I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m a book addict. Unfortunately so is my wife, which means in addition to our weekly trip to the grocery store we usually have a weekly trip to Barnes & Noble. I have an eclectic collection in my to read stack ranging from The Dog Who Loved Too Much to Lincoln’s Melancholy. Having been bitten by the photography bug, and subsequently a deeper interest in birds, I was intrigued by Koeppel’s selection.

To be quite honest I apparently did not have the slightest clue about the world of bird watching and was continually amazed throughout this book. As an avid outdoorsman I considered myself a “bird-watcher” and have always had a pair of binochs and a field guide in my truck. After reading this book and doing some further investigation, to say I’m not even an amateur bird-watcher would be an understatement. This book gives an inside look to the competitive world of big-list birding…yes you read that correctly. It delves into Mr. Koeppel’s family history and particularly his father’s life and lifelong obsession with bird watching.

It is an extremely well-written book just for the story itself. In addition, it introduced me to the real art of bird watching. By no means is it a technical birding book; however, it did light a spark under me to further my own birding knowledge. I now have half a dozen guides and books laying around the house, joined the South Dakota Ornithologists Union and subscribe to two state’s email lists, which give bird alert updates. I haven’t started keeping a list or gone out specifically to “catch” a certain species, but I have gained a whole new appreciation for avian life above and beyond the admiration I already had.

Even if you have no interest in birding the book is a good read for the people element and the similar struggles we all face with life and this family’s unique story.

Do you have a book you'd like to recommend to others? Send your suggestions to gundogdoc@gundogdoc.com.