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Birding Under the Influence: Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery
At a personal and professional crossroads, a man resets his life and finds sobriety, love, and 618 bird species, cycling his way to a very Big Year. In Birding Under the Influence , Dorian Anderson, a neuroscience researcher on a pressure-filled life trajectory, walks away from the world of elite institutions, research labs, and academic publishing. In doing so, he falls in love and discovers he has freed himself to embrace his lifelong passion for birding. A North American Big Year―a continent-spanning adventure in which a birder attempts to see as many species as possible in twelve months―is a massive undertaking under any circumstances. But doing it on a bike while maintaining sobriety? That’s next level. As Dorian pedals across the country, describing the birds he sees, he confronts the challenges of long-distance treacherous weather, punctured tires, speeding cars, and injury. He encounters eccentric characters, blistering blacktop, dreary hotel rooms, snarling dogs, and an endless sea of smoking tailpipes. He also confronts his past struggles with alcohol, drugs, and risky behaviors that began in high school and followed him into adulthood. Birding Under the Influence is a candid, honest look at Dorian’s double life of academic accomplishment and addiction. While his journey to recovery is simultaneously poignant and inspiring, it is ultimately his love of birds and nature that provides the scaffolding to build a new and radically different life.
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2023
42 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 9, 2023
I love cycling and I love nature (why isn't my hashtag #BotanicalMountainBiking more used?) so, at first glance, this was a book that could have been written just for me. It started talking about lapwings, one of my favourite birds and (as a European) one that I am very familiar with and, despite its iridescent plumage, find hard to imagine being exotic. The vast majority of the other birds mentioned were unknown names to me, but I did enjoy when the author didn't just list them but told us a bit about them as well.
The cycling aspect was also interesting. He started as pretty much a novice, so I was left wondering why he didn't try out the clip-on pedals first, why he hadn't trained even a little for this and why he couldn't have got himself better tyres to avoid all the punctures. But maybe that comes down to American roads. I lived a couple of years in Illinois, and the locals thought I was bonkers for cycling to work. The shouted abuse, car horns and rubbish at the side of the road were all very familiar. I was even stopped by the police once because a car driver had complained that I was cycling on the road rather than on the (rubbish-filled) grass verge. As it happens, I had taken my Illinois driving test the week before and had to inform the police that it was actually illegal for me to cycle on the verge. It reminded me how lucky we are to have decent cycling infrastructure here, and also the luxury of not being scared of violent locals if we cycle on back roads.
The book had a third theme, alcoholism. That felt a little crowded. Although the three aspects are all very interconnected, that did mean that the focus was sometimes lost as the author switched from one thing to another. The book is also an autobiography, and of course, with every autobiography you are left wondering how reliable the narrative is. What has been left out and what has been exaggerated. When describing his scientific work, the author uses quite a lot of scientific terminology and in some places I got the impression that he was trying to impress the reader with his erudition, rather than explain matters. He assumes that readers know what the dendrites and axon of a neuron are - or does he expect them to google it? As a biologist, I could follow it all, but I can imagine that some readers will feel forced to skip those paragraphs.
The prose is mostly fairly straightforward. Some of the phrases are a bit bizarre ("conversation flowed as freely as urine" was very odd), but it was all quite readable.
The twin theme of cycling and 'twitching' reminded me of Lief Bersweden's book 'Where the wildflowers grow'. Although Dorian Anderson's book doesn't have the wonderful quality of prose of Bersweden, it is still a worthwhile and enjoyable read, and his personal struggle and ultimate success in relation to his addiction has the potential to inspire those suffering from similar problems.
Acknowledgment: This review is based on a free pre-publication copy of the book obtained from the publisher via the Netgalley platform, in return for an honest review.
The cycling aspect was also interesting. He started as pretty much a novice, so I was left wondering why he didn't try out the clip-on pedals first, why he hadn't trained even a little for this and why he couldn't have got himself better tyres to avoid all the punctures. But maybe that comes down to American roads. I lived a couple of years in Illinois, and the locals thought I was bonkers for cycling to work. The shouted abuse, car horns and rubbish at the side of the road were all very familiar. I was even stopped by the police once because a car driver had complained that I was cycling on the road rather than on the (rubbish-filled) grass verge. As it happens, I had taken my Illinois driving test the week before and had to inform the police that it was actually illegal for me to cycle on the verge. It reminded me how lucky we are to have decent cycling infrastructure here, and also the luxury of not being scared of violent locals if we cycle on back roads.
The book had a third theme, alcoholism. That felt a little crowded. Although the three aspects are all very interconnected, that did mean that the focus was sometimes lost as the author switched from one thing to another. The book is also an autobiography, and of course, with every autobiography you are left wondering how reliable the narrative is. What has been left out and what has been exaggerated. When describing his scientific work, the author uses quite a lot of scientific terminology and in some places I got the impression that he was trying to impress the reader with his erudition, rather than explain matters. He assumes that readers know what the dendrites and axon of a neuron are - or does he expect them to google it? As a biologist, I could follow it all, but I can imagine that some readers will feel forced to skip those paragraphs.
The prose is mostly fairly straightforward. Some of the phrases are a bit bizarre ("conversation flowed as freely as urine" was very odd), but it was all quite readable.
The twin theme of cycling and 'twitching' reminded me of Lief Bersweden's book 'Where the wildflowers grow'. Although Dorian Anderson's book doesn't have the wonderful quality of prose of Bersweden, it is still a worthwhile and enjoyable read, and his personal struggle and ultimate success in relation to his addiction has the potential to inspire those suffering from similar problems.
Acknowledgment: This review is based on a free pre-publication copy of the book obtained from the publisher via the Netgalley platform, in return for an honest review.
October 2, 2023
I heard about this book when the author was interviewed on the Life List podcast. I was fortunate to get an advanced copy through NetGalley -- so glad I did.
Anderson takes on a birding big year (trying to see as many birds as possible within a geographic area in calendar year) in 2014 as a way of breaking from the academic treadmill he'd been running, and as a way to evaluate his 4 years of sobriety. His goal was to see as many birds as possible in the lower 48 states, travelling entirely by bicycle. Having read a few books on other birders' big years, I found his approach refreshing. Yes, seeing the birds was important and the frame upon which this adventure was hung. But the true accomplishment was having the time to test his own limits, reflecting on his rocky past with substance abuse, and building a new path forward.
The trip he describes was grueling and filled with dangers, among them angry dogs, busy roads, collisions and crashes. But he also met and stayed with a an array of people around the country who were following his journey. Each had their own version of hospitality, and each provided context and lessons for Anderson as he grew along the way.
Sometimes, the parallels between his life and the behavior of a bird species are made a little awkwardly, and at times the dialog in remembered conversations can feel a bit stilted, but I suppose that's hard to get around writing 10 years after the event. It was just noticeable, but didn't really take away from the overall story or Anderson's amazing accomplishment.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you have an interest in birding, bicycling or memoirs of substance abuse, give this a try. It may seem alike a strange combination, but life is like that. And I'm really glad that Anderson is still around and able to share this with a larger audience.
Thank you NetGalley and Chelsea Green Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Anderson takes on a birding big year (trying to see as many birds as possible within a geographic area in calendar year) in 2014 as a way of breaking from the academic treadmill he'd been running, and as a way to evaluate his 4 years of sobriety. His goal was to see as many birds as possible in the lower 48 states, travelling entirely by bicycle. Having read a few books on other birders' big years, I found his approach refreshing. Yes, seeing the birds was important and the frame upon which this adventure was hung. But the true accomplishment was having the time to test his own limits, reflecting on his rocky past with substance abuse, and building a new path forward.
The trip he describes was grueling and filled with dangers, among them angry dogs, busy roads, collisions and crashes. But he also met and stayed with a an array of people around the country who were following his journey. Each had their own version of hospitality, and each provided context and lessons for Anderson as he grew along the way.
