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Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness
by
Lyanda Lynn Haupt (Goodreads Author)
There are more crows now than ever. Their abundance is both an indicator of ecological imbalance and a generous opportunity to connect with the animal world. CROW PLANET reminds us that we do not need to head to faraway places to encounter "nature." Rather, even in the suburbs and cities where we live we are surrounded by wild life such as crows, and through observing them...more
ebook, 0 pages
Published
July 27th 2009
by Little, Brown and Company
(first published 2009)
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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, satisfying read. S...more
But I found this such a surprising, satisfying read. S...more
"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 ornithological....more
1 like · like · see review
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 loss of biod...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 loss of biod...more
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 fascination wit...more
Crows are one of a short list of species that has benefited from coexistence with humans, and Haupt attributes our fascination wit...more
1 like · like · see review
Dec 02, 2009
Sylvia
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone!
Recommended to Sylvia by:
my mom
Shelves:
environment-science-nature
"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 stringe...more
4 likes · like · see review
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 simply l...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 simply l...more
Jul 06, 2009
Tom F
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone!
Shelves:
great-gift-book
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 literate elegance of Crow Pla...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 literate elegance of Crow Pla...more
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.
Haunt amazed me with stor...more
Haunt amazed me with stor...more
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 United States, w...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 United States, w...more
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 in an urban jungle. I p...more
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 natu...more
Mar 31, 2010
Cheri
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
EVERYone
Recommended to Cheri by:
a Powell's customer
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 SO...more
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...more
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 elements driving their population e...more
I will, however, give Haupt major credit for placing crows in an unbiased, objective position, shedding light on the elements driving their population e...more
Such a lovely, personal style to this book. I particularly liked how the author comes at the notion of awareness of self, environment and actions (or lack there of) through the careful study of the book's subject. She's definitely advocating for stewardship but comes at it sideways; gently and firmly, which I (personally) find to be a much more effective means of reaching people when you're hoping to do more than just preach to the choir. I also was very taken by the humbleness of practicing sim...more
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 that surrounds t...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 that surrounds t...more
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 act of looking some...more
3 likes · like · see review
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 takes a philosophica...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 takes a philosophica...more
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 would not l...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 would not l...more
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 and...more
Jun 01, 2010
Susan Katz
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-non-fiction,
natural-history-science
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 direct...more
I was really excited about this book. With all of the new information out there about Crows, I was hoping this would focus more on the front line stories and other information. However, there was very little information on Crows. This was more of a book to watch Lyanda go through the grieving process about the effects of global pollution and the loss of habitats for wilderness.
A lot of what she had to say was interesting and it was a good read, just a misleading book title and topic. She knows a...more
A lot of what she had to say was interesting and it was a good read, just a misleading book title and topic. She knows a...more
Lyanda Lynn Haupt's book "Crow Planet" is a must read for everyone who lives on planet earth. She discusses, not only crows and their behaviors, but also discusses what we as humans have done to our mother planet. Lyanda cites John Marsluff's (of the University of Washington) study of crows. This study was highlighted on the Canadian program "Nature" several years ago, one that James and I found very interesting.
Crows are highly social and intellectual "beings", one should not take them lightly....more
Crows are highly social and intellectual "beings", one should not take them lightly....more
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...more
Sep 27, 2012
Sian Lile-Pastore
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
nature-animals
this kind of book is just my thing. i love nature writing and also love how this book combines the nature writing with a kind of memoir and a general natural history thing (i am pretty sleepy writing this review so am aware - and yet unable to change the fact- that i've used the word 'nature' so many times).
oddly i could have done with more about crows... but what is here about crows is crazy great - crows like listening to music, they recognise human faces and they have a kind of crow funeral....more
oddly i could have done with more about crows... but what is here about crows is crazy great - crows like listening to music, they recognise human faces and they have a kind of crow funeral....more
Feb 27, 2010
Jacqueline Ogburn
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction
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 into urban niches. They ar...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 into urban niches. They ar...more
I don't know how I feel about this book. Haupt is wonderfully lyrical, but, like most of us in the urban wilderness, her gaze is mostly inward. She does not relate to crows as a naturalist might, but as a fellow being might. She has much to say about listening, looking, and being awake and aware. Yes, she does reveal moments of narcissism and melancholy, but she also looks to the non-human world for solutions. It was thoughtful, good writing and a good read. If you're looking for factoids and an...more
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 species we need to be in order...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 species we need to be in order...more
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 species. Not that...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 species. Not that...more
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. H...more
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Lyanda Lynn Haupt is an author, speaker, blogger, and naturalist based in Seattle. Her new book, from Little, Brown, Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness, will be released nationally on July 27, 2009.
Lyanda’s first book, Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds (Sasquatch, 2001), explores the relationship between humans, birds, and ecological understanding, and is a winner of the 200...more
More about Lyanda Lynn Haupt...
Lyanda’s first book, Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds (Sasquatch, 2001), explores the relationship between humans, birds, and ecological understanding, and is a winner of the 200...more
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“In spite of the string of magazine covers announcing the contrary, we all know that ten simple things will not save the earth. There are, rather, three thousand impossible things that all of us must do, and changing our light bulbs, while necessary, is the barest beginning. We are being called upon to act against a prevailing culture, to undermine our own entrenched tendency to accumulate and to consume, and to refuse to define our individuality by our presumed ability to do whatever we want.”
—
3 people liked it
“We are being called upon to act against a prevailing culture, to undermine our own entrenched tendency to accumulate and to consume, and to refuse to define our individuality by our presumed ability to do whatever we want.”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
Jan 21, 2010 06:20am
Jan 21, 2010 09:56am