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Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator
From cougars, orangutans, supersize snakes, fugitive pigs, and a shocked New York City cabbie, Confessions is fascinating, and often hilarious. Berkovits masterfully regales readers with stories that give the inside scoop on what went on behind the scenes at one of the world's most famous zoos with facts that read like fiction! Her tales will surprise and enlighten. A must read for all animal lovers and those interested in the future of wildlife.
“…a remarkable story, fascinating and unique…with a deft blend of personal insight and eloquent story-telling, Berkovits takes us from a remote village in Kyrgyzstan to the Bronx Zoo� from neophyte to international leader in her field.�
—William Conway, former President of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Director of the Bronx Zoo
“…a story that goes far beyond its title. Berkovits goes from a difficult childhood devoid of any real animal connections, to become one of the world’s foremost leaders in wildlife conservation education� fascinating and inspiring.�
� Alan Rabinowitz PhD, Zoologist, Author, CEO Panthera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Annette Libeskind Berkovits was born in Kyrgyzstan and grew up in postwar Poland before coming to America at age sixteen. In her three-decade career with the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, she spearheaded the institution’s nationwide and worldwide science education programs. Annette’s works have appeared in Silk Road Review: a Literary Crossroads; Persimmon Tree and other publications. Her memoir, In the Unlikeliest of Places received critical acclaim.
“…a remarkable story, fascinating and unique…with a deft blend of personal insight and eloquent story-telling, Berkovits takes us from a remote village in Kyrgyzstan to the Bronx Zoo� from neophyte to international leader in her field.�
—William Conway, former President of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Director of the Bronx Zoo
“…a story that goes far beyond its title. Berkovits goes from a difficult childhood devoid of any real animal connections, to become one of the world’s foremost leaders in wildlife conservation education� fascinating and inspiring.�
� Alan Rabinowitz PhD, Zoologist, Author, CEO Panthera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Annette Libeskind Berkovits was born in Kyrgyzstan and grew up in postwar Poland before coming to America at age sixteen. In her three-decade career with the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, she spearheaded the institution’s nationwide and worldwide science education programs. Annette’s works have appeared in Silk Road Review: a Literary Crossroads; Persimmon Tree and other publications. Her memoir, In the Unlikeliest of Places received critical acclaim.
338 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2017
20 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Annette Libeskind Berkovits
5Ìýbooks48ÌýfollowersAnnette Libeskind Berkovits was born in Kyrgyzstan and grew up in postwar Poland and the fledgling state of Israel before coming to America at age sixteen.
Despite being uprooted from country to country, Berkovits has channeled her passions into language study and writing. She has published two memoirs, short stories, selected poems, and now The Corset Maker, a historical novel. Erythra Thalassa: Brain Disrupted is her first poetry chapbook.
Her stories and poems have appeared in Silk Road Review: a Literary Crossroads; Persimmon Tree; American Gothic: a New Chamber Opera; Blood & Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine; and The Healing Muse.
Her first memoir, In the Unlikeliest of Places, a story of her remarkable father’s survival, was published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press in September 2014 and reissued in paperback in 2016. Her second memoir, Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator, was published in April 2017.
In her three-decade career with the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, she spearheaded the institution’s nationwide and worldwide science education programs. Her achievements include the first-ever agreement to bring environmental education to China’s schools. The National Science Foundation has recognized her outstanding leadership in the field.
Despite being uprooted from country to country, Berkovits has channeled her passions into language study and writing. She has published two memoirs, short stories, selected poems, and now The Corset Maker, a historical novel. Erythra Thalassa: Brain Disrupted is her first poetry chapbook.
Her stories and poems have appeared in Silk Road Review: a Literary Crossroads; Persimmon Tree; American Gothic: a New Chamber Opera; Blood & Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine; and The Healing Muse.
Her first memoir, In the Unlikeliest of Places, a story of her remarkable father’s survival, was published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press in September 2014 and reissued in paperback in 2016. Her second memoir, Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator, was published in April 2017.
