Customer Reviews

Life List: A Woman's Quest for the World's Most Amazing Birds

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a birder. A serious amateur. And a bird photographer. And a big fan of the late, great Phoebe Snetsinger.

Any biography of Snetsinger has to be measured against her own, posthumously published journal, Birding On Borrowed Time. Olivia Gentile had access to many of Snetsinger's family members, most of her papers, and many of her friends and birding companions. She had all the resources. Does she bring anything new?

Gentile makes some excellent points, but the best are left for the reader to glean, not the ones that Gentile forces on a reader. It's hardly news that birders can be obsessive. The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder and To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifetime Obsession are just three examples of the subgenre. What Gentile does establish is that Phoebe Snetsinger was among the very best amateur birders of the 20th century. She was much more than one of those birders who tick them off a life list, after a glimpse or a party member's report; she scorned that kind of birder. And Gentile also establishes effectively that for Snetsinger - at least perhaps until the last few years - the birds were the goal, to be savored and appreciated; not the number on a list.

And when Gentile simply lets family members talk about the impact of Snetsinger's obsession on them and their lives, she does well. Beyond doubt, Snetsinger's was a true obsession, leaving a greatly diminished space in her life for her husband, her children and anything else. But Snetsinger believed that her obsession with birds kept her alive, helped her survive her bouts with metastasized melanoma. And her response to her husband's complaints - that her interest was no different than her husband's earlier focus on his career - rings true.

When Gentile lets the facts tell the story, it shines. But when Gentile indulges in pop psychology and pop sociology, writing in her voice instead of simply letting the facts tell the story; well, for me the biography becomes annoying instead of insightful. Snetsinger survived a brutal rape in Papua New Guinea. Gentile's repeated assertion that Snetsinger "never came to terms with what had happened" is more than simply annoying. It's insulting to the memory of Phoebe Snetsinger. She had the courage not let it stop her.

Phoebe Snetsinger was a remarkable woman, a superbly skilled birder and a wonderful example of what an individual can accomplish, even with a so-called "late start." Her story is also a cautionary tale. But is would be a mistake, I think, to let the cautionary aspects outweigh the brilliance of her work, or the evident delight she took from it. Three stars for the new information Gentile provides on this amazing woman; but I take two stars off for the annoying injection of Gentile's simplistic interpretations.

Recommended, but also read Birding On Borrowed Time.

Because I'll be reviewing Life List in an upcoming issue of Bird Watcher's Digest, I'll keep this brief. This little book rolls over you like a steam train, slowly gaining speed and intensity, and clattering away in your mind long after you've finished it. With her straightforward, mostly nonjudgmental take, showing without telling, Olivia Gentile raises questions about Phoebe Snetsinger's choices that caused me to examine my own prejudices and boundaries in the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Its penetrating depth is the little surprise of a book that's gripping enough to be a novel, but tells nothing but the truth.

Although I am not a birder, I loved this book. I am a big fan of biographies and this was certainly a riveting one. The story of Phoebe Snetsinger's life is so fascinating it could be a novel, but it's not. Ms. Gentile's writing style is engaging to read and I found myself unable to put the book down until I had finished it. I would definitely recommend this to birders and non-birders alike.

Olivia Gentile's beautifully recounted story of Phoebe Snetsinger's life raises universal questions of what it means to live a fully-actualized life and the potential price of greatness. It is also just a great read! Highly recommended.

This is an excellent read about an extraordinary woman,and what it took for her to become the the top "Lister",by seeing more bird species than anyone in the world.
Anyone who becomes involved in the world of Birding,quickly learns that the people you meet are every bit as interesting as the birds you will see.Just as no two bird species are alike;certainly neither are any two Birders.
Although many of you who read this book,will never have had the chance to meet and get to know Pheobe;you will certainly get to know what an exceptional person she was.To those who were fortunate to cross paths with her in her endless pursuit,I am sure they will be reminded of many experiences they had with her.
I'll let you read the book and follow Pheobe's excursions as she travelled the world and added "lifers" to her list. This is exactly the thing that all Birders do, to one extent or another;but only a rare few have the passion,and yes, the resources and circumstances to do what she did. I don't want to suggest that it is simply a matter of having the resources ,that would enable one to accomplish this feat. There are many people where resources would be no problem;but having the money to cover the travel and other costs;is a minor,though quite essential part of it.It is the passion,endurance,study,knowledge and all of those other things you will learn about in this book;that is needed for one to accomplish what she did. It seems that to reach such lofty levels in worldwide listing,that one must really be more than passionate;they must be obsessed.On May 21,2005 I wrote a review on a somewhat similar "Lister" Dan Koeppel,who wrote about his quest in a similar book,"To See Every Bird On Earth". It seems that family life takes a tremendous toll when someone gets involved in such serious world listing.It doesn't always turn out this way. I knew Norm Chesterfield,who Is mentioned on page 118.Like Pheobe,he became interested in this type of listing later in life.He was in his mid forties when,after wondering what the attraction to this birding was all about. He lived near Point Pelee,one of North Americas most popular birding hot spots.He checked into it, and was soon "hooked".Thirty years later ,after going down this road,he had been the World's top "Lister" for 7 years. He visited 123 countries in his quest ,while at the same time owning and running a mink ranch in Ontario. He still managed to keep good relations with his family.
I have other friends who are into this world listing and,though not reaching the top, have arrived at the 4 to 6,ooo level of species. Many of these people know the guides and others who are mentioned in Pheobe's book and every one of them are interesting people,are very generous with their time in helping any birder who shows an interest,and if one becomes interested in Birding and Listing ,they will soon get to meet and spend time with them.
It must also be pointed out,that all Birding is not like this World Listing,though.Some Birders spend a lot of time with local bird clubs,some bird with a few friends,some bird alone,some bird in their local areas,some concentrate on listing in Provinces or States,one or more countries,some almost exclusively concentrate on certain species like raptors,some on banding;but most do a bit of everything.
I have another friend who also does a lot of world listing,but with her it has been a life long interest.She birded with her parents as a child,used to load up her station wagon with the kids when they were little and all go birding;and now in her senior years,is doing world listing.She knew Pheobe quite well,and was actually on the same bus when Pheobe was killed.In spite of this ,she still enjoys a day of birding locally with her many friends.
A great book, and one for any Birder or anyone interested in the many pursuits life has to offer.

