Psychoanalyst Masson, a new father himself, showcases the extraordinary behavior of outstanding fathers among animals. He tells about wolves and why they make good fathers and dogs don't; how the beaver encourages his young to cling to his tail as he navigates through ponds; the sea horse, the only male animal that give birth to its young; and the marmoset, the South American monkey who carries his babies wherever he goes for the first two years of their lives. He also examines natures's worst fathers (lions, langurs, bears, and humans) and shows that when a father does care for his young, fatherhood is a profound, all-encompassing experience. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR