Category: Books
-
142: Treated Like Animals with Alick Simmons
The subject of the humane treatment of animals is not an easy one. As hunters, anglers, conservationists, farmers and pet owners we like to think that we instinctively know which interactions with animals are humane and okay, and which are not. And when someone questions our actions or intentions we often tend to get irritated and defensive. The epithets like “bunny hugger” or “animal rights brigade” get thrown. The subject, however, is neither simple nor intuitive if you examine it…
-
129: In Search of One Last Song with Patrick Galbraith
Anyone who has any level of interest in wildlife is aware of the massive biodiversity crisis we are facing right now. Sometimes it is called a sixth mass extinction. Its symptoms can be seen not only in world-famous ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef or the Amazon rainforest but also in our woods and gardens. As sad as it sounds, we should not only help protect species in decline but also enjoy them while they are still around. And with…
-
128: Rhythms of Nature with Ian Carter
This week, Ian Carter, naturalist, ornithologist and author, is back on the show with his new book titled Rhythms of Nature. (Previously, Ian was our guest on episode 105.) I really enjoyed his last book so I was eagerly awaiting his next publication. Rhythms of Nature delivers a great, engaging read and, like Ian’s previous book, provides food for thought. As usual, you can expect a review on this blog in the coming weeks. For now though, I invite you…
-
126: The Saviour Fish with Mark Weston
In this episode, our guest is Mark Weston, the author of “The Saviour Fish: Life and Death on Africa’s Greatest Lake”. It is always fun talking with authors and exploring details of events described in their books that didn’t make the cut to the final version. And so, I had the pleasure to talk with Mark about his stay on Ukerewe, the biggest island on Lake Victoria. The lake that is shared between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In the first…
-
Episode 121: Cries of the Savanna with Sue Tidwell
In this episode, once again, we’re going to take on the subject of hunting in Africa. Our guest is Sue Tidwell, the author of a wonderful book titled “Cries of the Savanna” that I reviewed in last week’s blog post. And since I really liked the book I was itching for the opportunity to talk with Sue. We chat about a number of things. Why Sue decided to write and publish her first book. (Yes, as impressive as it is,…
-
Cries of the Savanna by Sue Tidwell – A Book Review
Hunting in Africa is a controversial subject that I have discussed with expert guests a few times on my podcast. I also follow related social media discussions. Unfortunately, I get the impression (confirmed on many occasions) that people taking part in these discussions have very limited, or purely theoretical, experience. This often leads to ridiculous statements and ill-informed opinions. In contrast, in Cries of the Savanna, Sue Tidwell describes her own experiences and conflicting emotions related to hunting in Africa.…
-
Wildwoods by Richard Nairn – A Book Review
The subject of Irish native woodlands has come up on the podcast more than once. For instance, I devoted an entire episode to this subject in 2018. Being born and raised in a country with much more tree cover than Ireland, broadleaf woodlands are one of the features of the natural landscape that I miss the most. Early this year, after visiting a few local patches of remaining native woods I decided to read and learn more about Irish woodlands.…
-
Episode 114: The Implausible Rewilding with Steve Cracknell
It’s no exaggeration to say that this was the most anticipated book of the year for me. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since, as regular listeners know, I’m keenly interested in rewilding and the conflict surrounding it. Therefore, it was my pleasure to chat with the author, Steve Cracknell, about the book, how it came to be and some particular situations portrayed in it. In his book “The Implausible Rewilding of the Pyrenees” Steve takes the reader into the…
-
The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles C. Mann – A Book Review
I’m not exactly sure who recommended this book to me but I think it was one of my followers on social media. As always in such cases, I bookmarked it for later. After a few months I finally, and I must admit reluctantly, decided to give it a try. And boy, did I not regret it! So I’m writing this short review to return the favour and recommend it to you. Given the topic of my podcast I am often…
-
The Implausible Rewilding of the Pyrenees by Steve Cracknell – A Book Review
I have followed Steve Cracknell’s work for some time and so, as soon as I learned that he was going to publish a new book, I began to wait for the release date. Without exaggeration, I can say that for me it was the most anticipated book of the year. And when I finally got it in my hands, it not only lived up to but exceeded my expectations! (I obviously couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk with Steve…