There are more crows now than ever. Their abundance is both an indicator of ecological imbalance and a generous opportunity to connect with the ani...
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Jan 21, 2010
Leslie
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I thought this book was going to be about crows, and it WAS supposed to be about crows. That's what her editor asked her to do and it almost seemed that she felt the subject was beneath her. I find crows fascinating and an integral part of our cities ecosystem, not to mention they are scarily intelligent. So at first, I felt mislead and skeptical. She does share some interesting facts about crows, but altogether, it's about a chapter's worth.
But I found this such a surprising, satisf More...
But I found this such a surprising, satisf More...
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Apr 30, 2011
Susan
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"Crows are not my favorite bird," writes Lyanda Lynn Haupt at the beginning of the first chapter of this elegant and frank call to pay attention to what nature in our own backyards has to say to our everyday lives. "I am not one of those people who particularly identifies with crows, or has dreamed of them since birth, or believes that crows are my special totem. I've paid perhaps more attention than is usual to crows because they are birds, and I am a lifelong student of things o
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Sep 14, 2011
Kasey
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I've held off on writing about this book, even though I finished it several weeks ago, because I wasn't sure (and still am not) if I could convey how much I loved it, and how inspiring, thought-provoking, moving, and generally amazing I found it.
Like most beautiful and intelligent books I know, Crow Planet is about many things. Crows, obviously--both as themselves (incredibly smart, quirky, and one of the few animals to benefit from co-existing with humans) and as a potent symbol of More...
Like most beautiful and intelligent books I know, Crow Planet is about many things. Crows, obviously--both as themselves (incredibly smart, quirky, and one of the few animals to benefit from co-existing with humans) and as a potent symbol of More...
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Dec 04, 2009
Andy
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Crow Planet is as much a memoir about coping with depression as it is a guidebook to the peculiar life of the crow. In her book, Haupt describes the period of intense melancholy she experienced in middle-age and her self-treatment program, which consisted of immersing herself in local wildlife observation, making a detailed survey of her own West Seattle neighborhood.
Crows are one of a short list of species that has benefited from coexistence with humans, and Haupt attributes our fas More...
Crows are one of a short list of species that has benefited from coexistence with humans, and Haupt attributes our fas More...
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Dec 02, 2009
Sylvia
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"We all know dour environmentalists (or perhaps we are one), wringing their hands while myopically bemoaning the disasters to befall the earth in the near future. Why, when we know that they are right, do we want to spill organic cranberry juice all over their hemp sandals? Because they are *no fun*, for one thing. And, more important, because they will suck us dry if we let them. But we don't have to let them. There is a way to face the current ecological crisis with our eyes open, with st
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Aug 16, 2009
Gilesslade
rated it:
I dread getting Environmental books in the mail from publishers who think I'll love them. Often, like James Hoggan's CLIMATE COVER-UP, they're shrill and overly long diatribes addressed to the already converted.
I long for more books that are not explicitly 'environmental' by people who love nature enough to interact with it. There was a gorgeous book last year called THE LAST WILD WOLVES that stirred my heart. My favorite writers in this vein start at John Muir who I think was a man who si More...
I long for more books that are not explicitly 'environmental' by people who love nature enough to interact with it. There was a gorgeous book last year called THE LAST WILD WOLVES that stirred my heart. My favorite writers in this vein start at John Muir who I think was a man who si More...
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Jul 06, 2009
Tom
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Awesome book, lyrical and beautifully written and perfect for our times. I pretty much agree with the blurbs on Haupt's website:
“Haupt captures crows wonderfully in elegant prose and weaves a thoughtful tale that connects them… to our growing awareness of our kinship to, and dependence on, the rest of life.”
-Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven
“If you picture Henry David Thoreau as a young mother and scientist in suburban Seattle, you can begin to imagine the More...
“Haupt captures crows wonderfully in elegant prose and weaves a thoughtful tale that connects them… to our growing awareness of our kinship to, and dependence on, the rest of life.”
-Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven
“If you picture Henry David Thoreau as a young mother and scientist in suburban Seattle, you can begin to imagine the More...
