From 1981 to 1996, Quammen recounted personal tales of adventure and wry observations in his popular "Natural Acts" column in "Outside" magazine. "...
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Jun 27, 2011
Jacob
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No doubt you’ve often asked yourself, over the years, why it is that owls don’t have penises.
(From “Spatula Theory: The Continuation of Courtship by Other Means,” p. 83)
Actually, no. I always wondered about dinosaurs. Did they have penises? How big? How violent and raucous was dinosaur sex? Is that why Noah wouldn’t let them on the ark?
David Quammen doesn't answer that. He doesn't really know the mystery of the dickless owls, either. But sometimes the questio More...
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Jul 26, 2009
Marla
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We have friends whom we don't see often, but I always leave their house after a dinner together with something interesting to read. When I thanked them for being so generous with good books and recommendations they answered, "We like lending books to you because you always return them--unlike many people we know." Well, under that kind of pressure to uphold my sterling reputation, I read this book immediately rather than adding it to the stack so that I wouldn't forget I had it.
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Jun 03, 2011
Jason
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Quammen's writing always calls the word 'muscular' to my mind: he wrestles and bends every topic into a well-formed story, full of research but delivering its information in a way that is entertaining and purposeful. His essays, meticulously but unobtrusively structured, don't just stop, they CULMINATE, ending at the exact moment when they have made their point.
This volume is one of several collections of his natural history essays for the 'Outsider' magazine. The subtitle indicates More...
This volume is one of several collections of his natural history essays for the 'Outsider' magazine. The subtitle indicates More...
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Jan 29, 2012
Ensiform
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A superb collection of very readable essays on science, scientists, nature, and the great outdoors. There’s a piece on our similarity to the apes (should they too be classified homo?), an amusing essay of animal penes, a fascinating look at the Chamorro people of Guam’s diet of endangered fruit bat, a very thoughtful defense of Thoreau and Walden... the list goes on.
It’s not the variety of subjects that makes this collection so special, of course; it’s the charming prose, the personab More...
It’s not the variety of subjects that makes this collection so special, of course; it’s the charming prose, the personab More...
Jun 05, 2011
Shaun
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Great essays, I plan to read more Quammen (Monster of God hooked me hard a couple years back). Each essay is about nine pages, so it's well set up for someone reading in short bursts lunch-break style, short-attention span traveling, or similar. As such, I wasn't nearly as engaged in the book as a whole, and wanted a lot more depth from some of the essays, but their length is a reflection of the original publisher's criteria and, given that, Quammen packs a lot of reflection into each essay. The
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Mar 14, 2009
Ken
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This is a disjointed compendium of unrelated and outdated essays. It’s essentially Quammen going through his files and trying to make a few bucks off his old stuff.
I don’t blame Quammen for this by any means. The essays were all new to me, and Quammen’s warmed-over repeats are better than most writers’ latest and greatest. However, I couldn’t help but feel that the essays lose something by being collected here, all in one place, with nothing to hold them together.
I don’t blame Quammen for this by any means. The essays were all new to me, and Quammen’s warmed-over repeats are better than most writers’ latest and greatest. However, I couldn’t help but feel that the essays lose something by being collected here, all in one place, with nothing to hold them together.
Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
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A book of essays by the author, mostly taken from Outside Magazine. The subject material is usually something about science, biology, evolution or social commentary.One of the best essays, "Rethinking the Lawn" describes the author's attitude to mowing lawns, which pretty much reflects my own. Another describes many aspects of eggs.
Oct 01, 2011
Wanda
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A most wonderful series of essays. All are well worth well and very poignant, informative, philosophical as well as humorus. The one that seems to stay with me with almost a wretching pathos is "Limelight. The little white Octopus on the World Stage." Isolation and endurance, that grasping at hope is a dark forboding place.
Feb 23, 2010
Jenny
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This book was such fun to read. David Quammen is very amusing and has such a readable style. I loved the way he interjects with his own thoughts but gives you some insight in to scientific theories, and questions concerning the natural world. Each essay has made me laugh out loud at least once! I will definitely look out for his other books.