In her three-decade career with the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, she spearheaded the institution’s nationwide and worldwide science education programs. Her achievements include the first-ever agreement to bring environmental education to China’s schools. The National Science Foundation has recognized her outstanding leadership in the field.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 4, 2020
As a child in Poland, Annette Libeskind Berkovits endured unthinkable loss, and yet found her way back to living fully as an adult in America. Her behind-the-scenes stories are delightful, funny, and educational, enlightening readers on conservation efforts conducted at the Bronx Zoo. She brings attention to the potential loss of species without zoos, and the necessary changes that would improve their captivity. Praise and gratitude for Ms. Berkovits' dedication to animals as a zookeeper and an activist.
September 26, 2021
I thought I would enjoy this books. Hey, it was about animals. What's not to like right?
But this book is a little confusing. The Chapters went back and forwards and I often got lost especially when I read about her broken ankle. My thinking when did she break that? like you do. Then a few chapters later she breaks her ankle. Now I'm seriously confused.
That's how I felt this book went. Although I did like the animals.
But this book is a little confusing. The Chapters went back and forwards and I often got lost especially when I read about her broken ankle. My thinking when did she break that? like you do. Then a few chapters later she breaks her ankle. Now I'm seriously confused.
That's how I felt this book went. Although I did like the animals.
July 2, 2017
It is the author’s reluctance that makes this book so much fun. Kicked out of a taxi when she confesses to having an increasingly obstreperous boa constrictor wrapped around her waist is an interesting antidote, but what makes this story so enjoyable is that she’d really been sitting in the back seat of the cab worrying about rows of razor sharp teeth, fantasies of a slow constricted death, visions of an unhinged jaw � basically, she’s been worried about being breakfast. Put out upon a freezing Midtown street, Ms. Berkovits, undaunted, walks the rest of the way to her destination where she and Harriet, the boa constrictor, will seamlessly be a hit on The Captain Kangaroo Show.
There are hawks, snakes and anteaters - there are lions, tigers and bears to reference the Wizard of Oz. Though at times Ms. Berkovits might be a bit reluctant, like Dorothy, she is never deterred. Wryly, she handles whatever her position at the Bronx Zoo might throw at her with warmth, curiosity and a natural love of all the planet’s creatures including it’s most frustrating, The Human Animal.
This is a thoroughly inspiring and enjoyable book. I loved it.
Jim Cooper
May 7, 2017
This biography briefly covers Annette’s birth in Kyrgyzstan, follows her early years in Poland and Israel before focusing on she became Senior Vice President of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City. Her career path took an unexpected turn when she went back to work after the birth of her child. Intrigued by an ad for a non-profit, she applied, and ends up working for the Society at the Bronx Zoo. Unlike many of her colleagues, working with animals was not an instinctive. As education coordinator, she expected to spend time working behind the scenes with people not in the forefront with animals, reptiles, and birds. Her tale of her first day encounter with a snake set the stage. Soon she begins carting animals across the city to the Captain Kangaroo Show and creates the first zoo camps for children. She used innovated techniques she developed to introduce environmental education programs in China. The book highlights thirty years of combining animal conservation with science along with odd animal and human behavior. Throughout, she constantly faced self-doubt, sexism, and antiqued zoological practices. She documents her journey with humor, miscalculations, missteps, and undeniable successes.
This is the author’s second book. The first, “In the Unlikeliest of Places�, is the story of how her father survived the Nazis, Gulags, and Soviet Communism before emigrated first to Israel and then to the United States.
I received this book through Net Galley. Although encouraged as a courtesy to provide feedback to the publisher, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This is the author’s second book. The first, “In the Unlikeliest of Places�, is the story of how her father survived the Nazis, Gulags, and Soviet Communism before emigrated first to Israel and then to the United States.
I received this book through Net Galley. Although encouraged as a courtesy to provide feedback to the publisher, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
April 23, 2017
I'm not a big biography reader but I've discovered I like stories that have people explaining their jobs. This book is wonderful. It's well written and easy to read. As Annette Libeskind Berkovits tells the story of her life fleeing Poland to Israel to America and her first experiences with animals you have to smile and admit this is going to be a great read. The history of the Zoo in New York City is fascinating and is inspiring me to visit. Ms. Berkovits contributions to worldwide education into animal preservation and habitat is astounding. A great read for young and old.
