Kurzweilig schildert Robert E. Bieder in Text und Bild die Stammesgeschichte der Bären und die wechselvolle Beziehung zwischen Mensch und Bär. Dabei versammelt er die schönsten Mythen der nordischen Völker und der nordamerikanischen Indianer über sie, erläutert, wie der Teddybär zu seinem Namen kam und warum sich einige Indianerstämme bis heute als Nachfahren von Bären begreifen.
The Early Years of American Ethnology
The book explores the early nineteenth-century ethnologists' perception of American Indians, shaped by Enlightenment ideals. It critiques the view that categorized Indigenous peoples as an inferior race, attributing their way of life to environmental challenges. The narrative examines the belief that education and environmental changes were necessary for their "progress," highlighting the biases and misconceptions of that era. Through this lens, it delves into the complex dynamics of race, civilization, and the impact of European thought on Indigenous identities.
Few animals are as closely associated with humans as bears. Tracing the evolution of the bear family, the author discusses extinct types, such as the cave bear and the giant short-faced bear, as well as describing the eight species that exist. It explores the bear-human relationship and how human perceptions of bears have changed over time.