How to Tame a Fox
How to Tame a Fox
Lee Alan Dugatkin
Rutger Bregman
Tells the amazing story of a Russian scientist who domesticated a fox and revolutionized our understanding of human nature." - Rutger Bregman
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How to Tame a Fox

How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog): Visionary Scientists and a Siberian Tale of Jump-Started Evolution

Lee Alan Dugatkin
By
Lee Alan Dugatkin
4.2
1637
ratings on Goodreads

In the frostbitten wilderness of Siberia, a groundbreaking experiment unfolds—one that challenges the very fabric of natural selection. "How to Tame a Fox" by Lee Alan Dugatkin unveils the captivating tale of scientists Dmitri Belyaev and Lyudmila Trut, who embarked on a revolutionary journey to domesticate wild silver foxes. What began in 1959 with a mere handful of these creatures rapidly transcended into an extraordinary quest to replicate the domestication of dogs from wolves, compressing millennia of evolution into mere decades. Through the biting cold and isolation, this book invites readers into an astonishing narrative of perseverance, scientific curiosity, and the unforeseen emotional bonds that form between humans and animals. Dugatkin and Trut's narrative is not just a recounting of genetic milestones; it is a story woven with the threads of political intrigue, personal sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. As the foxes transform—sporting floppy ears, piebald coats, and wagging tails—so too does our understanding of domestication, behavior, and evolutionary science. With every generation of foxes, from snarling creatures to affectionate companions, the project reveals profound insights into how genetic and behavioral traits evolve under the guiding hand of selective breeding. "How to Tame a Fox" is a testament to human curiosity and our timeless fascination with the animal world, offering a deep dive into how science, love, and an unyielding spirit can unravel the mysteries of nature.

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Released
2016
26 Jan
Length
240
Pages

1

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Tells the amazing story of a Russian scientist who domesticated a fox and revolutionized our understanding of human nature." - Rutger Bregman
Easy dosen't matter to Lyudmila. Easy has never mattered. Possible is what matters.
— Lee Alan Dugatkin, How to Tame a Fox

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