Sometimes, the parallels between his life and the behavior of a bird species are made a little awkwardly, and at times the dialog in remembered conversations can feel a bit stilted, but I suppose that's hard to get around writing 10 years after the event. It was just noticeable, but didn't really take away from the overall story or Anderson's amazing accomplishment.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you have an interest in birding, bicycling or memoirs of substance abuse, give this a try. It may seem alike a strange combination, but life is like that. And I'm really glad that Anderson is still around and able to share this with a larger audience.
Thank you NetGalley and Chelsea Green Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 24, 2023
What a tale! Sort of out of the blue, Dorian decides to quit his high-level lab job and bike across America for a year of birding. Weaving back and forth between his life with his adored Sonia, his black hole of alcoholism and drug abuse, and his grueling challenges on the road, the story is epic. It also needed editing. And I'm a birder.
The problem of describing every leg of a Big Year, every storm he plows through, every parched mile uphill is somewhat balanced by Dorian's excitement about the birds he finds and the people he meets. But as the year goes on, I started skimming to get to the bird names and his fascinating details about certain species...and the saga of his romance.
The book's title is somewhat deceptive: he isn't under the influence at all, unless it's the influence of a need to do everything over-the-top. After four years of sobriety he supposedly uses much of the solo time on the road to reflect on his decades of self-destruction. The links between the birds, the roads, the cultures and the reflections they inspire in Dorian are sometimes pretty forced.
Let's talk about language. Dorian's a very bright guy, but sometimes saying things in normal words is the best communication. "...Reaching the apex, the view exceeded my imagination; beaming sun cast the Pacific in shimmering sapphire, kelp swayed at the behest of emerald rollers, and breakers kissed the plunging precipice in a tumult of turquoise." I get it, the sight was beautiful and moving, but the description is so way overworked. I'm afraid his love of vocabulary gets in the way of telling a really good story.
Still, it's a whopper of an experience and one I'm glad I can read about rather than live through.
The problem of describing every leg of a Big Year, every storm he plows through, every parched mile uphill is somewhat balanced by Dorian's excitement about the birds he finds and the people he meets. But as the year goes on, I started skimming to get to the bird names and his fascinating details about certain species...and the saga of his romance.
The book's title is somewhat deceptive: he isn't under the influence at all, unless it's the influence of a need to do everything over-the-top. After four years of sobriety he supposedly uses much of the solo time on the road to reflect on his decades of self-destruction. The links between the birds, the roads, the cultures and the reflections they inspire in Dorian are sometimes pretty forced.
Let's talk about language. Dorian's a very bright guy, but sometimes saying things in normal words is the best communication. "...Reaching the apex, the view exceeded my imagination; beaming sun cast the Pacific in shimmering sapphire, kelp swayed at the behest of emerald rollers, and breakers kissed the plunging precipice in a tumult of turquoise." I get it, the sight was beautiful and moving, but the description is so way overworked. I'm afraid his love of vocabulary gets in the way of telling a really good story.
Still, it's a whopper of an experience and one I'm glad I can read about rather than live through.
December 16, 2024
Gosh I'd love to do a Big Year
November 11, 2023
Bicycling around America to see as many bird species as possible during a Big Year without petroleum power, was just one of the challenges Dorian faced. He was overcoming himself, his addictive, rush-fuelled personality which had led him to spend insane amounts of money and time high or blotto. Obviously a really bright man, Dorian had worked through college and science degrees, but I found it really odd that he gave two years to experiments before realising there was a reason none of them worked as expected. Probably if he was ever sober he'd have corrected course much earlier.
Abandoning science and his DJ-ing for a cleaner pedal powered way of life may have saved his life. I'm wondering why nobody ever told Dorian that the drugs he ingested were destroying the habitats of migrant and resident birds across the Americas. Forests and rainforests are cleared for illegal planting. The money supports exploitation and violent crime. He never saw drugs as affecting anyone but himself, and that's why his girlfriend left him.
