Eric Lawton reviewed Ten thousand birds by Tim Birkhead
Review of 'Ten thousand birds' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Since it is now December, I feel safe in rating this my favourite science book of the year.
I didn't know a lot of ornithology when I started this book but now feel I have a fairly good start on the subject and certainly a much deeper interest.
The best part is that it explains the observations that went into the science. This is important not only to provide some human interest but because I feel that you don't really understand science unless you understand how the hypotheses were confirmed and why alternative hypotheses were rejected.
The book also shows how ornithology led the way for more general work in biology, particularly ecology, evolution and animal behaviour. I know a bit more about all of these as a result of reading this book.
It is a big book, not light reading, but I was very sorry to reach the end.