Don’t let the small size and the cute cover of this book deceive you. The Grizzly Manifesto: In Defence of the Great Bear calls for nothing short of a revolution in how we manage wildlife and ourselves through law and government in order to save the grizzly bear and other species at risk from extinction.

Calgary author Jeff Gailus worked as a journalist at The Canmore Leader, often covering wildlife issues, before joining the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and cofounding the Bow Valley Grizzly Bear Alliance in the early part of this decade.

Due to his experience in the Bow Valley and the connections he’s made, his new book paints an intimate and focused look at the problems that threaten the recovery of this iconic species in Canada.

His assertion that the U.S. is way ahead of Canada in terms of grizzly protection and environmental laws will surprise many. Canada’s and Alberta’s desperately poor track records of protecting our threatened species from the effects of industrial development will enrage many more.

The author’s personal experience with bears, in addition to stories about the fates of bears in and around Banff National Park give the book its heart and remind you of what’s at stake.