Hoping to find 600 bird species, a sense of purpose and a relationship, Dorian nearly gave up early on, but the fact that he was blogging and had many birding followers and commenters pushed him to continue. We get the blow by blow of so many species, the irruptives and natives, the lone wonders and large flocks. New friends put him up and motels sometimes risked his health. The mountain peaks and mudflats, the sagebrush and reserves, are all detailed for anyone wishing to follow in Dorian's tracks. Interspersed with the 2014 road trip are memories of his self-destructive past, an ideal way to break up the account.
Recommended for birders. I would like to see colleges and science institutions taking more responsibility for the welfare of students and those in their staff. Two colleges declined to accept Dorian and that should have been a warning.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Abandoning science and his DJ-ing for a cleaner pedal powered way of life may have saved his life. I'm wondering why nobody ever told Dorian that the drugs he ingested were destroying the habitats of migrant and resident birds across the Americas. Forests and rainforests are cleared for illegal planting. The money supports exploitation and violent crime. He never saw drugs as affecting anyone but himself, and that's why his girlfriend left him.
Hoping to find 600 bird species, a sense of purpose and a relationship, Dorian nearly gave up early on, but the fact that he was blogging and had many birding followers and commenters pushed him to continue. We get the blow by blow of so many species, the irruptives and natives, the lone wonders and large flocks. New friends put him up and motels sometimes risked his health. The mountain peaks and mudflats, the sagebrush and reserves, are all detailed for anyone wishing to follow in Dorian's tracks. Interspersed with the 2014 road trip are memories of his self-destructive past, an ideal way to break up the account.
Recommended for birders. I would like to see colleges and science institutions taking more responsibility for the welfare of students and those in their staff. Two colleges declined to accept Dorian and that should have been a warning.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
December 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Being a birdwatcher, I understand his Big Year goals and the thrill of finding the next bird. The author brought excitement to the readers as he spotted different and rare birds. His descriptions were amazing. I felt like I was sharing the bird with him. I am not a bicyclist- his quest to achieve his Big Year by bicycle “no petroleum “ fascinated me. Could he do it! His trials of the hardships, weather, and mountains, were offset by his descriptions of the views he experienced. Dorian is also a recovering alcoholic - which plays a big role in the story. He is in a relationship and you continue to ask - does it last? Many life lessons found and with that the realization that everyone has choices. I would love to hear him speak sometime.
December 3, 2023
Loved this book! I enjoy big year birding books. I also enjoy adventure books. This is both. Incredible story.
March 7, 2024
incredible story of overcoming addiction and following your dreams!
August 4, 2025
"Birding Under the Influence" will appeal to those with interest in one or more of the following: birding, endurance cycling, cross-country travel by bicycle, relationships, and/or dealing with overcoming an addiction. The author, Dorian Anderson is open about his struggles and successes. The book is well written and never dwells on one aspect too long. For example, I am not a birder, but I still enjoyed reading about his challenge and finds. I liked this book more than expected.
April 1, 2025
"It's okay to stop and just be happy."
I received this book as a gift in a secret Santa, and it was a treat! Birding under the influence contrasts the author's past struggle with addiction to his bicycle Big Year after five years sober. With an emphasis on recovery and self reflection, the book is really easy reading, even if the author occasionally gets a bit too wordy for my taste.
I received this book as a gift in a secret Santa, and it was a treat! Birding under the influence contrasts the author's past struggle with addiction to his bicycle Big Year after five years sober. With an emphasis on recovery and self reflection, the book is really easy reading, even if the author occasionally gets a bit too wordy for my taste.
February 2, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a backyard birder, and have attended birding walks long ago, but they never moved along as fast as I wanted. That said, I was impressed with Dorian's mission to amass the number of birds he did (over 600), and do it via bicycle. That trip was what drew me to the book.
Dorian loved to party hard and had issues with both alcohol and drugs. He never let it interfere with his laboratory work though. But once he met Sonia, perchance in a bar watching a postponed baseball game, he was smitten. But not enough to give up on his vices. He would play good while she was in town, but when she traveled for work, he lapsed. And then he was caught in his deceptions when she borrowed her phone and came across an incriminating text...
