Customer Reviews

Adventures with a Texas Naturalist

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In my Texas History class we had to pick from a list of books about the state. I chose this one pretty much at random, but as the title of this review suggests I'm glad I did! Though published in 1947, this book is a must for anyone interested in the plants or wildlife in Texas, especially birds. Even if you're not interested, check it out anyway, I guarantee the author will turn you into a wannabe naturalist before you get halfway through it :)

Another nice thing is Bedichek's obvious concern about the dangers of habitat destruction and overhunting at a time well before the subject became "popular"...and my little review here doesn't do the book justice, you can tell by reading it that the author was in love with nature; the description and imagery is amazing, almost lyrical at times. The copy I read was from the library, but now I'll have to buy one of my own. I suggest you get one too, trust me, you won't regret it :)

Adventures of a Texas Naturalist is very typical of its genre - a study of the ecology of a given territory. In the case of this book, we learn, quite obviously, about the flora and fauna of Texas. Given the size of the state and the great diversity of climate and topography in the state, there is lots to work with. Mr. Bedichek does an admirable job covering those areas of his interest, but it is really quite limited in scope. Given the scope of his subject, is it really necessary to spend three chapters on the mockingbird? I say this having learned quite a bit about this bird through the text. Also, I was bothered by the prejudices that Mr. Bedichek displays in the text. I realize that this book was written in the 1940s, but some of his negative references towards African mericans and Mexicans were really uncalled for. These left a sour taste in my mouth.