When I reviewed Object Lessons = Political Sign my main negative was that the author cherry picked some interesting anecdotes, it worked as a monograph but he was too much like me as a person - and so our references (and shared outlook) were too similar to be thought provoking. Erica Wright, who has penned the superficially similar in tone and outlook Snake is not a alternative music skate-punk turned self-styled political pundit. She's a poetry editor. That is just about enough diversity to give it a better tone for me. A poetry editor that lived in a snake riddled house who is now perhaps a snake obsessive. And whilst it feels that she used to be a bit interested in snakes and became much more interested in them to write this book, that is fine. In many ways its preferable. This is the breeziest of the Object Lessons I have read, it comes in, it knows we are all interested in the deadly venom and the biblical stuff and - you know - has she ever been bitten by a snake? Her route is also nicely circuitous, she understands I think really well that a book like this might be read in one sitting but like a snake can meander through robotics (modelling snake movements), to Will Ferrell doing a skit on the Today Show not about snakes. There a moments of self reflection and memories about snake encounters but this is mainly been put together to enjoy as a book you dip into, each of its short chapters takes an aspect of snakedom (and those who charm and sell their oil) and goes to town. Is there a greater thesis, I thought at the time not, but the slipperiness of the subject gives a greater meta-textual meaning - discover and fall in love with your fears and you will fear no more. I think Wright probably also would want you to do that with poetry, though she will be happy with rehabilitating the humble snake.