About the book
Winner of the 2023 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award
Reading the West Longlist for Nonfiction
No animal shakes the human consciousness quite like a bear, and few compare to the giant short-faced bears that stalked North America during the Pleistocene. Even among the mammoths and saber-toothed cats, they were a staggering sight: on all fours, the biggest would stare a six-foot person in the face and weigh close to a ton. On hind legs they towered more than ten feet, with jaws powerful enough to crush skulls and snap bones like twigs.
The bears weren’t invincible, however. Despite their size, they were swept off the planet in a mysterious wave of Ice Age extinctions more than ten thousand years ago, then mostly forgotten. Chasing the Ghost Bear is Mike Stark’s journey into the bear’s enigmatic story—its life, disappearance, and rediscovery—and those trying to piece it together today. An engaging guide through his intrepid search, Stark’s story leads us from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles to a cornfield in Indiana, the far ends of the Arctic, the plains of Texas, and the swamps of Florida.
Part natural history, part travelogue, and part meditation on extinction and loss, Chasing the Ghost Bear returns these magnificent beasts to their rightful place in our understanding of the world just an epoch past.
Editions of Chasing the Ghost Bear
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781496229021
- EBook
- ISBN 9781496231949
- EBook
- ISBN 9781496231956
Read an Excerpt
Winner of the 2023 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award
Reading the West Longlist for Nonfiction
No animal shakes the human consciousness quite like a bear, and few compare to the giant short-faced bears that stalked North America during the Pleistocene. Even among the mammoths and saber-toothed cats, they were a staggering sight: on all fours, the biggest would stare a six-foot person in the face and weigh close to a ton. On hind legs they towered more than ten feet, with jaws powerful enough to crush skulls and snap bones like twigs.
The bears weren’t invincible, however. Despite their size, they were swept off the planet in a mysterious wave of Ice Age extinctions more than ten thousand years ago, then mostly forgotten. Chasing the Ghost Bear is Mike Stark’s journey into the bear’s enigmatic story—its life, disappearance, and rediscovery—and those trying to piece it together today. An engaging guide through his intrepid search, Stark’s story leads us from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles to a cornfield in Indiana, the far ends of the Arctic, the plains of Texas, and the swamps of Florida.
Part natural history, part travelogue, and part meditation on extinction and loss, Chasing the Ghost Bear returns these magnificent beasts to their rightful place in our understanding of the world just an epoch past.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chasing the Ghost Bear about?
Winner of the 2023 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award
Reading the West Longlist for Nonfiction
No animal shakes the human consciousness quite like a bear, and few compare to the giant short-faced bears that stalked North America during the Pleistocene. Even among the mammoths and saber-toothed cats, they were a staggering sight: on all fours, the biggest would stare a six-foot person in the face and weigh close to a ton. On hind legs they towered more than ten feet, with jaws powerful enough to crush skulls and snap bones like twigs.
The bears weren’t invincible, however. Despite their size, they were swept off the planet in a mysterious wave of Ice Age extinctions more than ten thousand years ago, then mostly forgotten. Chasing the Ghost Bear is Mike Stark’s journey into the bear’s enigmatic story—its life, disappearance, and rediscovery—and those trying to piece it together today. An engaging guide through his intrepid search, Stark’s story leads us from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles to a cornfield in Indiana, the far ends of the Arctic, the plains of Texas, and the swamps of Florida.
Part natural history, part travelogue, and part meditation on extinction and loss, Chasing the Ghost Bear returns these magnificent beasts to their rightful place in our understanding of the world just an epoch past.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Chasing the Ghost Bear?
Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure > Nature and the natural world: general interest > Wildlife: general interest > Wildlife: mammals: general interest
Where can I read a sample of Chasing the Ghost Bear?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781496229021
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Chasing the Ghost Bear?
Mike Stark
Who is the Publisher of the book Chasing the Ghost Bear?
Bison Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Chasing the Ghost Bear is available as paperback(ISBN 9781496229021) and ebook(ISBN 9781496231949) and ebook(ISBN 9781496231956)
Where can I buy Chasing the Ghost Bear online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Chasing the Ghost Bear from below
Where can I buy Chasing the Ghost Bear?