Sacred Bull, Holy Cow: A Cultural Study of Civilization's Most Important Animal / Edition 1

by Donald K. Sharpes

Overview

Across the world cattle remain absolutely essential to civilization's survival as a source of food, clothing, and labor. Human beings eat beef and ice cream, drink milk, wear leather, and love hamburgers and hot dogs. This book describes the history of the domestication and deification of the cow and bull and their intimate relation to humans. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) scares reveal its continued importance in daily life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780820479026
Publisher:	Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
Publication date:	02/14/2006
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

The Author: Donald K. Sharpes is Adjunct Professor of Education at Arizona State University, an internationally known scholar in the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and teacher education, and the author of 17 books and over 230 professional articles. He did his postdoctoral studies at the University of Sussex, was a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University, and has lived and worked in the Middle East.

Editorial Reviews

«‘Sacred Bull, Holy Cow’ is a captivating account of the dramatic impact cattle have had on religion, art, history, cuisine, entertainment, and the very survival of humankind throughout the world. One can’t help being bullish about this book and the extraordinary scholarship it took to produce it. It is a fun and fascinating read.» (Judson H. Taylor, President Emeritus, State University of New York, Cortland)
«This book is an engaging record of the importance of cattle in the world and throughout history, a fascinating story of civilization’s reliance on this one animal. The scholarship of early myths and fables is impressive and the writing stimulating. No other book synthesizes so comprehensively how humanity has survived and how the importance of cattle continues to capture the news.» (L. R. Schou, Professor, Danish University of Education, Copenhagen)
«To read this book is to go on a surprising and completely engrossing journey through mankind’s time on earth, paying attention as never before to the extraordinary importance of cattle. The scope and depth of the research draws us into the adventure and refreshes our interest in man’s ingenuity and capacity for reverence. Donald K. Sharpes’s story is as interesting as it is important. He is the latest in a line of teacher scholars who are also storytellers in the richest sense of the tradition. ‘Sacred Bull, Holy Cow’ is an important book – brilliantly conceived and wonderfully written.» (Steven G. Pappas, Associate Editor, New Columbia Encyclopedia, 4th Edition)

From the Publisher