The writing, like many previous reviewers mentioned, is from a journalistic style - reporting. The endless lists of birds and places the subject traveled was a bit too much and yes, the rape was brought up one too many times.

With that said, Phoebe (to me) was not a likable character. She was a spoiled, wealthy, shut-down woman who used a cancer diagnosis as a ticket to completely surround herself with her personal choices. She lived and died exactly how she wanted (according to her personal journal) and left in her wake a lonely husband and abandoned children.

Unfortunately, many famous people who change the world (did she contribute THAT much to birding?) have similar stories of family neglect. Why do they make relationships? If she DID contribute to the world of birding then "good show" but the author does not make that clear. Phoebe had the money and time to personally satisfy herself which does not, in itself, further the sport of birding.

Gentile reported without emotion (I would have not been able to write this woman's bio based on how I feel about her) and for that I am grateful because I was able to make my own judgement of her.

I am an amature birder and have decided to stay close to home, get involved in the birds in my area, and avoid these compulsive Lifers. Scarey!

I would not recommend this book to anyone except those who are or have a birding addict in their lives.

I am a very amateur birder, but an avid reader. This book is a gem! The writing style is personal and yet detached enough to give a full understanding of a remarkable woman.

Phoebe Snetsinger comes to life in this book with all of her delightful charm as well as her rough edges. And all within the context of birds, birds, birds. What a wonderfully balanced fabric is created between the avifauna of the world and the world of this woman.

I think Olivia Gentile does a marvelous job of telling a complex and detailed story in a way that never bogs down, yet never feels rushed or shallow either. At the end of the book I felt like Phoebe was a friend, someone I knew. And I'm sorry I didn't know her on a birding tour.

The birding tales are fantastic and inspired me to get more serious with my birding.

And my own writing!

Just an excellent read!

I'm an amateur birder and, therefore, expected to find this biography a fascinating read... Something to fill my hot, Florida summer when birding is slow. Unfortunately, it is a book that should have been better. Phoebe's life was an incredible adventure, a triumph over the medical experts' prediction of her demise, a sad tale of a neglected husband, a story of a woman raised under one definition of the life women were "supposed" to live, but who was determined to go her own way. I can imagine it as a dramatic movie, complete with exotic settings (Hillary Swank as Phoebe, perhaps? Maybe Meryl Streep?) Instead, the book's style is about as interesting as a reading someone's else's life list of birds. "First I traveled to x and saw y number of birds, including new ones z, w, and q. The next year, I traveled to ...." You get the picture...

This is an extraordinary story, told with grace and insight. I am not a birder but I am a reader and I really love it. The subject is fascinating but my favorite thing about the book is the author's voice. Her thoroughness and diligence of research, her perceptiveness in telling detail and -- above all, the greatest challenge for a biographer, the proportionality of detail -- are superb. Many biographers intrude on the story but Gentile's exquisite care in avoiding that is evident throughout. Best of all, though, is her the author's own kindness and generosity of spirit, as when she adjusts the reader's expectations about Dave's candor or explains why she is using the name "Marmot."

Life List is a total page turner. Gentile is a great writer and Life List a pleasure to read, even if you are like me and not usually a nonfiction fan. Phoebe Snetsinger's story is fascinating -- she had a wacky, incredible life, and Gentile does a fantastic job of capturing it. Gentile's descriptions even made me want to try bird-watching. A stellar book all around. I can't recommend it enough.