Get Free Shipping on orders over $79
The Thing with Feathers : The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal about Being Human - Noah Strycker

The Thing with Feathers

The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal about Being Human

By: Noah Strycker

Paperback | 3 March 2015

At a Glance

Paperback


$36.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $9.19 with

 or 

Ships in 10 to 15 business days

"[Strycker] thinks like a biologist but writes like a poet." -- Wall Street Journal

An entertaining and profound look at the lives of birds, illuminating their surprising world-and deep connection with humanity.

 
Birds are highly intelligent animals, yet their intelligence is dramatically different from our own and has been little understood. As we learn more about the secrets of bird life, we are unlocking fascinating insights into memory, relationships, game theory, and the nature of intelligence itself.

The Thing with Feathers explores the astonishing homing abilities of pigeons, the good deeds of fairy-wrens, the influential flocking abilities of starlings, the deft artistry of bowerbirds, the extraordinary memories of nutcrackers, the lifelong loves of albatrosses, and other mysteries-revealing why birds do what they do, and offering a glimpse into our own nature.

Drawing deep from personal experience, cutting-edge science, and colorful history, Noah Strycker spins captivating stories about the birds in our midst and shares the startlingly intimate coexistence of birds and humans. With humor, style, and grace, he shows how our view of the world is often, and remarkably, through the experience of birds. You've never read a book about birds like this one.
Industry Reviews
Praise for The Thing with Feathers "Mr. Strycker has the ability to write about the worlds of man and fowl without simplifying either.... He thinks like a biologist but writes like a poet, and one of the small pleasures of The Thing With Feathers is watching him distill empirical research into lyrical imagery.... Part the palm fronds behind his sentences, and you can almost see the British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough standing there in a pith helmet, smiling with amused approval at Mr. Strycker's off-center sensibility." - Wall Street Journal

"The Thing With Feathers turns a shrewd, comparative eye on a succession of bird families to explore what [Strycker] calls their 'human' characteristics...This is an engaging work which illuminates something profound about all life, including our own." - The Economist

"Lovely, provocative..." - Robert Krulwich, NPR

"Fascinating" - Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"One of the best bird books you'll read this decade. Guaranteed." -- BirdWatching

"The Things With Feathers will encourage you to take a closer look at the natural world around you, and perhaps learn more not only about what you see but who you are." - Seattle Times

"[Strycker] combines the latest in ornithological science with snippets of history and his own vast experience in the field to hatch a thoroughly entertaining examination of bird behavior... In Strycker's absorbing survey, we find out how much fun it is simply to watch them." - Booklist, STARRED

"[Strycker's] prose is difficult to stop reading." - Publishers Weekly

"A delightful book with broad appeal." - Kirkus Reviews

"A dazzling variety of avian subjects, including connections between birds and humans." - Library Journal

"There's bird watching, then there is obsessing over why nearly 2,500 different species do the things they do. That's Noah Strycker, and this lovely book is compelling to those that chart the different birds they see on walks, and the rest of us who just gaze longingly at them as they fly through the air." - Flavorwire

"Noah Strycker explores the increasing likelihood that birds enjoy a vastly richer intellectual, emotional and even artistic life than we smug humans have ever suspected. Read this book." - Scott Weidensaul, author of Living on the Wind and The First Frontier

"As the 'owner' of a dancing Green-cheeked Conure, as a life-long pigeon-lover, seabird researcher, and falcon enthusiast, I can tell you that not only is this book full of solid information--I expected that--but as a writer I am astonished at how loose and easy Noah Strycker has made the reading for us. This is an insightful and wonderfully companionable book. I can't wait to read more from Strycker; meanwhile we have this gem." - Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and The View From Lazy Point.