The book goes back and forth in time, chronicling his trip (I actually followed along on my atlas) with his biking (was impressed that he left in January, and battled snowstorms!) and the amount of miles that he accomplished in a day. Juxtaposed, he related the story of his relationship with Sonia. Was he going to choose drugs/alcohol over the one person who could make him happy??
I really enjoyed his writing. This from when he stopped at Bernie's to view a Clay-Colored Sparrow which was on his list. Bernie was an older gentleman who had recently lost his wife, and desperately enjoyed the company of birders who stopped by to view a rare bird.
"Bernie and I walked birds for half an hour beyond the sparrow's reveal, but I still had forty miles to go to reach my Melbourne destination. We wound our conversation down, and I thanked him for his hospitality. He walked me out to my bike at the side of the house.
'Life's like a year on a bike; slow and steady,' I said. 'I can't ride the hundredth mile until I've finished the first, right? Let's both keep going and see where we end up.'
He cracked a smile and thanked me for visiting. With a pat on the back, he sent me down the driveway, onto the street and back to Route 1.
I spent the afternoon thinking about Bernie and the sparrow. It was then late February, and the immutable desire for birds to migrate north, to their breeding grounds, would soon prevail. Bernie's sparrow would be no different, and I wondered what the bird's departure would mean for him. Visits from birders would cease, and he would be left to grapple with his grief alone. I was sure he would manage, but the thought of him suffering in silence was difficult. Never one for prayer, I uncharacteristically asked for the sparrow to stay in Bernie's yard forever. As long as it did, his wife would live on-at least in conversation."
Times on the road riding could get lonely and he would get lost in his thoughts. And then, he would notice some cows...
"Starved for interaction, I sarcastically mooed at a herd of roadside cows. When they responded, I increased my mimicry and thereby drew more bovines into the impromptu choir. Our volley intensified as I continued along the pasture's edge, and a group of twenty broke from the herd and paralleled me on the other side of the fence that separated us. When I accelerated, the animals did the same, cantering behind their two-wheeled Pied Piper. It was an improbably connection that ended only when a fit of laughter forced me to stop and catch my breath. I was unable to inspire a second pursuit after collecting myself, but I extended the game to additional cows through the afternoon. With sheep and pigs also in the mix, I was mooing, baaing, and oinking my way across Colorado. Some solitude is healthy; too much is maddening. But with the livestock listening, I did feel less alone."
I laughed out loud at that one...
When in Los Angeles, he cut inland so that he could spot a California Condor. A chance turn on a road brought his face to face with the petroleum industry.
"The reason for the abundance of tankers became clear as I wheeled into the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the largest petroleum extraction facility in California and the third largest in the United States. Conduits and collection tanks spread out as far as I could see, and thousands of derricks dipped and rose like metal mosquitos sucking the blood out of the planet. The heat was suffocating, and the presence of industrial candles was insulting; employed to burn off natural gas released as a petroleum by-product, they heated the landscape and increased the petrochemical stench to revolting levels. The scene was a nauseating example of the damage humans have inflicted on the planet."
In Texas, he accompanied a group of birders who were banding birds, specifically a Yellow Rail.
"The team helped me up (he fell into the water) and removed the rail from my net. They weighed it, noted physical characteristics, and affixed a tiny metal band to one leg, those combined processes requiring just ten minutes. When the bird was ready for release, Jennifer indicated I should do the honor. She showed me how to grasp the delicate body, and I took a few moments to examine the stout yellow beak, scaly legs and feet, and subtle plumage features.
Stroking the golden breast with my finger while beady eyes returned my gaze, birds seemed the stuff of dreams. Evolved in endless sizes, shapes, and colors, they occupy every habitat on Earth, even those too harsh for humans. Their behaviors are as intriguing as their evolutionary histories are fascinating, and their ability to fly leaves us yearning to experience the world from their heavenly perspective. Even flightless varieties inspire joy: penguins, ostriches, cassowaries, and kiwis among those curious but comical outliers. Just one of 10,000-some bird species, the Yellow Rail occupies a little-read chapter in the ornithological annals. I'd not encountered the bird at any point in my birding career, and I doubted I'd be afforded such a close view again.
