Lords of the Air - The Smithsonian Book of Birds

by Jake Page, Eugene S. Morton, Secretary Emeritus S. Dillon Ripley (Introduction)

Traces important aspects of a wide variety of species while explaining their ecological importance

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Birds

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 1991

About the author

Jake Page was a celebrated editor, science writer, and novelist who made complex topics accessible through wit and clarity. Though he never studied science formally, his role editing Natural History Books at Doubleday sparked a lifelong passion for explaining science to general readers. As science editor and columnist at Smithsonian magazine, he wrote with elegance and humor on a wide range of subjects, from aspirin to Zane Grey. Page authored dozens of books, including works on birds, earthquakes, and Native American history. His fascination with the American Southwest led to a mystery series featuring a blind sculptor-detective. Collaborating with his wife, photographer Susanne Anderson, he produced detailed cultural studies like Hopi and Navajo. His major nonfiction achievement, In the Hands of the Great Spirit, traces 20,000 years of American Indian history. Whether exploring anthropology or writing fiction, Page championed curiosity, clarity, and the belief that science was too important to remain only in expert hands.

Reviews

[Suz Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting text, but the photos are of such a poor print quality, too dark and uninspiring as a result. It looks as if all the photos were taken in RAW and then left in that initial capture state without any finishing. If these images were left in digital format, this may be due to the fact that in 1995 (the book's printing), digital photography was still so new. But coming from Smithsonian, I'd expect their staff photographers would be able to recognize the problem and provide a better quality before printing. I'd imagine the photographers who provided the images were greatly disappointed, since a final revision of the print quality would have made this is much better end result.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly comprehensive and awe-inspiring compilation