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The Dragon Behind the Glass
- A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Fish
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Home & Garden, Pets & Animal Care
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A young man is murdered for his prized pet fish. An Asian tycoon buys a single specimen for $150,000. Meanwhile, a pet detective chases smugglers through the streets of New York. Delving into an outlandish realm of obsession, paranoia, and criminality, The Dragon Behind the Glass tells the story of a fish like none other: a powerful predator dating to the age of the dinosaurs. Treasured as a status symbol believed to bring good luck, the Asian arowana is bred on high-security farms in Southeast Asia and sold by the hundreds of thousands each year. In the United States, however, it's protected by the Endangered Species Act and illegal to bring into the country - though it remains the object of a thriving black market. From the South Bronx to Singapore, journalist Emily Voigt follows the trail of the fish, ultimately embarking on a years-long quest to find the arowana in the wild. With a captivating blend of personal reporting, history, and science, The Dragon Behind the Glass traces our modern fascination with aquarium fish back to the era of exploration when intrepid naturalists stood on the cutting edge of modern science, discovering new and wondrous species in jungles all over the world.
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What listeners say about The Dragon Behind the Glass
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Molly bby
- 09-09-20
A brilliant look at wildlife trade & conservation
Really enjoyed this one, finished the whole book in a day and wish there were more like it!!
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- Kindle Customer
- 11-09-19
I wish their were more audio books like this one
this story about adventure, obsession and the Aquatics trade is amazing. I hope there is a sequel.
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- Fishgen
- 26-06-16
A "must read" for all fish professionals.
There is much in this book for almost anyone interested in fishes and their biology. Voight offers thoughtful perspectives on the aquarium hobby, it's history, psychology, the industry that supports it, and the potential impact of fish collecting on natural populations. She blends these with absorbing travel adventure narratives, personal profiles and a reasonably nuanced discussion of the utility and impact of "listing" endangered species. I am an ichthyologist and have been an aquarist for almost all of my 71 years but this book made me think about a lot of what I and my colleagues do in a different light
10 people found this helpful
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- James
- 26-07-16
Gripping
As an semi professional aquarist this gripped me. I devoured in about 2 two days of frantic reading. It brought to light some of the darker and easily ignored sides of the aquarium trade (my dearest passion) and made me ask some really tough questions about my life. Anyone who is has an aquarium should give this a listen.
5 people found this helpful
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- L. M. Heredia
- 12-06-18
I didn't think I could be addicted to fish tales
This books hits you fast and heated. You'll be at the edge of your seat waiting to get ur headphone or in ur car until it's over and you'll be all wth this is a book about fish.... but is it?? Soo many layers... I'm into it fast paced and just great. The narrator is a bit eh but the story is soo good it doesn't matter. Do not sleep on this one I literally think about this stupid fish all the time now.... xoxo love it thou...
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-11-16
Exciting book, well executed by the reader
Exciting but sad, a reminder that our resources are finite and require our care and conservation
4 people found this helpful
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- lmauer2
- 11-09-20
Not like Tiger King.
This was a very good story, much less dramatic than I was led to believe but good nonetheless.
2 people found this helpful
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- Michael Stephenson
- 22-07-18
As good as it gets for this genre
If you have any fondness at all for quirky natural history accounts, this is worth five credits. It is well paced and the narration is just about perfect. I'm comparing this in my mind to The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean and it's holding its own...I look forward to more from Emily Voigt. And I'm barely exaggerating to say I'd listen to Xe Sands read drugs warning all afternoon.
2 people found this helpful
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- William R. Todd-Mancillas (Name includes hyphen and camptalized M)
- 07-04-22
Terrible narration
I wanted to enjoy this story about a coveted fish, one that people would kill to obtain, but the narration too extensively impedes understanding. The narrator speaks too rapidly, eating her words and dropping her voice.
Story is probably interesting, but owing to abominable narration the story is incomprehensible.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mindy Rule
- 13-07-16
Beginning and end redeeming qualities
My biggest takeaways occurred at the beginning with details about the aquarist and the epilogue where she wraps up her thoughts on protecting species and keeping fish as pets. Her travels were interesting but anticlimactic, so is real life though.
1 person found this helpful
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- Red Shiner
- 30-05-22
Fascinating
Enjoyed the story and appreciated the extensive research done by the author. The reader made me believe she was the author .
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- Amazon Customer
- 29-08-21
You have to be a nature research lover…
I am! I found the quest for the fish fascinating, but I’m a nature geek. If one does not have this innate interest, I can see the book being uninspiring. Great detail and dive into the species.