Meditations on Hunting

 

The philosopher, Jose Ortega y Gasset, examines the nature of hunting and its impact on man the hunter. Ortega "anticipated with profound accuracy the direction and basic formulations of a discipline which does not yet exist, a true ecology of man." Although published in Lisbon in 1942, its insights into anthropology and ecology make it very timely, and its publication is a significant scientific and literary event. In addition to the Introduction by Dr. Shepard, which describes in detail Ortega's anticipation of the recent developments in bringing the social and natural sciences together, the book includes a Preface by the translator, Howard B. Wescott, who sketches Ortega's life and work, and a set of superb drawings made especially for this edition, depicting the drama of the hunt through the ages. (https://amzn.to/3YTPrDG)

Now out-of-print and difficult to find, and expensive when you do, Meditations on Hunting is certainly worth reading. I first learned of this book from Jeff Cooper at Gunsite, more than 30 years ago, and I still have a copy in my personal collection.

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