. Oz and Oprah spin of pseudo science.

Somewhat Interesting History Written by a Nonhunter

This book has some very interesting history on the sport of hunting and hunting as a means of substance. However it unravels and gets hard to follow about a quarter into it, then picks up and starts to flow at the end. From other historians I’ve read the author takes some liberty’s that I believe are a stretch. Obviously he does not hunt and gives off subtle offenses to the sport which are annoying. When reading history I generally like to read a strictly unbiased report, and it is not so in this book. Overall I enjoyed the content, if it were possible I’d give it 3.5 stars rather than 4. Finally the reader of this book misprinted word after word and does not seem the least bit interested in the substance.

not how I expected it to end.

I really enjoyed most of this books telling of the history and culture of hunting. It covered details of this topic I was not familiar with. I also found some further reading material from it. however the end of the book and especially the epilogue were an unexpected turn into the animal rights agenda, I was sadly disappointed in this turn of events.

A Rich Journey Into The Story Of American Hunting

Well written, narrated, and very thought provoking. The characters and events in history that made hunting what it is today come to life in an immersive and beautiful way. The history of the dire need for hunting conservation and it’s fascinating origin are well illustrated. The author provides an in depth look at how arts, printed press, and political forces came together to influence hunting culture. The text concludes, as many historical texts do, with the author’s hypothesis for the future of American hunting based on his interpretation of the past. Very thought provoking and insightful!