Reviews
"Like millions of people, I take a curious pleasure in staring at birds, but never knew why. Thanks to "The Life of the Skies, "I now realize that I am not just indulging a compulsion to classify. In this illuminating and charming book, Rosen shows us the poetry, the philosophy, and the history--natural and human--of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. You'll never a see a waxwing in the same way again." --Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University, and author of "The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, "and "The Stuff of Thought", "Entertaining and compelling, full of natural wonders and wonderful story-telling. In this unshowy, profound, engaging book, Rosen uses attention to birds- the only wild creatures most of us ever see, as he points out- as an occasion to meditate on art and wilderness, science and impulse, human nature and the nature of our precarious world." -Robert Pinsky "Like millions of people, I take a curious pleasure in staring at birds, but never knew why. Thanks toThe Life of the Skies,I now realize that I am not just indulging a compulsion to classify. In this illuminating and charming book, Rosen shows us the poetry, the philosophy, and the history-natural and human-of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. You'll never a see a waxwing in the same way again." -Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University, and author ofThe Language Instinct, How the Mind Works,andThe Stuff of Thought, "Life of the Skiesis more than just a bird book. It is a thoughtful and often unexpected exploration of birding through the lens of history, literature and loss-the process, as author Jonathan Rosen says, of loving a diminished but still seductive world." -Scott Weidensaul, author ofLiving on the WindandOf a Feather "Birding is so much more than just outdoor recreation. Its sources are woven into history and legend, and its pleasures are ultimately spiritual. Jonathan Rosen has captured all this to deliver a rare and beautiful piece of literature." -Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University, and Honorary Curator in Entomology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology "I can scarcely tell a scarlet tanager from Scarlett O'Hara, butThe Life of the Skieshad me transfixed from the first page. Rosen writes with astounding insight, wit, and compassion. The story he tells here is the best kind of odyssey, an outward journey that ends up highlighting the beauty and daring that live inside of us." -Stephen Dubner, co-author ofFreakonomics "Entertaining and compelling, full of natural wonders and wonderful story-telling. In this unshowy, profound, engaging book, Rosen uses attention to birds- the only wild creatures most of us ever see, as he points out- as an occasion to meditate on art and wilderness, science and impulse, human nature and the nature of our precarious world." -Robert Pinsky "Like millions of people, I take a curious pleasure in staring at birds, but never knew why. Thanks toThe Life of the Skies,I now realize that I am not just indulging a compulsion to classify. In this illuminating and charming book, Rosen shows us the poetry, the philosophy, and the history-natural and human-of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. You'll never a see a waxwing in the same way again." -Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University, and author ofThe Language Instinct, How the Mind Works,andThe Stuff of Thought, "Birding is so much more than just outdoor recreation. Its sources are woven into history and legend, and its pleasures are ultimately spiritual. Jonathan Rosen has captured all this to deliver a rare and beautiful piece of literature." -Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University, and Honorary Curator in Entomology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology "I can scarcely tell a scarlet tanager from Scarlett O'Hara, butThe Life of the Skieshad me transfixed from the first page. Rosen writes with astounding insight, wit, and compassion. The story he tells here is the best kind of odyssey, an outward journey that ends up highlighting the beauty and daring that live inside of us." -Stephen Dubner, co-author ofFreakonomics "Entertaining and compelling, full of natural wonders and wonderful story-telling. In this unshowy, profound, engaging book, Rosen uses attention to birds- the only wild creatures most of us ever see, as he points out- as an occasion to meditate on art and wilderness, science and impulse, human nature and the nature of our precarious world." -Robert Pinsky "Like millions of people, I take a curious pleasure in staring at birds, but never knew why. Thanks toThe Life of the Skies,I now realize that I am not just indulging a compulsion to classify. In this illuminating and charming book, Rosen shows us the poetry, the philosophy, and the history-natural and human-of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. You'll never a see a waxwing in the same way again." -Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University, and author ofThe Language Instinct, How the Mind Works,andThe Stuff of Thought, "I can scarcely tell a scarlet tanager from Scarlett O'Hara, butThe Life of the Skieshad me transfixed from the first page. Rosen writes with astounding insight, wit, and compassion. The story he tells here is the best kind of odyssey, an outward journey that ends up highlighting the beauty and daring that live inside of us." -Stephen Dubner, co-author ofFreakonomics "Entertaining and compelling, full of natural wonders and wonderful story-telling. In this unshowy, profound, engaging book, Rosen uses attention to birds- the only wild creatures most of us ever see, as he points out- as an occasion to meditate on art and wilderness, science and impulse, human nature and the nature of our precarious world." -Robert Pinsky "Like millions of people, I take a curious pleasure in staring at birds, but never knew why. Thanks toThe Life of the Skies,I now realize that I am not just indulging a compulsion to classify. In this illuminating and charming book, Rosen shows us the poetry, the philosophy, and the history-natural and human-of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. You'll never a see a waxwing in the same way again." -Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University, and author ofThe Language Instinct, How the Mind Works,andThe Stuff of Thought