Holding the captive, I closed my eyes; without vision to suggest the bird's presence, my hand felt empty. That such a delicate creature could migrate from Canada to Texas and back each year was astounding. Between birds' physical abilities and their navigational talents, I didn't know which was more impressive. I didn't want to deny the rail either for any longer, so I opened my eyes and uncurled my fingers, our encounter ending as the bird departed my hand."
He noted that along the way he was afforded the company of birders across the country who opened their homes to host him and show him the local rarities.
With his messy past, he finally found his future both personally and professionally.
"Most important, I am happy, and that's not something I thought possible at my first AA meeting or the day my postdoctoral project cratered. Trust yourself, follow your passion, and forget about the rests. It'll work out somehow, probably in ways you never anticipated."
Dorian loved to party hard and had issues with both alcohol and drugs. He never let it interfere with his laboratory work though. But once he met Sonia, perchance in a bar watching a postponed baseball game, he was smitten. But not enough to give up on his vices. He would play good while she was in town, but when she traveled for work, he lapsed. And then he was caught in his deceptions when she borrowed her phone and came across an incriminating text...
The book goes back and forth in time, chronicling his trip (I actually followed along on my atlas) with his biking (was impressed that he left in January, and battled snowstorms!) and the amount of miles that he accomplished in a day. Juxtaposed, he related the story of his relationship with Sonia. Was he going to choose drugs/alcohol over the one person who could make him happy??
I really enjoyed his writing. This from when he stopped at Bernie's to view a Clay-Colored Sparrow which was on his list. Bernie was an older gentleman who had recently lost his wife, and desperately enjoyed the company of birders who stopped by to view a rare bird.
"Bernie and I walked birds for half an hour beyond the sparrow's reveal, but I still had forty miles to go to reach my Melbourne destination. We wound our conversation down, and I thanked him for his hospitality. He walked me out to my bike at the side of the house.
'Life's like a year on a bike; slow and steady,' I said. 'I can't ride the hundredth mile until I've finished the first, right? Let's both keep going and see where we end up.'
He cracked a smile and thanked me for visiting. With a pat on the back, he sent me down the driveway, onto the street and back to Route 1.
I spent the afternoon thinking about Bernie and the sparrow. It was then late February, and the immutable desire for birds to migrate north, to their breeding grounds, would soon prevail. Bernie's sparrow would be no different, and I wondered what the bird's departure would mean for him. Visits from birders would cease, and he would be left to grapple with his grief alone. I was sure he would manage, but the thought of him suffering in silence was difficult. Never one for prayer, I uncharacteristically asked for the sparrow to stay in Bernie's yard forever. As long as it did, his wife would live on-at least in conversation."
Times on the road riding could get lonely and he would get lost in his thoughts. And then, he would notice some cows...
"Starved for interaction, I sarcastically mooed at a herd of roadside cows. When they responded, I increased my mimicry and thereby drew more bovines into the impromptu choir. Our volley intensified as I continued along the pasture's edge, and a group of twenty broke from the herd and paralleled me on the other side of the fence that separated us. When I accelerated, the animals did the same, cantering behind their two-wheeled Pied Piper. It was an improbably connection that ended only when a fit of laughter forced me to stop and catch my breath. I was unable to inspire a second pursuit after collecting myself, but I extended the game to additional cows through the afternoon. With sheep and pigs also in the mix, I was mooing, baaing, and oinking my way across Colorado. Some solitude is healthy; too much is maddening. But with the livestock listening, I did feel less alone."
I laughed out loud at that one...
When in Los Angeles, he cut inland so that he could spot a California Condor. A chance turn on a road brought his face to face with the petroleum industry.
