Reviews

The Big Year by Mark Obmascik

guk's review against another edition

5.0

Really loved this book. I continue to be amazed by the variety of interests and obsessions of my fellow human beings! Great reading for those like me who have an interest in birding and who enjoy learning about other people’s passions.

This was recommended by Tracy and borrowed from the library.

ashhulksmash's review against another edition

4.0

Lovely. I saw 7 types of birds in my backyard while listening to this.

wesleyboy's review against another edition

4.0

Fun, light little book. If you enjoy Bill Bryson, it’s been up your alley. Only complaint is I had a hard time keeping Komito and Levantin straight mentally as I was reading it.
Great for a vacation read.

matthewabush's review against another edition

4.0

This book was very entertaining. As I enjoy bird watching (mostly from my backyard), I had at least a minimal understanding of what they were going through. Suggested even for people who are not interested in bird watching.

ldv's review against another edition

3.0

An entertaining read about the true story of three die-hard birders on their Big Year. The non-fiction book reads like fiction, for the most part. While it is not Pulitzer prize writing, it is humourous and engaging, easy to get into and see through to the conclusion. A great insight on the world of birders and the competitive side of non-athletes.

itsonlydoug's review against another edition

4.0

I am a fan of quirky nonfiction that outlines people who do wacky things. I enjoyed the Fatsis book about the tournament Scrabble crowd, the Jacobs book about his goal to read the entire Encyclopedia, and now Obmascik's book about the fringe of the birdwatching world who travel North America to see more birds in one year than anyone else. Interesting story well written. I enjoyed it and it actually had me counting birds for a few days.

carveaname's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0

kcoccia's review against another edition

1.0

Ugh. God this was awful. So boring. And it annoys me that no one stopped to enjoy the traveling because they were so worried about the number of some freaking birds.

micklesreads's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

2.0

I went on a birding trip and was told by several of the more serious birders that this was a fantastic book. 

Honestly, this just made me really dislike one of the three men, who was rude to everyone and just a jerk. I was struck that the book never mentioned race or class or anything about indigenous people or environmental issues. Only once did the author offhandedly mention that "serious birders" were more often men. No hint of recognition that this was because they had wives at home taking care of everything and everyone in their absence.

This cemented for me the kind of birder I don't want to be tbh. It was joyless and competitive with no real sense of wonder.

jabnj's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted fast-paced

5.0