Bird Man: The Many Faces of Robert Stroud

by Jolene Babyak

Jolene Babyak lived on Alatraz while her father was working there.Meticulously reserched,her book includes never before published prison reports and Stroud's own writing with quotes from prisoners,officers and avian pathologists.It explodes the myth surrounding Robert Stroud.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, True Crime, History, Crime, Biography Memoir, Memoir

328 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

Jolene Babyak (who also writes under the pseudonym Cory Kincade) as a child lived on Alcatraz. Her father was guard and at one point, Assistant Warden. Jolene now writes books about Alcatraz and goes regularly to the Alcatraz store to have book signings.

Reviews

[Shane Ver Meer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grammar and spelling errors aside, this was a nuanced and less biased look at the man's life than the movie, or Gaddis' Birdman of Alcatraz. I was fascinated with what Stroud made of his half century of incarceration. While many of his traits and behaviors were less than admirable, I nevertheless was impressed with his drive and conviction.

If he wasn't a psychopath he might have made more respectable contributions to the world; however, despite being arguably the most notorious criminal in American history (for the long history of attention of the public and media he enjoyed), Stroud's tale has largely fallen into obscurity.

[James Spainhower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the book twice and both times found Birdman to be insightful and entertaining. Having a younger brother aged 50, who is a psychopath, I have attempted to educate myself on this often misleading malaise. One point I find difference with is that psychopathy, sociopathy, and antisocial personality disorder are interchangable. I submit that sociopathy and antisocial personality disorder share most, if not all the myriad characteristics ascribed to one who is manipulative, narcissistic, and fails to or does not accept responsibility for their repetitive maladaptive behavior. The key point of contention, however, is that while sociopaths may feel sincere remorse for wrong-doing, a psychopath is affectively flat lacking any sense of remorse. In sum, a psychopath is devoid of conscience. As such, the classification of "psychopath" should be categorized seperately in the upcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V, slated for release in June, 2013. Statistically, psychological demography profiles estimate sociopathy at between 2- and 4-percent of the worldwide population (with varying degrees of maladaptive involvement). Psychopathy, on the other hand, involves approximately .6- to .8-percent of that total figure, making it a rare bird, indeed. Ranking as the rarest phenomenon within psychopathy is serial murder, often psychosexual in its motivation. Surprisingly, serial murderers, unlike the garden variety of psychopaths and sociopaths, DO learn from their mistakes and will change their modus operendi (M.O.) when they perceive law enforcement investigations are on to their profiling path. Without a doubt, given the prevalence of this affective(?) disorder, very little time is afforded by psychological professionals toward investigating causal factors or means by which to mitigate its development. Moreover,the damage effected by psychopaths, particularly within the psychosocial dynamic of the immediate family, the collective repercussions can be devastating. One thing is certain from personal experience: a psychopath always prevails. They are relentless in their zeal to dominate others and will spend a lifetime, if that is what is required, to subjugate and vanquish opposition thereby claiming title to the lives, well-being, and fortunes of others. Truly behavioral chameleons and psychic vampires, the scourge of psychopathy demands greater investigation in professional circles.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up impulsively when visiting Alcatraz. A few weeks later, I saw it on my shelf and thought, "why did I buy that?" In fact, reading the first few chapters, I felt like one of those people who reads true crime.

Robert Stroud was a heinous, manipulative person and more pathetic than anything else. All this being said, it was well researched and that research was well presented. Babyak did massive amounts of homework to dispell a popular American myth and for me, what I really enjoyed was how the myth came about and how so many jumped on the bandwagon. This book also contains the history of our modern prison system and of Alcatraz itself. There were a couple non sequitors that I thought were confusing and a timeline and list or major players (guards and wardens) would have helped me follow along.

I'd like her to write more, but certainly on nicer subject matter.