December 29, 2017
I loved this episodic book of a life well lived. What a fascinating and challenging job full of daily challenges and change. What a fabulous opportunity for a job that was "close to home". Then to be in a place where Annette's ideas were listened to and supported. My life as an accidental insurance adjuster just doesn't measure up. I really loved the diversity and wished the author was a little more exploratory at dinner, but that would be all.
June 8, 2019
A very interesting read about a woman who ended up a Curator at the Bronx Zoo by taking a job in their Education Department when she was just looking for something to do. Lots of stories about her life and experiences, as well as individual animals. It was an easy road and even if you don’t like zoos but love animals, you should read it since Bronx Zoo is associated with the Wildlife Conservation Society that endeavors to reintroduce endangered animals back into the wild. I really enjoyed it
May 25, 2017
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Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator was such a surprising and unexpected book that I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first. However, as I continued reading and then continued reflect on everything I read, I realize that this truly is a fascinating, informative book about the development of zoo conservation and education, and more specifically about an incredible woman's life.
Berkovits introduces us to her life and guides us through her many life changes and experiences in an engaging manner with humor, honesty, and graceful writing. Her personality shines through her words, and I was captured by her insightful and detailed storytelling.
I loved Berkovits' passion. I could feel her determination, strength, and love for her family and work with every word she wrote. I felt that this book had a good balance of both her personal family life - from her birth in Kyrgyzstan to details about her family members - and her professional life. Her passion for learning and education is seen at an early age, and I enjoyed reading about her progression to her eventual career. She comes across as a sort of woman who is easy to admire, as she both faced and surpassed many different obstacles ranging from her own personal self-doubt and struggles to issues such as sexism and learning how to work in an unfamiliar environment.
What surprised me the most about Berkovits was the fact that she didn't really have a very animal-heavy childhood, and she didn't really seem to be the extreme animal lover that one expects of anyone involved with zoos. I had expected this book to focus more on the animals themselves, but Berkovits focuses more on the conservation education aspect, which proved to be extremely interesting. Zoo-based wildlife conservation is not something I think about very often, so I really enjoyed learning about this from a woman who has based her life and career around this topic.
There has been a bit of controversy over zoos and some wildlife conservation in recent times, and I think Berkovits does a wonderful job explaining both her and zoo members' goals of protecting, saving, and bringing awareness to others about the purpose of zoos and how they hope to benefit the animals that they care for. Although I did enjoy learning as much as I did, I did think that this book would focus a bit more on the animals themselves, so that was slightly disappointing. Her writing style captures you, but is also a time a bit brief, which left me wanting to hear more about certain aspects of her life.
Overall, I have given Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator four stars! If you are at all interested in zoos, wildlife conservation, or if you simply enjoy reading about interesting and successful women, I highly encourage you to check this one out.
Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator was such a surprising and unexpected book that I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first. However, as I continued reading and then continued reflect on everything I read, I realize that this truly is a fascinating, informative book about the development of zoo conservation and education, and more specifically about an incredible woman's life.
Berkovits introduces us to her life and guides us through her many life changes and experiences in an engaging manner with humor, honesty, and graceful writing. Her personality shines through her words, and I was captured by her insightful and detailed storytelling.
I loved Berkovits' passion. I could feel her determination, strength, and love for her family and work with every word she wrote. I felt that this book had a good balance of both her personal family life - from her birth in Kyrgyzstan to details about her family members - and her professional life. Her passion for learning and education is seen at an early age, and I enjoyed reading about her progression to her eventual career. She comes across as a sort of woman who is easy to admire, as she both faced and surpassed many different obstacles ranging from her own personal self-doubt and struggles to issues such as sexism and learning how to work in an unfamiliar environment.
What surprised me the most about Berkovits was the fact that she didn't really have a very animal-heavy childhood, and she didn't really seem to be the extreme animal lover that one expects of anyone involved with zoos. I had expected this book to focus more on the animals themselves, but Berkovits focuses more on the conservation education aspect, which proved to be extremely interesting. Zoo-based wildlife conservation is not something I think about very often, so I really enjoyed learning about this from a woman who has based her life and career around this topic.