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Nov 29, 2011
Matthew
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Crow Planet provided plenty of "aha" moments for me. I've always differentiated between the cities where I live and the natural world. Nature has always been "out there" for me. Haupt goes a long way toward removing this artificial barrier. By thinking of urban landscapes as part of the natural world, environmental stewardship becomes something I can do every moment of the day. And I can no longer discount wild animals like Crows and other Corvids that call my city home.
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Jan 22, 2012
Bluff Lake
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Crow Planet begins with a compelling question: “How are we connected to the earth … in our lives and in our actions? And, in light of this connection, how are we to carry out our lives on a changing earth?” As Haupt invites us to consider this question, she encourages us to explore nature close to home – beginning with crows.
Why crows? There are many reasons – which you’ll discover when you read the book -- but, for starters, crows are everywhere. About thirty-one million in the Unit More...
Why crows? There are many reasons – which you’ll discover when you read the book -- but, for starters, crows are everywhere. About thirty-one million in the Unit More...
Jan 04, 2010
Chris
rated it: 
An easy, pleasant read about the value of getting to know your local wildlife and staying hopeful about the (daunting) ecological future. It's also a primer on birdwatching and "knowing your local crows." After the first chapter, I expected Haupt to "get mystical" about the planet, but she is rather pragmatic in her view of the current state of things and suggests we ought to take a walk outside and learn to appreciate what we have, whether we live on top of a mountain or i
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Apr 01, 2010
Malorie
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First and foremost, this book is not really about crows. Yes, crows are involved, and yes, the author does observe them in urban settings. It is not, however, about crows. This was disappointing, but admittedly probably my fault for assuming a book titled Crow Planet would actually have more to do with crows. Not only did I want to read about the interesting things that crows do (because they are terribly interesting), I did not really want to sit through a lecture on how to return to being n
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Mar 31, 2010
Cheri
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Initially, the general tone of this book bothered me. It seemed a bit too sentimental and (preachy is not the right word, but close) -- a bit didactic. This, fortunately, was because I had incorrect assumptions about the nature of the book, and not because of any wrong-doing of the author. I had expected a more informative crow study, but the book itself is more of a philosophical meditation on the nature of crows, intermixed with interesting facts about them, and the reason there seem to be S
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May 26, 2011
Karin
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Lyanda Lynn Haupt aptly blends philosophy and urban biology in this book about crows. Crows are perhaps the only birds that are both distinctive behavior and common in looks. A peregrine might reach over 200 mph in a death dive for food, a hummingbird might beat its wings to invisibility, but none inspire stories the way a crow does.
For example, for three years, a crow dive bombed my husband nearly every time he stepped out of the house, but that same crow "forgave" my son More...
For example, for three years, a crow dive bombed my husband nearly every time he stepped out of the house, but that same crow "forgave" my son More...
Jul 12, 2011
Yvonne
rated it:
We need more naturalists. And since most of us live in cities, we need more urban naturalists. Thanks to Haupt for showing the way. I have long loved crows and picked this book up in the hopes it would give me insight into their nature. It did, in spades. After reading, I bought a pair of binoculars so I could watch them in my neighborhood. I marveled that they follow the garbage truck on garbage day well ahead of the truck--with plenty of time (a couple of hours, in fact) to scavenge before the
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Jul 21, 2010
Sherry
rated it:
My main quibble with this book is that this "Crow Planet" could have used a few more corvid inhabitants. Although the ruminations about St Benedict's Law or the author's nervous breakdown were perhaps telling of her reasons for writing in general, I was seeking a more focused book on my favorite birds. In that sense, "Crow Planet" was a letdown.
I will, however, give Haupt major credit for placing crows in an unbiased, objective position, shedding light on the ele More...
I will, however, give Haupt major credit for placing crows in an unbiased, objective position, shedding light on the ele More...
Aug 07, 2011
Kkraemer
rated it:
When I began this book, I mostly wanted to learn about crows. The book is not about crows, though...it's about the writer's thinking about crows and other wild things. I learned things I didn't expect.
