Rating: 
Summary: One of the bests to prepare for an ignorant anti-hunter.
Review: A journalist and book reviewer in the Bay Area, I was one of the first receive this book. I was immensely impressed by the level of research Mr. Swan had put into this book. For those of us who actually did our own research, too, it was good know that a book of this quality and accuracy was available, one that paints an honest picture of animal rights group agendas, and puts hunting in its proper light. It's a sad fact that something as basic, and inherent to the human condition as hunting, and true wildlife conservation(not something as unnatural as preservation), has become politicized by groups that seek only to fill the coffers and pay the rent of organization's leaders in New York and San Francisco (all while living off the good intentions of young college kids, who by their misplaced idealisms are paid cheaply): ever wonder why all these organizations pop-up mainly trying to save soft and cuddly animals--completely ignoring much more endangered, but ugly, creatures; and ever wonder why those animals hardly ever get off the endangered list? You'll learn not only about this sham put on the public, but also how these groups efforts are leading to the extinction of those truly endangered: The mountain Lion Foundation (MLF) has legally prevented the California DFG from taking measures to prevent the heavily overpopulated California mountain lion from decimating a herd of desert bighorn sheep in Southern California. According to leader of the MLF, the bighorn sheep isn't worth saving: so much for looking out for wildlife, eh? And as for those two reviews with the one star, I hope that you're not diswayed from purchasing this book them, as this is one of the many tactics used by anti-hunting organizations to misinform the unknowing public. But, hey, if you buy this book, you'll learn all those secrets that anti-conservation groups like PETA and the MLF use, and hope you never even get a hint of what they're up to: remember when they picketed Red Lobster because they didn't want you eating lobster as it was too painful for lobster? That's only the tip of the iceberg.
Rating:
Summary: A rare insight into a longstanding way of life.
Review: Dr. Swan's book, In Defense of Hunting, offers a true insight into what for many is a way of life. Although few if any in our society hunt by neccessity, many are drawn to hunting with a passion that exceeds the kind of feelings typically held for other leisure activities. Dr. Swan delves into the reasons and meanings behind these strong bonds. In addition to offering sound defenses for hunting, he offers, insight into the issues that surround hunting in a modern society. His ability to merge the pschological, historical and social aspects of hunting with today's political environment is valuable reading for anyone who loves the sport and hope to see it survive through future generations
Rating:
Summary: A rare insight into a longstanding way of life.
Review: Dr. Swan's book, In Defense of Hunting, offers a true insight into what for many is a way of life. Although few if any in our society hunt by neccessity, many are drawn to hunting with a passion that exceeds the kind of feelings typically held for other leisure activities. Dr. Swan delves into the reasons and meanings behind these strong bonds. In addition to offering sound defenses for hunting, he offers, insight into the issues that surround hunting in a modern society. His ability to merge the pschological, historical and social aspects of hunting with today's political environment is valuable reading for anyone who loves the sport and hope to see it survive through future generations
Rating: 
Summary: Fallacious tripe.
Review: Every single aspect of hunting can be reproduced non-violently simply by replacing the high-powered rifle with a camera. Hunting is about killing and bloodlust, period, and no amount of pseudo-new-age baloney can change that.
Rating:
Summary: Fallacious tripe.
Review: Every single aspect of hunting can be reproduced non-violently simply by replacing the high-powered rifle with a camera. Hunting is about killing and bloodlust, period, and no amount of pseudo-new-age baloney can change that.
Rating:
Summary: The Truth About Hunting and Hunters.
Review: Finally there is a book that gives an honest look at the hunt, hunters and why we hunt. No question that the most ardent guardians of our world and our environment are the hunters. This book explores the thoughts, feelings and motivations behind hunters. It also discusses the unfair judgements placed on hunters by the anti-hunting and animal rights movement. By the time the reader finishes this work, they are given a much greater understanding of the hunter and the hunt. A must read for all who hunt and all who love the outdoors.
Rating:
Summary: The Truth About Hunting and Hunters.
Review: Finally there is a book that gives an honest look at the hunt, hunters and why we hunt. No question that the most ardent guardians of our world and our environment are the hunters. This book explores the thoughts, feelings and motivations behind hunters. It also discusses the unfair judgements placed on hunters by the anti-hunting and animal rights movement. By the time the reader finishes this work, they are given a much greater understanding of the hunter and the hunt. A must read for all who hunt and all who love the outdoors.
Rating: 
Summary: Muddled and incoherent, I'm sad to say
Review: I have always been into the outdoors and am an avid hiker/rafter/rock climber, so I thought I would enjoy this book. From the reviews below, I expected a rich celebration of the outdoors from a seasoned sportsman. Instead, I found a series of unrelated, rather convoluted explanations that seemed to make the curious argument that hunting is good only because animal rightists/PETA types are so bad/dangerous. I don't care about PETA and I don't want to read about them in this type of book! However, because the author rambles for pages - chapters! - about them, by the end of the book I kept thinking of that old quote: "The lady doth protest too much," or whatever it is. Mr. Swan actually managed to make the PETAists sympathetc and I never quite learned why hunting is so great. Being out in the woods, on a boat on the lake, on a mountain- it's all good for the soul, but you don't necessarily have to be shooting stuff to enjoy it. I don't know, it just seemed to me that whatever point Mr. Swan was trying to make was drowned in a morass of words meant to at once scare and titillate his hunter readers about the evil Peta people. He seems to care only about reaching out to a small audience of die-hards, not your average joe. And he rambles too much - did I mention that?!?
Rating:
Summary: New Age tripe - utterly unconvincing
Review: I read this book for a paper I am writing on modern hunting, and it seems apparent that I did not read the same book as those who reviewed it before me! "In Defense of Hunting" is a muddled clutter of New Age fuzziness of the same sort the author accuses the animal advocates of. For example, he claims that the advocates apply human qualities to animals, and yet for Swan, bobcats, vultures and kestrels are "omens," sent just for his benefit. In addition, he desperately tries to align himself with Native American culture, in the hopes that it will bring him some credibility among the largely non-hunting public...His statements about vegetarians (they're more prone to yeast infections? They lose their toenails? )are so fallacious, they're amusing. Never fear - Swan has solid sources for his medical assertions - personal anecdotes, Julia Childs and a radio talk show host! ...perhaps he should've consulted with an MD?...
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: I read this book in late 2002 when people were always asking me why I hunted and why I liked it so much. It was very helpful to hear someone else put into words what I felt but couldn't articulate. This book clearly spells out the dangerous agenda of animal rights groups, how they exist merely to perpetuate themselves and how little they actually do for wildlife conservation. He does this without personal attacks or bias, but with statistical facts, and personal examples. This book is very well-written despite what some people have posted hear. There is also a spiritual side to the book that honors animals and nature like I've never heared from an anti-hunter. This author truly lives in nature and loves nature, like all hunters do.
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