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    The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession
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    The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession
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    The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession

    Written by Mark Obmascik

    Narrated by Del Roy

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    A classic in the making -- an account of the biggest year in birdwatching history.

    In the USA, some 50 million people lay claim to being bird-watchers or "birders," spending billions of dollars on birding-related travel and membership fees every year. A select, and utterly obsessed, few compete in one of the world's quirkiest contests -- the race to spot the most species in North America in a single year. And 1998 wasn't just a big year. It was the biggest. The Big Year is Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Obmascik's account of what was to become the greatest birding year of all time.

    It was freak weather conditions that ensured all previous records were broken, but what becomes clear within the pages of this classic portrait of obsession is that while our feathered friends may be the objective of the Big Year competition, it's the curious activities and behavioural patterns of the pursuing "homo sapiens" that are the real cause for concern. It is a contest that reveals much of the human character in extremes. Such are the author's powers of observation that he brilliantly brings to life and gets under the skin of these extraordinary, eccentric and obsessive birders while empathizing with and eventually succumbing to the all-consuming nature of their obsession. The result is a wonderfully funny, acutely observed classic to rank alongside the best of Bill Bryson.


    From the Trade Paperback edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateOct 15, 2003
    ISBN9781415901960
    Author

    Mark Obmascik

    Mark Obmascik is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author of The Big Year, which was made into a movie, and Halfway to Heaven. He won the 2009 National Outdoor Book Award for outdoor literature, the 2003 National Press Club Award for environmental journalism, and was the lead writer for the Denver Post team that won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Denver with his wife and their three sons.

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    Reviews for The Big Year

    4/5

    185 ratings20 reviews

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    • 5/5
      So, first i saw the movie. and that was good. Then i decided to read the book, and boy, even the names are different! besides all the changes from the book to the movie, i still thought this as a good book. Though i dont recomend it to anyone that doesnt enjoy birding and such, because they would have no clue what its talking about!!
    • 3/5
      An entertaining read about the true story of three die-hard birders on their Big Year. The non-fiction book reads like fiction, for the most part. While it is not Pulitzer prize writing, it is humourous and engaging, easy to get into and see through to the conclusion. A great insight on the world of birders and the competitive side of non-athletes.
    • 4/5
      Snappily-written insight into why and how competitive birders do what they do. Also, on a side note, has the acknowledgements at the end, which I'm now convinced is the only sensible place for them.
    • 4/5
      Such a fun, entertaining and educational read. I loved every minute if reading it.
    • 5/5
      This book was an unexpected find. The tale of 3 different men who tried to find as many kinds of birds within one calendar year as possible was a great read. It brought back memories of an uncle in our family who would try and see as many different kinds of birds all over the world as possible. He even dragged our 2 daughters through the Arizona Desert after a wedding reception to find "missing" birds.
    • 5/5
      I never would have thought that a story about obsessed men searching for birds for could be so engrossing. I couldn’t put this one down and only “adult” obligations kept me from reading it in one sitting. I found myself rooting for the underdog, who did not have the financial resources of the other two men to drop everything and fly cross-country to see a rare bird… while simultaneously acknowledging that I would do something extreme to my husband were he to run up tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt to do the same.
    • 3/5
      Someone on FICTION-L said this was the best book OF ANY KIND they had read ALL YEAR. So I read it, and it was pretty interesting but I don't think I would go quite that far.

      What it is, is the story of 3 guys in 1998 competing to see who can spot the most species of birds in North America in one year. Which is cool, if you're into that.