This series of pensees helps me consciously celebrate the sense of wonder that comes from watching the flight of the butterfly in the sunlight, the crows that drop walnuts in the street, the jays that guard their sections of our yard from all intruders. Haupt writes of the wildlife tha More...
This series of pensees helps me consciously celebrate the sense of wonder that comes from watching the flight of the butterfly in the sunlight, the crows that drop walnuts in the street, the jays that guard their sections of our yard from all intruders. Haupt writes of the wildlife tha More...
Feb 04, 2011
Eben
rated it: 
I picked this book up thinking it would be about crows. I know, right? What kind of idiot buys a book titled "Crow Planet" with the expectation that it will primarily discuss and examine crows? No, this book is actually all about an uncritical, self-satisfied woman who thinks she's better and "greener" than you. Also, she seems to believe in magic (e.g. she observes that when she actively looks for a certain bird, she seems to see that bird more often, and she posits that the
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Aug 22, 2009
Off this review: "Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness
By Lyanda Lynn Haupt (Little, Brown and Company)
“Developing as a naturalist, a knower of nature, is arguably one of the most critical tasks for modern humans on planet Earth, yet naturalist is a word and a role that has, in the last century, lost its core meaning,” Haupt writes, seeking to restore that meaning in this book-length essay. Revealing the insistent presence of nature in urban habitats, Haupt tak More...
By Lyanda Lynn Haupt (Little, Brown and Company)
“Developing as a naturalist, a knower of nature, is arguably one of the most critical tasks for modern humans on planet Earth, yet naturalist is a word and a role that has, in the last century, lost its core meaning,” Haupt writes, seeking to restore that meaning in this book-length essay. Revealing the insistent presence of nature in urban habitats, Haupt tak More...
Jul 04, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I particularly enjoyed all the information about crow physiology and behavior. I definitely look at these very common birds differently. I think the discussion of the earth's ecological demise is approached through a more hopeful spirit than many books and she explains why.
My favorite part, besides about the crows themselves, was the chapter that described saint Benedict's idea of lectio (patient study, learning and reading). And Rachel Carson's idea that she wished that all children w More...
My favorite part, besides about the crows themselves, was the chapter that described saint Benedict's idea of lectio (patient study, learning and reading). And Rachel Carson's idea that she wished that all children w More...
Aug 23, 2011
Megan
rated it:
The book is not all about crows as others have already mentioned, but it had enough scientific facts about crows and birds in general to make me happy. I think the book was really more about taking a closer look at your surroundings and noticing that wildlife is still here even though humans have done their best to cement it over. I think I also picked up the book because of the lovely wood cut-like drawings at the beginning of every chapter. I'm a sucker for pictures. She does use anecdote a
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Jun 01, 2010
Susan
rated it:
I wanted to like this book more than I did. There were bits here and there that were wonderful, but the focus seemed very scattered to me and the audience unclear. If it was meant to be a tale of how nature helped the author return from a nervous breakdown, there was too little of the author's story for that to work. If it was meant to be a guide to how to be a more scientific amateur naturalist, there were too many tangents for that to work. So one was left with chapters going in diverse di
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Apr 28, 2010
Maggie
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I am a bird nut and an earthy freak but in the gentle way that Mimi Smartypants is a vegetarian -- I won't hand you a pamphlet about my feelings. So even though I stand with the author deep down I was still at times a little put out by the gradual sense of righteous environmentalism; it is not unsound but it is a wee bit tiresome. But I like it for the insistence on simple wonder and celebrating the patch of earth you happen to find yourself upon, no matter the concrete coverage. The book sort o
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Dec 22, 2010
Cootie
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This book is full of excellent observations about the urban wild, like it's actually harmful to birds to offer your dryer lint for nest-building. Chemical residues from soap and fabric softeners break down the protective oils in birds' feathers, leaving them exposed and often unable to fly. Frequently, humans want to help and do the right thing regarding the non-built environment, but we must always proceed with utmost caution and pay close attention to our surroundings. Haupt does a great jo
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Feb 27, 2010
Jacqueline
rated it:
It combines a recovery narrative with an ecological message: Haupt was lifted from her depression by observing crows and becoming an "urban naturalist" noting the wildlife in her Seattle neighborhood.
