Cool North Wind: Morley Nelson's Life With Birds of Prey

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Summary: About a gifted naturalist with a special love for raptors
Review: Cool North Wind: Morley Nelson's Life With Birds Of Prey by Stephen Stuebner is the compelling story of Morley Nelson, a gifted naturalist with a special love for raptors, and a man whose work in falconry, nature films, raptor-rehabilitation, and the recovery endangered peregrine falcons (among other achievements), has long distinguished him as an exceptional and respected conservationist. Highly recommended reading for environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts, this deftly written biography presents a complete picture of a World War II veteran, dedicated environmentalist, raptor expert, and truly remarkable man.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, fast-paced story about an amazing man
Review: I laughed, I cried; two thumbs up!

This is a fast-paced story about an amazing man who has, through hard work, tenacity, and strong vision, accomplished more in his life than most people ever will. The life lessons he learns are lessons for everyone, and his outlook on life and philosophy are words to live by.

From his boyhood on a North Dakota Farm, through fighting the Germans in the mountains as a ski trooper in WW II, his scientific exploits, flying falcons with the royal families of the Middle East and making movies with Walt Disney - raising a family all the while - Morley's life story is hard to put down.

The only improvement I could have asked for was a little tighter editing of an already-tightly written book. But the story is so strong, you'll revel in each moment regardless. Steubner deserves huge credit for capturing the essence of this great man.

Rating:
Summary: A Cool North Wind
Review: There is a great story in the life of Morley Nelson, and Steve Stuebner tells it well in this fascinating biography. Nelson has dedicated his life to the rehabilitation and protection of raptors--those big birds that are really into eating meat. When an eagle pierces Morley's chin through to the roof of his mouth with its talons, Morley reasons that the bird hadn't done it with malice. It had simply mistaken his tongue for a snack. This book is loaded with "bits" like this--on Morley's life as a film maker, conservationist, family man, and soldier. Stuebner deftly relates incidents from Morley's service in the 10th Mountain Division during WW II, his grievous personal losses, and his professional triumphs. This is a book that anybody--not just raptor wonks--can enjoy.