      Actually, I mentioned to my cousin (who is a fanatical birder) that I had read this and he said that in fact he came in 4th that year. Who knew.
    • 4/5
      I saw the movie and was really charmed by it. It became one we watched and rewatched, as we like Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. The book is of course different, but I would never have picked up the book if I had not seen the movie.The book does not disappoint, and that it deals with a nonfictional subject that the movie took liberties with, it still holds an interest. Though the movie, was tighter to tell the story, and of course was able to play the more humorous moments, slightly differently than the true events that occurred. The tale of men pursuing their "Big Year" was fun to see as a movie, and fun to read in the book. So much so that I might even think that I too could be a bird watcher for a moment.But ultimately I am not wired that way to try and remember what 700+ different species of North American birds are. That there are people like that, good. Just not me. That there is a tale that honors them, well worth all our time and effort to read.
    • 5/5
      Only a fellow birder can understand the sheer joy of knowing that one has spotted a bird which has eluded the sight of all those other birders out there AND which now may be satisfactorily added to one's list of birds ticked off the list.This book can help those of you not quite so giddy with excitement over birds to help understand the obsession of those of us who thrill to the chase!
    • 5/5
      I never knew that birding (not bird watching - that's what amateurs do) could be so interesting or so competitive. This book opened up a whole new world for me, one I didn't know even existed. Obmascik tells the story of 3 men in 1998 who pledge to see the most birds in North America, called the Big Year. As you read, you'll learn about the men, the challenges, the birds, where people have to go, and even some bird facts in the process. I thought this book was well-written and interesting, especially for someone who is obviously a novice at all this stuff. Hint: If you've seen the movie, forget what you saw when you start this. If you haven't seen the movie, don't bother. The book is infinitely better! The movie is too Hollywood and deviates from the book in major ways.
    • 5/5
      What an exhilarating adventure! Mark Obmascik's writing style truly captured the essence of urgency in the race to spot the largest number of birds in a single year. I totally enjoyed this book, finding myself envious of the three men who competed in The Big Year challenge. Obmascik's indepth look into the mental, physical and financial backgrounds of the three birders, served to enhance the reader's understanding of their individual approaches to birdwatching. As the three birders came closer in number of species spotted, so ramped up the speed of Obmascik's writing. A wonderful, adventure-filled book for anyone, but especially birders.
    • 5/5
      Mark Obmascik likes birds, but he likes birders even better. In Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession Obmascik chronicles a year of birding with several different hardcore birders and their quest for "the big year." The Big Year, as explained by Obmascik, is a birder's attempt to chronicle as many birds as possible within a solitary calendar year. There are many different strategies for obtaining the biggest "birds seen" list and competitors will stop at nothing to hone their strategies while sabotaging those of others. It's cutthroat, surprisingly so. All for the sake of something so small. Competing birders will spend thousands of dollars, millions of minutes, and countless miles to trek across North America looking for elusive, rare, and unusual birds. To see one is an accomplishment, but to photograph one is triumph. To be known as the biggest list is the best of all. Obmascik delivers humor and respect when sharing these birding tales. You will never look at a common sparrow the same way again.
    • 4/5
      Competitive birding - who knew there was such a thing? This book tells the stories of 3 obsessed birding champs during one Big Year of chasing birds in North America. It's an amusing, witty, easy-to-read travelogue.
    • 4/5
      Let's just say you probably have to be a birder, or at least live with a birder, to fully appreciate the lure of Life Lists and the temptations of competitive birding. But even in my sheltered slice of birding heaven here in Colorado, I know people like this. And, I have to admit, I sometimes admire them a great deal. They see and hear things (if they are not pulling my leg!) that I sometimes despair I will ever see or hear. This book by Mark Obmascik, a fellow Colorado birder, describes the obsessive effort three men are willing to make to see the most North American birds in a single year. The book is about to be made into a movie featuring (I hear) Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. It is entirely possible that this might be the first time a movie will be better than the book. In any case, I intend to see it the first week it is out. This book is a fun read for any serious birder. Anyone else already believes we are completely nuts.
    • 4/5
      I've never been a bird watcher, but I LOVED this book. Who knew there was such a thing as competative bird watching. This book is ultimately about a quest. Like Know-it-all and Julie and Julia, it's a highly enjoyable look into the hearts and minds of people who set a near impossible, impractical, and sometimes down-right silly goal and stick to it.
    • 4/5
      Are birders unusual people? This book takes you squarely to the three top birders of 1998 to answer that question. During that year, Sandy Komito, Al Levantin, and Greg Miller all compete to determine who can see the most different species of birds in North America. Their adventures are not only costly, but exceedingly grueling. At first, the three birders start their individual quests not knowing that others are doing the same. Imagine their surprise when, well into their pursuit of a number to top the previous record, they find out that each is not alone!Mark Obmascik brings this adventure alive by following the entire birding year of these three competitors. It is amazing to think that anyone has the fortitude to do this kind of birding. Although some may perceive part of the book as humorous, I had been too taken aback by the difficult situations in which the birders found themselves to do much laughing while reading this story. It may be an obsessive hobby, but as a faux-birder myself, I can see the lure and fun of doing this…albeit on a much smaller scale.
    • 4/5
      A glimpse into the lives of the big listers... people who - even though I am an avid birder - I can't fully understand. This book got me closer, but there is still some kind of disconnect for me. I love to WATCH birds and learn about them, their habits, habitat, food, etc. The people in this book merely want to count them. For me, the magic of watching the graceful dance of an Arctic Tern as they dance in and out of the fog on a rocky beach is pure heaven... and in these kind of situations, big listers spot, confirm and move on! sigh... alas, the world can't be just like me. :-) I did enjoy the book though - so if you like birding (watching or counting) you should enjoy this book.
    • 4/5
      Capturing the insanity that is waking up one day and deciding that you will travel the continent in an attempt to see over 700 bird species in one calendar year.Three crazies make the attempt of this monumental feat. Make no mistake - it's a massive undertaking - you're talking coordinating travel with bird migrations & and still have the ability to uproot and go on a whim when a rare bird pops up. One of the three certainly has little redeeming qualities and wrote a book himself on his version of the adventure. Big Year has plenty of funny moments, quite a few ironic moments and in all, is a good light hearted read with gobs of excellent insider stories on birding, bird life and ornithology for anyone interested in such things.
    • 5/5
      The best book about "twitchers" out there. A must read that just might inspire you to do some travelling yourself.
    • 4/5
      A suspenseful and readable account of several "Big Year" attempts.