Jaguars Ripped My Flesh

Jaguars Ripped My Flesh
by Tim Cahill
3.5 of 5 stars

Immediately after finishing A Wolverine is Eating My Leg, I picked up Jaguars, another collection of essays by Cahill—more timely, but with similar themes. Cahill’s often self-deprecating wry humor and crack-a-joke-in-the-face-of-death attitude make for fun reading. He’s like Allan Quatermain meets Anthony Bourdain, with a little David Attenborough tossed in. Quite a few of the stories feature thrill-seeking sports, such as spelunking, rock climbing, skydiving, swimming with sharks, and hang-gliding (after being dropped from a hot-air balloon over Bozeman), but they were complemented with tales of giant gorillas, sea turtles, Livingston wind, and the jungles of South America. Be aware that this is a collection of essays, a sort of travelogue. Each stands on its own and they aren’t really cohesive. If you like Jaguars, check out A Cook’s Tour. My recommendation: Read this book in another country, preferably one without running water or electricity, but rife with deadly wildlife and ancient ruins.