An instinct for dragons /

Jones (anthropology, Univ. of Central Florida) contends that the dragon, a universal image of a creature that does not exist, is a direct result of the evolutionary process. Guided by the tenets of biocultural anthropology, Jones postulates that the dragon is a construct of the three predators that most threatened humankind in its infancy: the raptor, the snake, and the large cat. Allowing for the "cultural and individual artistic lenses" of world societies, Jones demonstrates the incredible similarities in the appearance and behavior of dragons in the lore and legend surrounding them. He examines the political and economic patterns that led to the sighting of dragons and their defeat by cultural heroes. While Jones's theory is just that, it is certainly interesting and convincingly presented, with numerous cultures cited. Recommended especially for academic libraries but also for school and public libraries with strong folklore collections.DKatherine Kaigler-Koenig, Ellis Sch., Pittsburgh, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.