To See Every Bird on Earth : A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession
By Dan KoeppelFrom a well-known outdoors and nature writer comes a narrative that explores a lifelong obsession with competitive birding.
What drives a man to travel to sixty countries and spend a fortune to count birds? And what if that man is your father?
Richard Koeppel's obsession began at the age of eleven, in Queens, New York, when he first spotted a Brown Thrasher and promptly jotted the sighting in a notebook. Several decades, one failed marriage, and two sons later, he added an astonishing 517 birds to that list on a single trip to Kenya. Soon after, he ended the last romantic relationship he would ever have, scaled down his medical practice, and decided to see every bird on earth, becoming a "Big Lister," a member of a subculture of competitive bird-watchers worldwide, all pursuing the same goal. Over twenty-five years, he collected more than 7,000 species (of a known 9,600), becoming one of about ten people ever to do so.
To See Every Bird on Earth explores the thrill of this chase, the all-absorbing crusade at the expense of all else, and travel, to places both dangerous and dull, for the sake of making a check mark in a notebook. It's also the story of obsession-answering the questions why list? and why birds?-and how it defines us. A riveting glimpse into a fascinating subculture, To See Every Bird on Earth traces the love, loss, and reconnection between a father and a son, and explains why birds are so critical to the human search for our place in the world.
show more
Book details
- Hardcover
- 278 pages
- English
- 1594630011
- 9781594630019
About Dan Koeppel
dan koeppel was Read More about Dan Koeppel
More Books By Dan Koeppel
People who bought this also bought
David and Goliath : Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
New Book
The Best of Robert Murray McCheyne : 120 Daily Devotions to Nurture Your Spirit and Refresh Your Soul
Used Book
The Bathroom Baseball Book: Hardball trivia for the best seat in the house
Used Book
Rich Dad Poor Dad - best selling book series with summary by Robert T. Kiyosaki
New Book
Resolving Conflict Sooner: The Powerfully Simple 4-step Method for Reaching Better Agreements More Easily in Everyday Life
Used Book
Wealth Without Risk : How to Develop a Personal Fortune Without Going Out on a Limb
Used Book
The Girlfriends' Guide to Getting Your Groove Back: Loving Your Family Without Losing Your Mind
Used Book
Andrea's Voice: Silenced by Bulimia : Her Story and Her Mother's Journey Through Grief Toward Understanding
Used Book
Ethics in the Investment Profession: An International Survey
Used Book