"A thoughtful, engaging book, encompassing pigeon races, physics, vulture baiting, the Backstreet Boys, and a mathematical model applicable to both tennis rankings and chicken hierarchies--a work of dazzling range, nimbly written." - Brian Kimberling, author of Snapper

"I've read books about birds all of my life and this is the one I've been waiting for. Birds have a great deal to teach us. Strycker loves birds, understands their magic and mystery, and can extrapolate from their behavior wisdom for us all. At last we have a book worthy of this subject." - Mary Pipher, author of The Green Boat Praise for "The Thing with Feathers" "Mr. Strycker has the ability to write about the worlds of man and fowl without simplifying either.... He thinks like a biologist but writes like a poet, and one of the small pleasures of "The Thing With Feathers" is watching him distill empirical research into lyrical imagery.... Part the palm fronds behind his sentences, and you can almost see the British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough standing there in a pith helmet, smiling with amused approval at Mr. Strycker's off-center sensibility." "Wall Street Journal" "The Thing With Feathers "turns a shrewd, comparative eye on a succession of bird families to explore what [Strycker] calls their human characteristics This is an engaging work which illuminates something profound about all life, including our own. "The Economist" "Lovely, provocative..." Robert Krulwich, NPR "Fascinating" "Minneapolis Star-Tribune" "One of the best bird books you ll read this decade. Guaranteed." -- "BirdWatching " "The Things With Feathers" will encourage you to take a closer look at the natural world around you, and perhaps learn more not only about what you see but who you are." "Seattle Times" [Strycker] combines the latest in ornithological science with snippets of history and his own vast experience in the field to hatch a thoroughly entertaining examination of bird behavior In Strycker s absorbing survey, we find out how much fun it is simply to watch them. "Booklist," STARRED [Strycker s] prose is difficult to stop reading. "Publishers Weekly" A delightful book with broad appeal. "Kirkus Reviews" A dazzling variety of avian subjects, including connections between birds and humans. "Library Journal" There s bird watching, then there is obsessing over why nearly 2,500 different species do the things they do. That s Noah Strycker, and this lovely book is compelling to those that chart the different birds they see on walks, and the rest of us who just gaze longingly at them as they fly through the air. " Flavorwire" Noah Strycker explores the increasing likelihood that birds enjoy a vastly richer intellectual, emotional and even artistic life than we smug humans have ever suspected. Read this book. Scott Weidensaul, author of "Living on the Wind" and "The First Frontier" "As the 'owner' of a dancing Green-cheeked Conure, as a life-long pigeon-lover, seabird researcher, and falcon enthusiast, I can tell you that not only is this book full of solid information I expected that but as a writer I am astonished at how loose and easy Noah Strycker has made the reading for us. This is an insightful and wonderfully companionable book. I can t wait to read more from Strycker; meanwhile we have this gem." Carl Safina, author of"Song for the Blue Ocean"and"The View From Lazy Point." A thoughtful, engaging book, encompassing pigeon races, physics, vulture baiting, the Backstreet Boys, and a mathematical model applicable to both tennis rankings and chicken hierarchies a work of dazzling range, nimbly written. Brian Kimberling, author of "Snapper" I ve read books about birds all of my life and this is the one I ve been waiting for. Birds have a great deal to teach us. Strycker loves birds, understands their magic and mystery, and can extrapolate from their behavior wisdom for us all. At last we have a book worthy of this subject. Mary Pipher, author of "The Green Boat"" Praise for "The Thing with Feathers" "[Strycker] thinks like a biologist but writes like a poet." --"The""Wall Street Journal" "An engaging work which illuminates something profound about all life, including our own." --"The Economist" "Lovely, provocative..." --Robert Krulwich, NPR "One of the best bird books you'll read this decade. Guaranteed." --"BirdWatching" "Noah Strycker explores the increasing likelihood that birds enjoy a vastly richer intellectual, emotional, and even artistic life than we smug humans have ever suspected. Read this book." --Scott Weidensaul, author of "Living on the Wind" and "The First Frontier" Praise for "The Thing with Feathers" "Mr. Strycker has the ability to write about the worlds of man and fowl without simplifying either.... He thinks like a biologist but writes like a poet, and one of the small pleasures of "The Thing With Feathers" is watching him distill empirical research into lyrical imagery.... Part the palm fronds behind his sentences, and you can almost see the British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough standing there in a pith helmet, smiling with amused approval at Mr. Strycker's off-center sensibility." - "Wall Street Journal" ""The Thing With Feathers "turns a shrewd, comparative eye on a succession of bird families to explore what [Strycker] calls their 'human' characteristics...This is an engaging work which illuminates something profound about all life, including our own." -"The Economist" "Lovely, provocative..." - Robert Krulwich, NPR "Fascinating" - "Minneapolis Star-Tribune" "One of the best bird books you'll read this decade. Guaranteed." -- "BirdWatching " ""The Things With Feathers" will encourage you to take a closer look at the natural world around you, and perhaps learn more not only about what you see but who you are." - "Seattle Times" "[Strycker] combines the latest in ornithological science with snippets of history and his own vast experience in the field to hatch a thoroughly entertaining examination of bird behavior... In Strycker's absorbing survey, we find out how much fun it is simply to watch them." - "Booklist," STARRED "[Strycker's] prose is difficult to stop reading." - "Publishers Weekly" "A delightful book with broad appeal." - "Kirkus Reviews" "A dazzling variety of avian subjects, including connections between birds and humans." - "Library Journal" "There's bird watching, then there is obsessing over why nearly 2,500 different species do the things they do. That's Noah Strycker, and this lovely book is compelling to those that chart the different birds they see on walks, and the rest of us who just gaze longingly at them as they fly through the air." -" Flavorwire" "Noah Strycker explores the increasing likelihood that birds enjoy a vastly richer intellectual, emotional and even artistic life than we smug humans have ever suspected. Read this book." - Scott Weidensaul, author of "Living on the Wind" and "The First Frontier" "As the 'owner' of a dancing Green-cheeked Conure, as a life-long pigeon-lover, seabird researcher, and falcon enthusiast, I can tell you that not only is this book full of solid information--I expected that--but as a writer I am astonished at how loose and easy Noah Strycker has made the reading for us. This is an insightful and wonderfully companionable book. I can't wait to read more from Strycker; meanwhile we have this gem." - Carl Safina, author of "Song for the Blue Ocean" and "The View From Lazy Point." "A thoughtful, engaging book, encompassing pigeon races, physics, vulture baiting, the Backstreet Boys, and a mathematical model applicable to both tennis rankings and chicken hierarchies--a work of dazzling range, nimbly written." - Brian Kimberling, author of "Snapper" "I've read books about birds all of my life and this is the one I've been waiting for. Birds have a great deal to teach us. Strycker loves birds, understands their magic and mystery, and can extrapolate from their behavior wisdom for us all. At last we have a book worthy of this subject." - Mary Pipher, author of "The Green Boat"

