[b: Real Wolfmen: True Encounters in Modern America|13542895|Real Wolfmen True Encounters in Modern America|Linda S. Godfrey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1337182057s/13542895.jpg|19107186] is the second book that I've read by [a: Linda S. Godfrey|102574|Linda S. Godfrey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1371234107p2/102574.jpg]. While this book was not as well organized as the previous book I read by her, it was a bit more comprehensive when it came to theories as to what the reported upright-canids may be. I appreciated her delving into the North American traditions that may account for such creatures - whether spiritual, flesh and blood, or shamanistic in origin. I love learning more about local folklore, and this book was richer in it than I truly expected.

[a: Linda S. Godfrey|102574|Linda S. Godfrey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1371234107p2/102574.jpg] truly warmed to her subject in this book. Without the need to focus on other anomalous creatures (Bigfoot, mysterious mists, lizard people, etc.) she got to allow her knowledge of wolf-lore shine, and she delved into animal psychology briefly alongside the spirit-guardians and mound builder legends. This made for better reading, although ultimately I still wish she would dig deeper into these traditions as well as the cognitive ethology of the wolf that would allow for a better understanding of the predatory habits of the 'upright canids'.

I enjoyed her look at the amphicyon's, as well as the dire wolves as possible origins of some of the legends. I also enjoyed her look into the legend of the "Hairy Hearts", as that is something scarcely mentioned. I look forward to reading more by Godfrey, although ultimately she has shone best in interviews in my experience. She is a wealth of knowledge on American folklore, and I wish her books reflected that a bit more deeply - but this was a fantastic start. ( )

I thought this was Godfrey's best book yet because while she did throw in a bit of humor here and there, there was far less of it than in her previous works. It made the subject seem less of a joke. I so firmly believe in the Beast of Bray Road and am so afraid, that I will go nowhere near that area of the state. Some of the encounters she reports on in this book, a few of which are significantly closer to where I live, had me so frightened that I slept with the lights on for 3 nights in a row! Many thanks to my LibraryThing Secret Santa for that gift! ( )

Real Wolfmen, True Encounters in Modern America is an unusual compilation of eye-witness accounts of strange bipedal doglike creatures. It is interesting to read each of these accounts from ordinary people in ordinary situations when they come upon this strange sight. I understand that eyewitness accounts can not always be taken at face value because of the way our minds process some information, but for so many people to describe the same phenomenon in different areas of the country is fascinating.

Initially I thought the author was a little too flippant with her paragraph titles which made it sound as though she was ridiculing the people who trusted her by sharing these accounts with her. I recently heard the author, Linda S. Godfrey, on a radio program and she did not sound at all as though she was doing that. I guess it was just a little sarcastic humor in the book. She also covers briefly what is several ideas speculating about what could account for these sightings, but it is just that – speculation.

I enjoyed reading Real Wolfmen as I do most books about cryptozoology. Cryptozoology includes the study of animals not proven to exist, the existence of known animals in places where they were not expected to occur, and sightings of animals presumed to be extinct. ( )