Bears of the World explains why bears have meant so much to humans, from early in evolutionary history to the present. It looks at how bears were depicted in ancient mythology and religion. The primary focus is on introducing the living species; charting their evolutionary history; and showing how they live, what they eat, how they behave, and how they cope with their habitats. The interrelationship bears have with humans - their suffering at human hands and attempts at their conservation - is also explored.