[John Vanderslice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have somewhat mixed feelings here. Babyak does a great service in developing a mixed, complicated picture of Robert Stroud, the famous "Birdman of Alcatraz"; she's right that the real Stroud is far more interesting than the idea of Stroud held by those who only read Martin Gaddis's famous 1950's book on him, upon which the Burt Lancaster movie is based. And the extent of Babyak's research is flat out admirable. She certainly does her homework. She leaves no stone unturned. But she appears to have inherited a negative view of Stroud from her father, who worked on Alcatraz for nine years and even figures as a character in the book. This is not to say that the questions she raises about Stroud possibly being a sociopath are incorrect questions. But she does seem to spin those questions, in every circumstance, in the harshest direction possible, even occasionally using diction that I would regard as unprofessional and a bit loaded ("bogus," "racked"), especially for a book that tries to be clinical and neutral and perfectly factual. On the whole, though, it's a well-researched and well-written book. If you're curious at all about Stroud you should read it.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not well written, but contains interesting facts about Robert Stroud. I have to admit that when I started reading the book I thought it would parallel the Burt Lancaster movie, but I was wrong. Turns out Stroud did not develop new cures for avian diseases; he simply plagarized a book written earliier. Seems his bird breeding business was simply a front to conceal a moonshine still that he'd set up in his cell. So, I have to admit that I was taken in by the romantic "Hollywood" myth machine.
Overall I'd say it was an interesting book. If you want to know the truth about the "Bird Man", versus the "Hollywood" Burt Lancaster myth, I'd say read it.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Depressing and morose from the get-go. I think I was as fooled as were so many others, by the early movie and subsequent positive hype about this seemingly mild-mannered man who loved birds. The sordid, perverted underbelly of the man's life, though, as facts are being now revealed, reveal a much different man. It's not just the two murders that make the reader realize Stroud was indeed evil. It was the way he preyed on people, his personal proclivities and putrid "tendencies. There was much about the evil that was Stroud that was hidden from the public until well after his death in 1963. If you MUST read the book (and I wish I had NOT) be alert to the revelations near the middle and end of the first chapter (nauseating) and avoid reading it. The author re-alludes to those eager "confessionals" throughout the book as well as Stroud's declarations to continue his despicable lifestyle if he ever got out. Thankfully he was NOT released and children's lives were certainly spared.

[nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read, and I wasn't sure whether to give it three stars or four, but then I thought about other books I've rated and decided it was more of a three.

I bought this book when I was visiting San Francisco, and actually went out to the island to see Alcatraz. The author was there signing books, and I got my copy signed and stamped with the date I was there. The book was more interesting to me because of this, I think, that it would have been otherwise.

I have studied psychologoy, and criminology was always my favourite aspect, so it makes sense that I would enjoy this book. Non-fiction isn't usually my sort of book, though, so I was quite far out of my comfort zone with this. The only reason I really actually bought it was because I visited Alcatraz and met the author.

I was pleasantly surprised though, since I didn't expect to like this as much as I did!

[Juli Kinrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been fascinated with the Birdman of Alcatraz since I was a girl. A few months ago, I finally visited the fabled rock. The guide recommended this as one of the better books about Robert Stroud. Even so, it only kept my interest when the author dove into his emotional state, and the strange and exaggerated ways he reacted to his world and the people around him. I grew tired of Babyak's recitation of Stroud's ongoing, legal wrangling and his less-than-stellar scientific credentials. Finally I bailed out around halfway through the book. For a true Birdman nerd, though, this is probably a good read.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, people who watched the movie will be disappointed. I never watched the movie, and reading this book was the only sort of perspective I've had on Robert Stroud.

This will not be a popular opinion, but I felt as if the author was condescending in areas where she should not have been. That is just my opinion though.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The legend of the Birdman has overshadowed the real man, a petty, vindictive sociopath who loved to manipulate everyone around him. He doesn't deserve to be mythologized.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF: the author's hatred for her main character overshadows everything. I met the author and she had great stories, but they weren't captured here. I blame the editor.

[Jill Schrupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was well written and covered Strouds entire life. I would recommend this book.

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Birdman: The Many Faces of Robert Stroud by Jolene Babyak (Ariel Vamp Press 1994) (364.1) (3731).

This is a very interesting dive into the personality and the history of one of America’s most infamous convicts. As a child, the author lived for a time on Alcatraz Island when it was a federal prison while her father was the Associate Warden at Alcatraz, so her interest in Robert Stroud is understandable. Stroud was known as “the Birdman of Alcatraz” for his interest in the husbandry of pet birds. For many years Stroud was allowed to breed and raise canaries in his prison cell, principally before he was transferred from Leavenworth to Alcatraz. He even sold mail-order birds to the general public and considered himself to be a serious amateur bird pathologist.

The best story related herein is a tale that, according to the author, the future head of the FBI J. Edgar Hoover often told upon himself. It seems that J. Edgar once purchased a canary from Stroud as a gift for Hoover’s wife. Hoover laughed when he related that after the bird had lived as a pet in the Hoover household for a time, the Hoovers were surprised to note that the bird was not much of a singer. When the bird eventually underwent its normal seasonal molt, Hoover discovered that Stroud had sold him a “counterfeit” canary. When the bird’s feathers grew back in, they discovered that Stroud had dyed the feathers of a common sparrow and passed it off as a canary.

Though the author’s stories are fascinating and informative, the massive number of typos and misspellings made this book hard to read. I have nothing against an author self publishing, but it was painfully obvious that this was a vanity publication which had never been proofed or even spell-checked. (I stopped counting at ten spelling errors.)

I purchased a used PB copy of this book on 9/1/22 in very good condition from McKay’s Books for $1.50.

