Reviews
The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think, by Jennifer Ackerman
alfia's review
4.0
Lots of cool facts and cool birds (who definitely communicate, learn and adapt, duh), but written in a sloppy, often repetitive and uninspired style. I stupidly thought this was going to be like the books of DIANE Ackerman (a truly inspired and poetic science writer), but alas, this is someone else entirely. She seems like a nice person who has done a lot of journalistic research on select birds, but wow, this shows what lack of a good editor can do. There were too many unsupported or unfootnoted claims, and too many bounces between reportage and gee-whiz bewonderments. I'll be checking on that book on Australian songbirds she references though. Worth it for the facts and refs though.
cchipman's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Wonderful book! The author does a beautiful job summarizing cutting edge avian research. I learned a lot! This is the first book by this author that I’ve read, and I definitely want to read her others now.
miguelf's review against another edition
3.0
I kept thinking while listening to this that it should have simply been titled “Bird Facts”. This is essentially a collection of avian observances and bird related ephemera that ultimately boil down to everything you wanted to know about birds (but maybe didn’t want to ask). Much of the book focuses on the more ‘intelligent’ bird species – magpies and the like. Probably because chickens are not that interesting. Obviously this would be great material for birders and avian enthusiasts.
santirv's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
endlesstbr's review against another edition
4.0
The behavior of birds can seem so strange viewed in isolation, so this book's exploration of the reason's behind birds' behaviors and social structures was pretty fascinating.