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Konrad Zacharias Lorenz (1903-1989) was Austrian zoologist and ethologist. Ethology
is the branch of zoology that studies the behavior of animals in their natural habitats. Lorenz is best known for his pioneering work on imprinting in young animals. During a critical period many young animals learn the identity of their parents. This identity is firmly fixed and useful later in social interactions. Lorenz made an experiment in which he caused young geese to imprint on him. Photographs of him being followed by these geese are famously known.
King Solomon's Ring is one of Konrad Lorenz' best known books. It also brought him worlwide recognition and changed the way people look at animals. The book was originally written in German in 1949 but was then translated into English in 1952. It tells of live of all kinds of animals and helps us to understand their world which often resembles our own.
The title of the book refers to a Legend in Old Testament, in which King solomon possessed a magical ring that gave him the power of speaking with animals in their own language. The title really is well chosen because the work of Lorentz almost gives us the same gift that Solomon had. Lorenz' brilliancy was honored even by giving him a Nobel Prize for his work.
Although this scientist's ideas became very popular, he has also been criticised as using extravagant anthropomorphism. This means representing objects as having human traits. Still, this book is a must-to-have for all animal-lovers. It is also illustrated by Lorenz himself, which is only one plus in a row.
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