More in Wildlife & Birds & Birdwatching

Handbook of Bird Biology : Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Irby J. Lovette
Birds of Western Australia : 2nd Edition - The Field Guide - Simon Nevill
Why Do Birds Sing? - Grainne Cleary

RRP $34.99

$28.75

18%
OFF
Bird Bingo : Magma for Laurence King - Laurence King Publishing

RRP $49.99

$38.75

22%
OFF
100 Australian Birds - Georgia Angus

RRP $32.99

$26.99

18%
OFF
Birdwatcher's Journal - Australian Geographic

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
Superman : The Art and Making of the Film - James Field

RRP $76.99

$56.99

26%
OFF
Birds of Australia : Photographic Field Guide : 2nd Edition - Jim Flegg
Australian Birds of Prey in Flight : Photographic Guide - Richard Seaton
Birdwatcher's Journal (2022 Edition) - Australian Geographic

RRP $19.99

$16.99

15%
OFF
Australian Backyard Birds - Myke Mollard

RRP $24.99

$22.75

A Game Called Birds - Chris Bury

RRP $49.99

$40.75

18%
OFF
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia - Nicolas Day

RRP $39.99

$31.75

21%
OFF
Complete Guide to Australian Birds - George Adams

RRP $45.00

$35.75

21%
OFF
Australia's Birds in Watercolour - Richard Steele

RRP $99.00

$70.75

29%
OFF
The Bird Art of William T. Cooper - Wendy Cooper

RRP $64.99

$51.75

20%
OFF
Getting to Know the Birds in Your Neighbourhood : A Field Guide - Darryl Jones