My rating: 6/10 (based upon 7/10 for content and 5/10 for execution and editing), and I finished reading it on 3/3/23 (3731).

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[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart. The source material is horrifying at times, although deeply interesting. This is a favorite of mine that I thoroughly enjoy and have come back to reread multiple times. Babyak's passion for the topic is evident, and it comes through in her writing as everything in this book is so interesting to read about.

I cannot in good conscience give this book an especially high rating, despite my enjoyment of it. Babyak often times repeats herself, retelling portions already in earlier parts of the book. She skips around, going on tangents and sometimes making it hard to understand what she's talking about, especially if you set the book down for a while and come back to it.

If you're fine with a rather disorganized book and find the topic intriguing, I would go ahead and try it despite what I just mentioned. It's a very interesting read for its flaws and quite enjoyable.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on a very strange man. If you like true crime or any book on strange but true, this is a book you should read. Wonderfully written, story moves along so well, with just the right amount of quotes and facts to support the story.

[Joely · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic exploration of the true monster behind the "Birdman of Alcatraz." Well written, a fast read, and very compelling. If you want to learn about Robert Stroud, this is the place to start and end.

[Meg Avey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could do without the swearing and some topics spoken about, but I understand that that's all in the book for the purpose of describing who he truly is.
Overall, it is well written and comes to a conclusion at the end.

[John Noonan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too dense to engage.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Stroud was nothing like the movie Bird Man of Alcatraz, that's for sure! Very interesting.

[Julio Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Devin Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique insight on one of Alcratraz’s famous inmates. Overall, the author obviously did thorough research in the making of this book. At times, the style of writing was hard to follow.

[Chelsea]

You truly never know how sick and twisted someone is until you listen to their story from when they were children to when they were placed in Prison.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book to learn more about the bird man of Alcatraz after watching the movie. This book offered a look at Robert Stroud's life before, during and after his time he served in Alcatraz. He felt he was not a murderer serving time but that the prison was serving him time. He was actually a darker person that who Burt Lancaster played in the movie Bird man of Alcatraz. In the book he reveals that he was gay but he had married a women while he was in prison and she was his business partner. Robert entered prison in 1909 after being convicted of manslaughter for killing a man in Alaska for beating up a prostitute. He spent the next 54 years of his life in 4 different federal prisons. Robert only had a third grade education but educated himself by reading books to go on to write books about birds that people around the world read.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit not having heard of Stroud until I picked up this book. I found it well researched and written, and while Stroud was not a likeable man he did lead a fascinating life, particularly as most of it was confined to prison.

Having a veterinary background I did find it interesting how recent much of the knowledge on birds is, with much not known today, but also how someone with no peer reviewing could be come to seen as such a guru by so many people, even if much of what he put out was incorrect.

[Susan]

After reading Babyak's book on the Alcatraz escapes, I picked this one up eagerly. Interesting subject matter and well written. What a strange man.

I stopped reading when she mentioned that Stroud was a pedophile.... one subject I just DO NOT want to read about at all. Kind of odd that I could read about the murderers (in the Escape book) and try to understand their life story and how they reached the point they were at, but a pedophile.... I stopped reading the book immediately and was sorry we had spent the money on it.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

After visiting Alcatraz this past fall, I was interested in what I could learn about the Birdman of Alcatraz and the true story of his life. This book really uncovers a massive manipulation of the media and through them the whole of liberal America. He was purported to be denied basic civil rights when in fact he more luxuries than any other prisoner before or since. What a diabolical killer who was brilliant enough to market himself otherwise. Wonderful book factually but wasn't really "authored" so much as a compilation or everyone's data, words and thoughts.

[Peter Bridgford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book while on Alcatraz, and I must admit that the creepy cover lured me in. I haven't read anything about Robert Stroud before nor seen the movie, so this was all new and fresh territory for me. I found the book to have some flaws, but it kept me flipping the pages and I looked forward to reading it. In the end, I found myself conflicted by the man, which I think is the whole point of the book. Part sociopath, part victim, part scientist, part murderer - the man did, in fact, have many faces.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took 18 years, but this monkey's off my back. Bought this at Alcatraz in 1997 based on fond memories of the movie and made it through half...after visiting Alcatraz a second time, I finally slogged through till the end. Verdict: Burt Lancaster is way more likable than Robert Stroud - watch the movie (the kids liked it too!).

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are thinking about the movie with Burt Lancaster, think again. This is a better researched and more balanced biography of the famous birdman. Not quite as wonderful as he was portrayed in the movie, he is still remarkable and interesting to read about.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Birdman of Alcatraz is a famouos inmate. His story is amazing and sad. You will see reports, quotes from prison officials, prisoners, etc. He went to prison as a very young man and never came out. It didn't stop him from living!