Birds and Us

By Tim Birkhead,

Book cover of Birds and Us: A 12,000 Year History, from Cave Art to Conservation

Book description

Since the dawn of human history, birds have stirred our imagination, inspiring and challenging our ideas about science, faith, art and philosophy.

Looking to the skies above, we have variously worshipped them as gods, hunted them for sustenance, adorned ourselves in their feathers, studied their wings to engineer flight and,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Birds and Us as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is truly a tour de force. Reading it, I was greatly impressed by its sweeping take on human relations with birds across countries and continents and throughout human history, sharing at the same time the author’s deep knowledge of birds and their habitats, his lifelong engagement with key field sites, and his unlimited fascination with the avian world.

I was also impressed by his perceptive and original observations of the lives of birds and the practices and politics of humans commenting upon them. Keeping in mind that birds are now increasingly seen as the canaries of the global…

From Gísli's list on books that capture life on the edge.

Want books like Birds and Us?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Birds and Us.

Browse books like Birds and Us

Book cover of When Species Meet
Book cover of H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z
Book cover of Shimmer: Flying Fox Exuberance in Worlds of Peril

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,189

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in birds, human animal relationships, and animal habitats?

Birds 178 books
Animal Habitats 31 books