The author claims that crows are the most commonly seen native wildlife by most city dwellers, which stuck me wrong. I decided here on the East Coast in NC, it had to be the grey squirrel instead. But the author did offer convincing evidence of the success of crows moving int More...
The author claims that crows are the most commonly seen native wildlife by most city dwellers, which stuck me wrong. I decided here on the East Coast in NC, it had to be the grey squirrel instead. But the author did offer convincing evidence of the success of crows moving int More...
Dec 25, 2011
Leah
rated it:
I read this book over the course of the entire calendar year. Coming back to it every few months to read more. It was an interesting perspective on the wilderness in urban environments with a strong, clear voice.
There were many memorable passages, which I highlighted throughout, but since I finished the book on Christmas, this one rang true:
"Who is really sealing the fate of the earth? Who is walking the line that will determine whether humans may become the viable speci More...
There were many memorable passages, which I highlighted throughout, but since I finished the book on Christmas, this one rang true:
"Who is really sealing the fate of the earth? Who is walking the line that will determine whether humans may become the viable speci More...
Dec 20, 2011
Melody
rated it:
First the nitpicky bits: an editor should have picked up on the fact that Haupt calls crane flies 'cane flies' throughout. And there was one wincing 'tales' for tails.
This isn't really a book about crows at all. It's a memoir, a book about Haupt being alert to her surroundings, a book about waking from depression. I wanted to read about crows, so my impressions of this book are colored by my disappointment in finding a philosophical treatise in place of a natural history of a specie More...
This isn't really a book about crows at all. It's a memoir, a book about Haupt being alert to her surroundings, a book about waking from depression. I wanted to read about crows, so my impressions of this book are colored by my disappointment in finding a philosophical treatise in place of a natural history of a specie More...
Jan 11, 2012
Kellyann
rated it:
This is a book of spirituality as well as natural history. Haupt is not a particular fan of crows, a species which grows at the pace the human race grows, and largely because of human devastation of other species' habitats. Her editor urges the project on her and it ultimately rouses her from depression and an understandable fatalistic attitude toward planetary health. This book is a mixture of science, storytelling, mythology, and observations on both the world around us and the world within
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Jul 23, 2010
Susan
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"Crows are not my favorite bird," writes Lyanda Lynn Haupt at the beginning of the first chapter of this elegant and frank call to pay attention to what nature in our own backyards has to say to our everyday lives. "I am not one of those people who particularly identifies with crows, or has dreamed of them since birth, or believes that crows are my special totem. I've paid perhaps more attention than is usual to crows because they are birds, and I am a lifelong student of things o
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Sep 14, 2009
Sandy
rated it:
A wonderful, moving, intelligent nonfiction book about nature, cities, modern life, and (almost incidentally) crows. I want to write a long blog essay on this (and buy my own copy of it to keep and re-read), but life is getting in the way right now.
Some interesting trivia: there are more crows in the world than ever before (they are one of those species like coyotes that benefit from urban sprawl and more garbage). They are smart, social creatures who remember individuals and specifi More...
Some interesting trivia: there are more crows in the world than ever before (they are one of those species like coyotes that benefit from urban sprawl and more garbage). They are smart, social creatures who remember individuals and specifi More...
Jan 02, 2010
Dree
rated it:
Disappointing.
I expected this book to be about how crows can teach us about/show us nature in an urban realm. To prove nature is in the city. (Even the cover flap implies this.) Instead, that is sort of a sidebar to the rambling themes of this book. What are they? Good question...that we must treat the world better...that 1 person can make a difference, especially if everyone decides to be that 1 person...that being a mom is not lame...that the author tries to teach he daughter about More...
I expected this book to be about how crows can teach us about/show us nature in an urban realm. To prove nature is in the city. (Even the cover flap implies this.) Instead, that is sort of a sidebar to the rambling themes of this book. What are they? Good question...that we must treat the world better...that 1 person can make a difference, especially if everyone decides to be that 1 person...that being a mom is not lame...that the author tries to teach he daughter about More...