There has been a bit of controversy over zoos and some wildlife conservation in recent times, and I think Berkovits does a wonderful job explaining both her and zoo members' goals of protecting, saving, and bringing awareness to others about the purpose of zoos and how they hope to benefit the animals that they care for. Although I did enjoy learning as much as I did, I did think that this book would focus a bit more on the animals themselves, so that was slightly disappointing. Her writing style captures you, but is also a time a bit brief, which left me wanting to hear more about certain aspects of her life.
Overall, I have given Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator four stars! If you are at all interested in zoos, wildlife conservation, or if you simply enjoy reading about interesting and successful women, I highly encourage you to check this one out.
July 10, 2017
I absolutely love the stories about the zoo, the animals and the trips around the world. The author underwent an amazing transformation from a person who was afraid of cats to a huge animal lover.
The structure of the book left me confused, though. It consists of 30+ chapters which are not in chronological order, so, for example, in one chapter the author recovers from a broken ankle and in the next chapter, she breaks that ankle. The chapters skipped like that back and forth and I wasn't able to figure out the internal logic of the narrative. I mean, basically it was a collection of anecdotes from her life that did not follow one another, so why not arrange them chronologically, at least?
The structure of the book left me confused, though. It consists of 30+ chapters which are not in chronological order, so, for example, in one chapter the author recovers from a broken ankle and in the next chapter, she breaks that ankle. The chapters skipped like that back and forth and I wasn't able to figure out the internal logic of the narrative. I mean, basically it was a collection of anecdotes from her life that did not follow one another, so why not arrange them chronologically, at least?
May 4, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not going to lie. I didn't love this book as much as I had hoped. The chapters are fairly short and told like little vignettes from the author's childhood, then her career with the Bronx Zoo. The writing felt simplistic to me. On the other hand, it was very easy to understand (never a bad thing, right?). I found myself going back and forth between wishing the writing was more elegant and appreciating its simple storytelling quality. Ultimately, the stories were interesting enough to keep me going throughout. Her career has afforded her some amazing and quirky experiences!
I'm not going to lie. I didn't love this book as much as I had hoped. The chapters are fairly short and told like little vignettes from the author's childhood, then her career with the Bronx Zoo. The writing felt simplistic to me. On the other hand, it was very easy to understand (never a bad thing, right?). I found myself going back and forth between wishing the writing was more elegant and appreciating its simple storytelling quality. Ultimately, the stories were interesting enough to keep me going throughout. Her career has afforded her some amazing and quirky experiences!
June 26, 2017
Very well written. It is very interesting to see how non-animal people get into the field. Annette Berkovits writes of her time and adventures working at the Bronx Zoo. From worldly travels to developing and updating their education program. A fun relaxing read for all fellow zoo keepers.
February 6, 2019
An entertaining and informative read. At times humorous and somber as the author describes her unorthodox start in her zoo curating career and the adventures that ensued.
February 12, 2022
This was a little bit of an eclectic mix of zoo and animal stories from throughout the author's career, but funny, with her clear passion and dedication showing through. Especially for someone in the zoo field, I always find it fascinating to see what things are like elsewhere (and how similar things really are everywhere!)
March 30, 2017
Princess Fuzzypants here:
There has been movement in the past several years to discredit zoos as horrible places that keep animals in awful captivity. Most of the people who subscribe to this position have good intentions. Preservation and protection of fauna and flora ought to be something around which we can all gather. What the well-meaning humans ignore is the important part that good zoos and good curators have striven to accomplish over the years is the conservation of both the animals and where they live.
This book is a fantastic reminder of where zoos have been and what an important role they have played in awakening an awareness of the plights of animals and a place where endangered species can have safe sanctuary. Ms. Berkovitz has been at the forefront of this modernization of zoos and conservation, leading by accessible education that changes hearts and minds. She transformed the Bronx Zoo where she worked for decades and in doing so, she was able to share her knowledge around the world. She and likeminded humans need to be revered just as the animals they try to save should be. Without them it is scary to think what might have happened to the others.
Even today zoos and sanctuaries around the world work to save animals in danger. In Australia, many establishments are providing homes for Tasmanian Devils who are being decimated by a horrible disease in Tasmania. Without these controlled and safe places, we might have lost these creatures forever. They are not kept in cages and mistreated. They live in environments as close to the real thing as possible under the protection of humans who wish them well.
