Superbly written and readable account of the conservation movement. Would make a lovely conservation biology course supplemental text. Inspired me to Superbly written and readable account of the conservation movement. Would make a lovely conservation biology course supplemental text. Inspired me to go visit Leopold's Shack in Wisconsin......more
An interesting read especially after hanging out with goshawks this past summer in the US. Reveals the issues facing England's natural areas and givesAn interesting read especially after hanging out with goshawks this past summer in the US. Reveals the issues facing England's natural areas and gives Americans and naturalists lots of neat words like sett, parallax, yarak, earths, etc......more
This book did it all for me. It combined my interests in Darwin, correspondence, old houses, botany, iconoclasts, and the ravages of capitalism. EspecThis book did it all for me. It combined my interests in Darwin, correspondence, old houses, botany, iconoclasts, and the ravages of capitalism. Especially enjoyed the Kingsolver's foils of Tig and Zeke and the way they represent their respective worlds. ...more
This insightful tome is part of a "Great Thinkers" series put out by P&R Publishing. After reading it, I'm convinced the author needs to have one writThis insightful tome is part of a "Great Thinkers" series put out by P&R Publishing. After reading it, I'm convinced the author needs to have one written about him. It's a cogent take on Dawkins, exposing a litany of the double standards, hypocrisies, and literary sleight of hands that Dawkins slips past so many of his acolytes. The book is thoroughly researched, argumentatively sound, and full of digestible analogies (even Legos!) and counterarguments that are fantastic discussion starters and food for thought.
But it's more than this, too. Poythress couches his fresh Dawkins take in history and shows how evangelical evolutionary thinking can ramify into misguided political agendas and ideologies. Danger lurks in illogic!
I'll devour every Poythress book with alacrity, and look forward to more....more
Susan Fox Rogers begins her book with a quote from Aristophanes: “You have learnt from the birds and continue to learn.” Well, after reading this deepSusan Fox Rogers begins her book with a quote from Aristophanes: “You have learnt from the birds and continue to learn.” Well, after reading this deeply personal engagement with birds and birders, I steal from Aristophanes: I have learnt from Rogers and continue to learn. Sensing a gem, I saved this book for a quiescent mid-summer spell and was so glad I did. Each essay felt like an updraft, propelling me up and out of my life and into Susan’s. She’s a rare bird, somehow able to live and analyze her life simultaneously. The result is a seamless narrative of humility, insight, and an incredible awareness to the birds and the curious people that obsess over them.
Master of the essay, Rogers left me staring into the middle distance, rolling a new thought over while savoring a new factoid. A case in point: “Dawn Chorus.” In this essay (my favorite), Rogers taught me about all about FDR, a president I never knew beyond fireside chats and The New Deal. In just a few short pages, Rogers made FDR relatable, retracing his little-known presidential bird outing to Thompson Pond. By the end, I wanted to listen to sora, buy an FDR biography, and rise with the dawn. Thompson Pond, here I come!...more
Perhaps I didn't give Stryker more stars simply out of envy. I'm so jealous about what he did, all his contacts, and the chance--and willingness--to lPerhaps I didn't give Stryker more stars simply out of envy. I'm so jealous about what he did, all his contacts, and the chance--and willingness--to live the dream. But is it the dream? Reading this paradoxically made me want to sink my roots deeper in, and really watch the birds I live with, rather than globe trot and tick them off with the help of others. Lest I be too critical, I know well the intrigue and the high one gleans from travel, exploration, and novelty. I'm guilty too.
That said, many of the conclusions felt trite, contrived and too much of the book came off as an apologetic. But worth the read regardless. Noah's knows birds. I'll keep reading whatever he writes. ...more
This book deserves 5 stars simply because Stephen managed to survive all his hilarious and harrowing adventures. While Spawls leaves out a lot of famiThis book deserves 5 stars simply because Stephen managed to survive all his hilarious and harrowing adventures. While Spawls leaves out a lot of familial details, each account is immensely readable and savory, especially if you've logged time in East Africa. This book motivated me to get outside and start flipping over logs and stones. ...more
Having spent a fair amount of time camping and hiking alone in Grizzly country, I was humbled to realize how little I knew about how to prepare/responHaving spent a fair amount of time camping and hiking alone in Grizzly country, I was humbled to realize how little I knew about how to prepare/respond. While it's a hard to put down book, it probably isn't the best book to read around the campfire during family camping trip in Yellowstone. The magic of bears keeps this book afloat and overcomes the average writing and repetitiveness. Also, the postscripts were odd and not really necessary....more
I've long known about the evil empire of corn and *thought* I knew a lot about grizzly bear ecology. This insightful tome revealed a new nexus point fI've long known about the evil empire of corn and *thought* I knew a lot about grizzly bear ecology. This insightful tome revealed a new nexus point for me - between corn and bears, showing how it disruptive it is and how difficult a human ecological issue it is.
While others think Andrews bogs down in fence building and other minutiae, I reveled in it, gleaning new understandings about things I haven't done and never considered.
Someday, I hope to trail Andrew's into Millie's woods (in winter with copious bear spray, of course)....more
This book was a howling good time and I'll likely pursue the others in the herd. It's perfect for a wolf lover that finally got a chance to watch YellThis book was a howling good time and I'll likely pursue the others in the herd. It's perfect for a wolf lover that finally got a chance to watch Yellowstone wolves this past September. Rick's dedication is astounding and the insights he discovers are worth the tepid prose and vague disjointedness of the narrative. Reading the book during a busy semester made keeping track of the individual wolves, which Rick does by # only, difficult beyond Wolf 8 and Wolf 21.
Wolf 8 was hardcore and we are all better for McIntyre devoting a good chunk of his life to him. ...more
What a lovely little book. Mancuso cleverly vaults plants to the top suggesting how we might emulate their ways and be better off for it as a society.What a lovely little book. Mancuso cleverly vaults plants to the top suggesting how we might emulate their ways and be better off for it as a society. This is a book that changes how you look at the botanical world. My only real critique is that I wish it was longer!...more
Moor held my attention the entire time but the book is a bit too anfractuous for my tastes. The meandering course is fine but some chapters seemed likMoor held my attention the entire time but the book is a bit too anfractuous for my tastes. The meandering course is fine but some chapters seemed like entire oxbows. Long distance hikers will like it regardless and the book will linger in the mind some time after completion....more
This anthology felt like one of the romps I take outside, sometimes light and easy, sometimes contemplative and introspective, but always worth it. LiThis anthology felt like one of the romps I take outside, sometimes light and easy, sometimes contemplative and introspective, but always worth it. Like most readers, I had my favorite essays. But I lined my pockets with gems from all of them.
And for those of you who don't know, this editor is A HOOT! Naturally hilarious, sharp as a whip, and wildly personable....more
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