Review by Choice Review
"Play" defies precise definition in ethology and evolution. Is play by young animals practice for serious and significant adult behaviors? Is it an artifact of captivity? Or is it a construct of human perception? Burghardt (Univ. of Tennessee) takes play seriously, focusing on mammals including humans. The book is not intended as a comprehensive review of the ontogeny and function of play, but rather how and why play has evolved. Part 1 (six chapters), "The Nature of Play," describes kinds of play, its definitions, and how it can be studied; it offers an "integrative approach" to the genesis of play behavior. Part 2 (nine chapters) pursues the evolution of play among mammals (including marsupials and platypuses), birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. Burghardt examines many definitions (mostly inadequate), and he considers play from an ethological perspective: "the naturalistic study of behavior from an evolutionary perspective." His five criteria for recognizing play (chapter 3) are especially valuable. Included in play is the phenomenon, in many songbird species, of young males rehearsing for months, incorporating various vocal elements until species-specific adult song is crystallized. Burghardt is willing to include exploratory behavior by reptiles as play. This is a valuable resource book for animal behavior students. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. All levels. J. Burger Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
