Rating: 
Summary: Great Read
Review: I loved this book, and finished it in 2 days. Mark Obmascik has done an exceptional job capturing the excitement (and obsession) of birding. This book has lots of laughs (whether you're a birder or not) and brilliantly weaves the quests, and obsessions, of three men in their race for The Big Year.
Rating:
Summary: Birders in Sports Illustrated??
Review: I read the excerpt of this book in my son's Sports Illustrated (January 19, 2004 issue) and immediately ordered a copy The Big Year. Who would have thought that three bird watchers offer the story for an article in Sports Illustrated. But this is a story of an "extreme" sport. Bird watching at the level described in The Big Year is competitive, compulsive, and compelling. When I received the book last weekend I could not put it down until I found out who won the competition and how the year ended for the three competitors. The writing is outstanding and the picture drawn of the three competitors leaves you thinking you know them. The Big Year is a great read.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book. These guys are a little nuts but their adventures and misadventures make for a very entertaining book.
The author is really humorous and has a great gift for writing. I felt like I was right there and really cared about the outcome of this mad quest.
I usually read more than one book at a time but I pretty much read this one straight through.
Rating: 
Summary: Reads like one long newspaper article
Review: I was surprised how the author could write such a boring book about such an exciting event. The writing is very choppy, 2 of the 3 characters come off as overindulgent, pompous and greedy and there's very little description of the wonderful places and birds the competitors encounter.If you really want to get a good feel for birding or a Big Year, read Ken Kauffmann's "Kingbird Highway". This book is really a disservice to birders.
Rating: 
Summary: Psycho about Birds
Review: I'm not a birder, although I did get a kick out of seeing a roadrunner yesterday. I'm not a birder, but I love stories about obsessives, people who literally cannot control their urge to...anything. Run, golf, see concerts, collect coins, whatever. Obmascik creates a great tale around these three bird guys, and it was fascinating to see what they would do to see ONE MORE bird. This guy can flat out write. I'm familiar with some of his newspaper reporting on environmental and other issues. He really masters his subjects, this one included.
Rating:
Summary: Into the Hunt
Review: Mark Obmascik can really write. I enjoyed this fast moving, insightful story about the world of competitive bird watching. Obmascik seduces the reader into caring about the ultimate outcome of this zany competition as he writes with humor, affection, and obvious admiration about each of the three top competitors in The Big Year. While I am not a birdwatcher, I was completely drawn into the hunt! I even learned a few fascinating facts along the way. Bravo, Mr. Obmascik!
Rating:
Summary: Great fun
Review: Mark Obmascik can write! His wit and writing skills make this book a delight to read, even if birding is not your sport.The three competitors in The Big Year are so different, but so compulsive and colorful that they totally captivate you. Suspense and fun are all part of this charming book. I might just try my hand at birding.
Rating:
Summary: The Obsession of Birding
Review: Mark Obmascik has documented the "Big Year" of three extreme birders - Sandy Komito, Al Levantin and Greg Miller - as they try to beat a record and each other during 1998. This is more a sporting competition than natural history or science. They could just as easily had been train spotting for the largest number of different boxcars. The goal is of course to record the largest number of bird species seen in one year and they have a tough standard to play against. James Vardaman had recorded 699 birds in 1979, Benton Basham had seen 711 in 1983, Komito himself had gotten 721 in 1987, and Bill Rydell had gotten 714 in 1992. In 1998 all were trying to beat 721 and all were unbelievably driven. I won't tell you who won, but it certainly is a remarkable tale indeed! As a sometimes birder who is a professional biologist I understand the thrill of the chase and at least these listers are not killing their quarry. However, I am a bit astonished at the amount of money and time some of these extreme birders will spend to get over 700 birds on their list in a year. I have only about 250 birds on my life list (I'm not against listing) and I doubt that I will ever make 500 for my life. The story of their competition to reach over 721 birds in a single year is gripping, but I tend to agree with at least one of the left behind wives that they are also a little bit out of their minds. Everybody has a right to follow their dream (as long as they don't hurt others in the process) and birding is relatively harmless. I personally would prefer to get to know the birds a bit better than that. Perhaps that is a bit of academic snobbishness, but it is also my individual taste. In any case I recommend this book to anyone who would like to try to understand the drive to record the maximum number of birds seen in a year.
Rating:
Summary: The Obsession of Birding
Review: Mark Obmascik has documented the "Big Year" of three extreme birders - Sandy Komito, Al Levantin and Greg Miller - as they try to beat a record and each other during 1998. This is more a sporting competition than natural history or science. They could just as easily had been train spotting for the largest number of different boxcars. The goal is of course to record the largest number of bird species seen in one year and they have a tough standard to play against. James Vardaman had recorded 699 birds in 1979, Benton Basham had seen 711 in 1983, Komito himself had gotten 721 in 1987, and Bill Rydell had gotten 714 in 1992. In 1998 all were trying to beat 721 and all were unbelievably driven. I won't tell you who won, but it certainly is a remarkable tale indeed! As a sometimes birder who is a professional biologist I understand the thrill of the chase and at least these listers are not killing their quarry. However, I am a bit astonished at the amount of money and time some of these extreme birders will spend to get over 700 birds on their list in a year. I have only about 250 birds on my life list (I'm not against listing) and I doubt that I will ever make 500 for my life. The story of their competition to reach over 721 birds in a single year is gripping, but I tend to agree with at least one of the left behind wives that they are also a little bit out of their minds. Everybody has a right to follow their dream (as long as they don't hurt others in the process) and birding is relatively harmless. I personally would prefer to get to know the birds a bit better than that. Perhaps that is a bit of academic snobbishness, but it is also my individual taste. In any case I recommend this book to anyone who would like to try to understand the drive to record the maximum number of birds seen in a year.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting book
Review: Mark Obmascik has provided an interesting account of an unusual birding event.
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