Lifebirds [Paperback]

George Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

This is a casual but engaging autobiographical work by a Rutgers University English professor. Levine overplays his lack of birding skills yet in his essays displays a fine understanding not only of birds but of hobbies and life pursuits, as well as human nature. Fifteen of his 16 chapters are named for birds but serve as much as touchstones for his interpretations of travel, experiences, changing seasons, and the love yet tension among family members. The book's structure is thus similar to Terry Tempest Williams's much more substantial Refuge (LJ 10/1/91), about birds in Utah, cancer, and her family. Especially evocative is Levine's "Swallows" chapter on the bittersweet nature of both summer's end and family relationships. Set in a dozen or more states and provinces, Lifebirds, if not compellingly essential, is nonetheless good reading.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a casual but engaging autobiographical work by a Rutgers University English professor. Levine overplays his lack of birding skills yet in his essays displays a fine understanding not only of birds but of hobbies and life pursuits, as well as human nature. Fifteen of his 16 chapters are named for birds but serve as much as touchstones for his interpretations of travel, experiences, changing seasons, and the love yet tension among family members. The book's structure is thus similar to Terry Tempest Williams's much more substantial Refuge (LJ 10/1/91), about birds in Utah, cancer, and her family. Especially evocative is Levine's "Swallows" chapter on the bittersweet nature of both summer's end and family relationships. Set in a dozen or more states and provinces, Lifebirds, if not compellingly essential, is nonetheless good reading. Recommended.?Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Thomas Jefferson Univ. Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813524954
• ISBN-13: 978-0813524955
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what birding is all about, July 26, 2004

By 

W. Gross "winkg" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lifebirds (Hardcover)

I first read this book a couple of years ago. I just reread it, confirming my earlier impression: this book accurately and beautifully conveys what birding means to me. Each chapter is organized around a particular, memorable bird in the author's experience. Although he admits he's not a particularly skilled birder, he is certainly an accomplished writer. His descriptions of the surprise of birding--finding a Carolina Wren on a snowy day at Montauk when he thought he'd be looking for seabirds, or hearing the witchity-witchity of the first Common Yellothroat of spring--resonated perfectly with my own experience. A gem of a book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most thoughtful book about birding and birders ever writ, September 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lifebirds (Paperback)

This is a wonderful, thoughtful book about the meaning of birding: how it changes us and our relationships with others. Levine is a sophisticated thinker and a clear writer, and discovers facets to our hobby that most of us never dreamed existed. Buy it, read it.