The Thing with Feathers

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

By: Noah Strycker

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2014 Noah Strycker (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A thoroughly entertaining examination of bird behavior…. Birds are equally alien and familiar, and in Strycker's absorbing survey, we find out how much fun it is simply to watch them." ( Booklist Starred Review)

Needs a good editor

I really wanted to like this book - especially as an Oregonian. But it reads a bit like a thesis and lacks personal narrative. The facts are helpful, but most readers don’t require dozens and dozens of examples. Could use a good editor to reduce it by half.

Heartwarming but also super scientific

Found myself laughing and saying “awww” in the middle of the street with my headphones on. Such insight and love for birds, and beautiful explanations of their behavior and how we can relate as humans. Recommend HIGHLY.

Fantastic!

Such a great read! It had the perfect balance of ornithology, human psychology and even a little humor mixed it! A very easy to read book packed with very interesting information and stories!

One of my favorite books

The reader kind of sounds like a robot, but worth the buy regardless. The book is great if you love birds, but really it's much more than that. If you love learning concepts that make you say "wow, no way" out loud while you're at home alone in your favorite chair, this book is for you.

Avian folklore - bird-onification

Captivating, intriguing, and well researched. Drop in on any chapter. A must read for ornithologists and lay-man alike.

Loved it so much. Rereading immediately.

I’ve recently gotten into studying birds, and I’ve loved studying humans and anthropology for decades, this is so well written, performed and has great scientific studies interwoven with thoughtful extrapolations on the similarities between humans and birds.

Interesting book, terrible reader

This book is pretty interesting but it’s difficult to get past the stilted, oddly cadenced reading style.

Great book, if a bit long-winded

The title made me think that the comparisons between birds and humans were going to be more poetic/philisopical, but the comparisons kind of read like high school book reports, packed with a ton of trivia. I wish this had just been "My Adventures in Birding." That's when the book shines. Some of the information about related research got way too detailed and off topic. I hope the author writes another book only with tales of his quests to see rare or interesting birds.

Fantastic presentation of information

I believe I heard about this book on an episode of Fresh Air, where I learn about so many great reads.

I really enjoyed this book. Learning not only about several bird species, but also about humans as well.
What a treat. I’ve been to west America, but have never paid attention to Clark’s Nutcracker. I’m ready to head to the Falklands to watch the Albatross raise their chicks.
Truly an interesting read. Thank you Mr Strycker

Torturing small animals

It seems to me, that someone who claims to take such an interest in a particular creature, would not have friends who enjoying torturing that creature; perhaps this is indicative of flawed morals or ethics. I was excited to read this book, and was enjoying it until that section; now I have absolutely no interest in what this person has to say about anything.