Modoc : The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

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Summary: Modoc -- My guess: Part accurate, part invention
Review: Many reviewers have commented on the obvious non-factuality of Modoc -- the lack of tusks in the illustrations, the fact that the pictures seem to be of two elephants. To me, all seemed well until India hove into sight. I have been around India a lot. Most of what was written about it in Modoc seems vastly unlikely. Girl-boy relations in India are not like that. Refusal of a dowry would have been a massive insult. How come bandits and hill tribes all spoke English? And to a German! There was no "People's Liberation Army" in India before 1940. Biplanes with machine guns in India then? And on and on. Moving to the USA, I can't see, as a doctor myself, what insect poison could be produced in copious enough quantities to poison even one elephant, let alone dozens. And there would be no "vaccine" (actually, antidote) to any such agent. A highly romanced tale, at best. Like almost all reviewers, though, I found some good philosophy in the book, a natural wisdom, and a great insight into the relationship between humans and animals. When the author is in his elephant, sorry "element", namely animal training, then he seems truly authentic. Thanks for writing it, anyway, Ralph.

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Summary: Every animal lover should read!
Review: This book does an excellent job of identifying and materializing the bond that a human can have with an animal. So much of our communication is non-vebal and we really can "talk with animals" if we pay attention to the subtle gestures that we make and that the animals make.

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Summary: Brilliant
Review: The most wonderful heartwarming book I have read in a very long time. This is the type of book that you never want to end. The type of book that stays with you long after the tears have dried, and believe me there will be tears....of joy, laughter, anger, sadness and grief. This book has the unique ability to touch upon every emotion possible, and surround it with unconditional love. Please read it. You won't regret it!!!

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Summary: Another skeptical reader
Review: Not only is this book badly written but if this is a true story than I am Batman !
Also look well at the pictures of Modoc : there are no tusks as described in the book and if you look well you might see that those are pictures of at least two elephants: look at the details of the ears...

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Summary: Modoc: - A romance novel?
Review: I eagerly anticipated reading the true story of "Modoc:The Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived", but what I read seemed more like a cheap romance novel. If the events depicted were true, the story would have been better served without the attempt to invent dialogue that the author could not possibly have known had taken place. As with one of the other reviews, I also searched the photos (none of which were captioned) looking for Modoc's magnificant tusks as was mentioned in the story, but there were none.
While as an author, Mr. Helfer leaves much to be desired, I admire and agree with his position reqarding the treatment of elephants (and all animals), in that they are intelligent and emotional beings and deserving of our respect, gentleness and protection. This above all else makes up for his shortcomings as an author.

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Summary: Skeptical Review of Modoc: The True Story...
Review: Yes, this was a gut-wrenching tale. The story is a zigzag among hazards experienced by Modoc's trainer (Bram) and Modoc the elephant, over a seventy-year time frame. For a story labeled as "true" however; I was impressed that Modoc's "thick tusks" as described in later chapters appear nowhere in the supposed pictures of Modoc herself. Having found this inconsistency, in combination with the rather "Hollywood modernesque" writing style of the author, I feel that the Modoc story is probably not at all "true." Instead, I assume that the Modoc story is but a tale... a compendium of a lot of true information about the horrid treatment of animals as redeemed in the eyes of the writer, by his fictitious character. I am still somewhat appalled that if the text of the book refers to "thick tusks" and "somewhat longer than a typical female elephant would have..." then as an aspiring "fakir" the author would at least make the pictures consonant with the text. I would rather have read a documentary on the subject as such. In fact I find it offensive that the author would manipulate our emotions so readily under the guise of "truth." I have no doubt that the hardships portrayed (and worse) have been experienced by millions of performance-ensnared animals.

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Summary: an amazing story of the bond between two species
Review: i thought this was one of the best stories ever! it covered so much ground, even spiritually. Brams dedication to this animal was remarkable. this is a hartwrenching story, one that both shows the strong bond humans and animals are capable of and one that shows the injustices animals endure everyday. im glad modoc and Bram had eachother in their lives.

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Summary: Modoc -- a love story
Review: Magical and moving... This book touched my heart. I wish I could have met Bram, Mosey, Gertie, etc.. Ralph Helfer did a terrific job making the reader "feel" the story. Best book I have read in years.

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Summary: A wonderful book
Review: Modoc is a wonderful, wonderful book and I am in the middle of reading it for the second time. Last weekend i had just finished my previous book and as I walked by my room i spotted Modoc on the bookshelves. I picked it up and as soon as I started to read I fell in love with it all over again. One of the best parts i think is that it is a true story and these things really did happen. I wish that i could have met modoc becuase I'm sure she was an amazing elephant. The intertwinded story of her and Bram's life is one that i'm sure everyone who reads it will love. This is deffenitly one of the best books i have ever read.

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Summary: I am now an elephant lover
Review: I usually don't finish a book whether the book be one I have to read for school or one that I choose myself. Modoc, however, I finished and am glad that I did. I think that the fact that this book is a true story made it better too. This book really touched my heart and once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Not only are you getting a good story when you read this book but you also get a cultural experience that you might not get from some books. I highly recommend this book.