Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss

genre: nonfiction, nature

If you know me in person then you’re not surprised that I picked this up at a darling little bookshop in Alexandria. The title caught my eye, for sure. The narrative set up was perfect for my brain, I loved learning about each bird in turn with the overarching theme that both ecologically and culturally, birds and humans have always been linked. 

I really enjoyed learning about the incredible and surprising ways that birds have impacted our society. Of course, some of it is devastating when you think about how humankind has decimated bird populations for all kinds of reasons - for food, for sport, for their droppings, for their feathers. I like to think that we are more aware now, but the author does make you really think about what we are doing to the  birds that we share this planet with.  You can't ignore the role that politics has played all along, as world leaders and their politics guide economic and environmental policies.

Good storytelling. Interesting information. I like the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter and I genuinely feel like a more educated person after reading this book.