Reviews

Birding to Change the World: A Memoir by Trish O'Kane

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blue_goose's review

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

springernichole3's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

In my last semester as a grad student in international public policy, I took a class that I designated as my "fun" course of the semester- it was Anna Pidgeon's Birds of Southern Wisconsin course. I thought I liked looking at birds before, but during and after the course, I was hooked on birds! Trish O'Kane was right when she wrote in this book that they need to put warning labels on binoculars for people with addictive personalities.
I had no idea what this book was about before I picked it up except the hope that it contained something about birds and birding. Was I happily surprised as someone who adores birds with an undergrad and grad degree from UW-Madison!
This book has everything, Wisconsin, birds, bird facts, environmental justice, great stories, great people, and did I mention birds? Trish O'Kane is a badass in my book. I only wish that I had done an environmental studies certificate as an undergrad so I could have taken this course!

Also, this book turned me into someone who was a bit upset and didn't know why the rhythm and booms firework show was canceled to becoming extremely glad its gone. I'll take the Woodcocks over fireworks any day!

Time to reflect on what I'm doing in my own community, how my identity interacts and relates to it all, and go enjoy some birds!

LOOOVE THIS BOOK!

blergintheburgh's review

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informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

novanod's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

brendankailukaitis's review

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

teamoxfordcomma's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

I love birds and going birding. I love well-written memoirs. With both of those things being true, it shouldn't come as a shock that I absolutely loved this.

O'Kane is a gifted writer with a very important story to tell. I was truly hooked throughout! Her storytelling is captivating without being overly fluffy, and even if you aren't a huge fan of birds, if you enjoy stories about environmental activism and ecological conservation as a means of social justice, this is absolutely the book for you.

I don't know if this will mean anything to anyone, but I read a copy from my local library, and upon finishing it, promptly bought my own copy. Highly recommend this incredible memoir (and wish I could have taken her Birding to Change the World course when I was in college!).