Nov 22, 2009
Ashley
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I'm a science junkie myself and have always heard wonderful things about Quammen, especially from my father, whose opinion I value greatly. I admire authors who can make science coherent and comprehensible to the average reader but who do not simplify that science. It's a difficult task, one few writers handle successfully. And Quammen certainly is one of those writers. However, I was disappointed by this collection because it felt so haphazard, like an author trying to please an overeager acqui
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Feb 23, 2010
Alex
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I love David Quammen. One of our best nature writers. This is a collection of his essays from Outside magazine; it makes a good break between other books.
Aug 04, 2011
Colleen
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David Quammen writes amazing science books for non-scientists. I learn more from one of his books than from any class I ever took in college.
Jan 07, 2009
Beth
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Good essays, sometimes interesting analogies are stretched a bit too far. Nifty insights into nature
Mar 05, 2009
Darrick
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Quality Quammen. I wanted a full length book on each of the essays in this book of consolidated articles. I love how accessible Quammen's writing is to people with little to no biology background.
Dec 03, 2010
Todd
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“The Boilerplate Rhine” is a collection of articles written by Quammen for Outside magazine. Because of this, each essay has a magazine-like, formulaic format (teaser intro, body, conclusion) and little in the way of depth. This is compensated by the fact that Quammen is a such a good writer and story-teller he can make the topic of slug penises interesting. Light, fun and interesting reading about nature.
May 31, 2008
Nate
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Pretty sweet job--write a monthly article for Outdoor magazine about any science or nature topic that interests him. All in all, the author does a good job, and his insights into evolution among lizards on the Baja California. :) But he lets his own voice get in the way of the narrative a little too often. I won't read any more of his books, but it was worth reading a few articles.
Dec 10, 2011
Brittany
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Quammen is an extremely entertaining author, and this is one of his finest books. In fact, it might be my very favorite of his, if only for the inclusion of the "spatula" essay. For those of you who haven't read it, it's about sexual evolution and "spatula" is used in place of another word. Hint: Male snakes have two spatulas. Male birds have none at all. Fun and educational.
Nov 22, 2007
Lisa
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If you like the natural world, this is a fabulous book of a collection of articles written for an Outdoors magazine. They are interesting, insightful, and pretty darn creative. And you don't have to be a scientist to enjoy them. My favorite article was about the cats. :O)
Jan 09, 2008
Rossana
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I'm a big fan of the author who writes science & nature articles and manages to make you think and laugh at the same time. You feel like a fellow traveler along for a quirky ride as the author embarks on a journey, through all things of the natural world.
May 30, 2009
Carolyn
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I always love Quammen, and for good reason. The brightest gems in this collection are 'Spatula Theory', which could almost be a stand-up routine about penises, and 'Either or Neither' a bizarre and moving tribute to slime molds and Alan Turing. Outstanding.
Jan 18, 2008
Reed
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This was the first book of Quammen's I read (thanks mom), and it really blew me away. Every essay in this book is good reading. Some of them are fantastic. One of them was so beautiful it forced me to cry in a crowded mall food court.
Apr 11, 2008
Annie
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Everything by David Quammen is amazing...this was the first one of his books that I read...and I immediately went out and bought all his others! He makes natural science interesting and amusing, highly recommend his writing.
May 25, 2008
Sam
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I got this out of the library and have enjoyed every essay so much that I am adding it to the list of books I actually want to own. I don't even LIKE natural science (or so I though before I read this).
Jun 16, 2008
Krista
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This is a collection of articles - a brilliant combination of biology, travel and humor. They're perfect for when I don't have time to commit to an entire novel.
Nov 11, 2008
Leslie
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This is a fun, lightweight book. The essays were written for Outside magazine, so they're bite-sized and not technical. Good for plane or bus reading.
Apr 24, 2008
Vicky
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I really liked this- each time I read one of the chapters I would think of someone else I wanted to loan this book to! I even had to buy another copy!
May 03, 2008
Barbara
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This is a fun collection of short stories from a outdoor magazine columnist. Now I know random facts about dolphins, tuna, and sex in the animal kingdom.
Jan 23, 2008
Bret
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The first Quammen I read. He was a columnist for Outside magazine. This collection brings together those writings.