If you love animals and if you want to read a fascinating memoir that is balanced and moving, pick up this book. It might just change your mind about some things.
I give is a resounding five purrs and two enthusiastic paws up.
There has been movement in the past several years to discredit zoos as horrible places that keep animals in awful captivity. Most of the people who subscribe to this position have good intentions. Preservation and protection of fauna and flora ought to be something around which we can all gather. What the well-meaning humans ignore is the important part that good zoos and good curators have striven to accomplish over the years is the conservation of both the animals and where they live.
This book is a fantastic reminder of where zoos have been and what an important role they have played in awakening an awareness of the plights of animals and a place where endangered species can have safe sanctuary. Ms. Berkovitz has been at the forefront of this modernization of zoos and conservation, leading by accessible education that changes hearts and minds. She transformed the Bronx Zoo where she worked for decades and in doing so, she was able to share her knowledge around the world. She and likeminded humans need to be revered just as the animals they try to save should be. Without them it is scary to think what might have happened to the others.
Even today zoos and sanctuaries around the world work to save animals in danger. In Australia, many establishments are providing homes for Tasmanian Devils who are being decimated by a horrible disease in Tasmania. Without these controlled and safe places, we might have lost these creatures forever. They are not kept in cages and mistreated. They live in environments as close to the real thing as possible under the protection of humans who wish them well.
If you love animals and if you want to read a fascinating memoir that is balanced and moving, pick up this book. It might just change your mind about some things.
I give is a resounding five purrs and two enthusiastic paws up.
April 2, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator presents a series of vignette-like recollections of Annette Libeskund Berkovits's life and work with the Bronx Zoo's Wildlife Consevation Society. While it's clear that Berkovits likes animals, and certainly that she developed ground-breaking conservation education programs, I found the book oddly quite dispassionate about animals and wildlife. As a child, Berkovits was curious but afraid of animals. Her only pet had been a large bullfrog. She certainly doesn't gush about the seemingly few animals that she liked over the course of her many years at the Bronx Zoo. She seems to have enjoyed educating people about animals more than the animals themselves.
The book's shining moments are when she writes about the human animals in her life. She relates with humor and brio stories about her family, her colleagues, and some of the zoo's rather frustrating supporters or travelers. The most poignant chapter for me was the one in which a zookeeper names a baby wallaby, abandoned by its mother, after Berkovits's recently deceased father, Nachman Libeskind, who had, against long odds, survived the Holocaust and Soviet internment in a gulag. (The wallaby survived, too!) The funniest had to be the mynah bird who cursed in Yiddish.
Berkovits's love of family and education is what stuck with me more than a love of wildlife, which felt odd given the subject of the book. However, it's made me want to read her book about her father, In the Unlikliest of Places.
3.5 Stars
Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator presents a series of vignette-like recollections of Annette Libeskund Berkovits's life and work with the Bronx Zoo's Wildlife Consevation Society. While it's clear that Berkovits likes animals, and certainly that she developed ground-breaking conservation education programs, I found the book oddly quite dispassionate about animals and wildlife. As a child, Berkovits was curious but afraid of animals. Her only pet had been a large bullfrog. She certainly doesn't gush about the seemingly few animals that she liked over the course of her many years at the Bronx Zoo. She seems to have enjoyed educating people about animals more than the animals themselves.
The book's shining moments are when she writes about the human animals in her life. She relates with humor and brio stories about her family, her colleagues, and some of the zoo's rather frustrating supporters or travelers. The most poignant chapter for me was the one in which a zookeeper names a baby wallaby, abandoned by its mother, after Berkovits's recently deceased father, Nachman Libeskind, who had, against long odds, survived the Holocaust and Soviet internment in a gulag. (The wallaby survived, too!) The funniest had to be the mynah bird who cursed in Yiddish.
Berkovits's love of family and education is what stuck with me more than a love of wildlife, which felt odd given the subject of the book. However, it's made me want to read her book about her father, In the Unlikliest of Places.
April 7, 2017
This was an interesting read in the respect that the book was more about the author's love of educating people rather than her love of animals. Despite this, there were a few entertaining stories about the animals in the Bronx Zoo. I also enjoyed reading about the humans in her life, especially her father. It is a very interesting memoir and well worth reading if you like animals. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
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