The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World by Matt Kracht
$15.95
Product Details
Web ID: 152762854 years ago
from Wollongong NSW
Not for everyone
The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World is the sequel to The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by American author, Matt Kracht. After explaining his reasons for writing the guide, Kracht goes on to criticise the accepted nomenclature system for its complexity and provides an alternative. He disagrees with the geographical regions that scientists divide the planet into, and provides his own. He systematically insults scientists, ornithologists, bird watchers, teachers and the birds themselves. He frequently inserts expletives into his descriptions; initially this is mildly amusing, but it soon wears thin; it is likely intended to be funny and clever, but it falls short, more like juvenile comments playing to grade school boys, even including a f@rt joke. Each bird monograph provides an illustration, the bird’s geographical range, and some facts about the bird, including appearance. Kracht often anthropomorphises the bird’s behaviour to justify his annoyance with it. He gives it a name using a play on the bird’s common name. The most innocuous of these is probably the Boring Chickadee (from the Boreal Chickadee). Birds Throughout History consists of a number of photographs of artefacts including birds for which Kracht’s interpretations draw rather a long bow. The final pages include a few word games. From 23 ratings on GoodReads this book has a rating average of 3.78, so it clearly appeals to a number of readers, but this brand of humour is not for everyone.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4 years ago
from Missouri
hilarious!
The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World by Matt Kracht Chronicle Books I have to say that I read the first book and bought it. I couldn't wait for another one! This one didn't disappoint. I loved it! I kept me laughing at the silly descriptions of birds, the drawings, the added notes, and all the extra info! LOL! Having a whole world of birds to pick from really added to the fun! Although it was hilarious, there was a bit of education in there too. I mostly just read it for the fun. I love birds and humor so this was perfect. This would be the perfect gift for animal or bird lovers. (Or for someone that just needs a pick-me-up.) I really enjoyed the new exercises at the end of the book! That was a hoot! So funny. Will be buying this after it comes out too! I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this terrific book!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4 years ago
from USA
Informative and funny bird book
First and foremost before you read this book, please make sure your expectations are in line with what this book has to offer. I see this book as a "parody" bird guide, not to say that's the author's intention. It is hilarious if you don't take things too seriously and don't mind bad words. The title of the book should be a BIG giveaway, but if you're still unsure, I would say that if calling birds dumb**** or that they are weird looking s*** hurt your feelings or make you cringe then this book is probably not for you. This second book by Matt Kracht and is just as funny as his first, but at a larger scale. Since I'm unfamiliar with birds from other continents besides North America, I enjoy learning about other species, their markings, behaviors, and fun facts from this book. Examples of new birds (to me) that I'm intrigued by are; Red-billed firefinch (Africa), Peruvian Sheartail (S. America), Ruddy Shelduck (Europe-Asia), and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Africa). The last part of the book includes a bird drawing lesson (lol), historical artifacts, and arts with birds on them, cool! Laugh out loud is always welcome and this book delivers. I have family members who looked over my shoulder to see what's so darn funny. Thank you Chronicle Books, and Netgalley for my ARC.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4 years ago
from WV
Hilarious!!
This book was not only hilarious, but also brought back some wonderful memories of summers birdwatching in my front yard with my dad, and all the bird books I borrowed from the library to help identify them. I kinda wish I had this book on hand though, because the personality descriptions of some of these birds is spot on and would have had me rolling! If you're starting a birdwatching journey just for fun, or even just want a quick laugh in between the (not so serious) birdwatching, this is the book for you! It's jam packed full of snarky facts, and even includes a mini-history lesson! I'll have my eyes out for more from this author!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
3 years ago
from Wisconsin
Couldn’t stop laughing!
Matt Kracht, the author of the delightfully snarky and irreverent “The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America” is back! This time he’s aiming his field glasses at Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World and he’s not holding back. You don’t have to be a birdwatcher to love this book but you do have to have the kind of sense of humor that appreciates satire and is not easily offended. That means that your Aunt Emma who loves Saturday Night Live but doesn’t know a parrot from a sparrow will more likely than not thoroughly enjoy this book. However, your Uncle Fred, the uptight stockbroker who spends every moment he’s not monitoring the Dow Jones in the woods seeking the elusive Turkish Saber-Toothed Woodpecker (To my woefully inadequate knowledge of ornithology, a non-existent species.) and who was last seen smiling (grudgingly) in 1985, will likely cut you out of his will if you buy it as a gift for him on his next birthday. If you want to stay in their good graces and on their holiday gift list, I wouldn’t advise gifting a copy to anyone who feels compelled to use words like “shucks” and gosh darn” instead of their more profane equivalents, either. If birds were able to sue for defamation, they’d be flocking to their local courthouse to file suit against Kracht. He’s that funny. Fortunately, for us (and for Kracht) birds can’t sue. I’m not a birder, but I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Having been the innocent victim of a psycho blue jay who flew into my waist-length hair, tangling its claws in it and yanking out a hefty amount of hair when I was in college, I have been dreaming for decades of a way of getting revenge against that bird and other avian miscreants like it without actually physically hurting it or any other bird. I can stop now because unbeknownst to Matt Kracht, he has done it for me by writing this book. The pen, as one might say, is mightier than the beak.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
2 years ago
from USA
This book was ok
While funny, the language does get a little overdone in this book. It was good, but not my favorite.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
6 months ago
AMAZING
One of my favorite birds definitely made me giggle Lots of times! Can’t wait for the new one to come out in March!!!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com