"The reason for the abundance of tankers became clear as I wheeled into the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the largest petroleum extraction facility in California and the third largest in the United States. Conduits and collection tanks spread out as far as I could see, and thousands of derricks dipped and rose like metal mosquitos sucking the blood out of the planet. The heat was suffocating, and the presence of industrial candles was insulting; employed to burn off natural gas released as a petroleum by-product, they heated the landscape and increased the petrochemical stench to revolting levels. The scene was a nauseating example of the damage humans have inflicted on the planet."
In Texas, he accompanied a group of birders who were banding birds, specifically a Yellow Rail.
"The team helped me up (he fell into the water) and removed the rail from my net. They weighed it, noted physical characteristics, and affixed a tiny metal band to one leg, those combined processes requiring just ten minutes. When the bird was ready for release, Jennifer indicated I should do the honor. She showed me how to grasp the delicate body, and I took a few moments to examine the stout yellow beak, scaly legs and feet, and subtle plumage features.
Stroking the golden breast with my finger while beady eyes returned my gaze, birds seemed the stuff of dreams. Evolved in endless sizes, shapes, and colors, they occupy every habitat on Earth, even those too harsh for humans. Their behaviors are as intriguing as their evolutionary histories are fascinating, and their ability to fly leaves us yearning to experience the world from their heavenly perspective. Even flightless varieties inspire joy: penguins, ostriches, cassowaries, and kiwis among those curious but comical outliers. Just one of 10,000-some bird species, the Yellow Rail occupies a little-read chapter in the ornithological annals. I'd not encountered the bird at any point in my birding career, and I doubted I'd be afforded such a close view again.
Holding the captive, I closed my eyes; without vision to suggest the bird's presence, my hand felt empty. That such a delicate creature could migrate from Canada to Texas and back each year was astounding. Between birds' physical abilities and their navigational talents, I didn't know which was more impressive. I didn't want to deny the rail either for any longer, so I opened my eyes and uncurled my fingers, our encounter ending as the bird departed my hand."
He noted that along the way he was afforded the company of birders across the country who opened their homes to host him and show him the local rarities.
With his messy past, he finally found his future both personally and professionally.
"Most important, I am happy, and that's not something I thought possible at my first AA meeting or the day my postdoctoral project cratered. Trust yourself, follow your passion, and forget about the rests. It'll work out somehow, probably in ways you never anticipated."
February 19, 2024
Dorian Anderson completed a birding “Big Year” by bicycle—a monumental pursuit that he undertook not only for the love of birds but also to fully shed the demons of drug and alcohol addiction and break from an unsatisfying career in the laboratory.
He rode his bike for 12 months, eschewing all forms of fossil fuel-using transportation. He carefully planned a route that hit prime birding spots at prime time in the lower 48 states. He kept a blog that allowed fellow bird lovers to offer meals and a bed as he traveled. He saw over 600 species—an incredible accomplishment.
Dorian spoke to our local Audubon Society. His story has the same feel as Into the Wild, but with a much happier ending. He is a highly educated dude (his intelligence actually enabled his addictions because he could perform academically even when blottoed most of the time); that intelligence makes for a quite readable book. He now earns a living guiding other birders, all around the world.
After reading the Matthew Perry memoir, I know it was no small feat for Dorian to kick his addictions. Birding saved him, along with the love of a good woman. I’m happy for him.
He rode his bike for 12 months, eschewing all forms of fossil fuel-using transportation. He carefully planned a route that hit prime birding spots at prime time in the lower 48 states. He kept a blog that allowed fellow bird lovers to offer meals and a bed as he traveled. He saw over 600 species—an incredible accomplishment.
Dorian spoke to our local Audubon Society. His story has the same feel as Into the Wild, but with a much happier ending. He is a highly educated dude (his intelligence actually enabled his addictions because he could perform academically even when blottoed most of the time); that intelligence makes for a quite readable book. He now earns a living guiding other birders, all around the world.
After reading the Matthew Perry memoir, I know it was no small feat for Dorian to kick his addictions. Birding saved him, along with the love of a good woman. I’m happy for him.
February 10, 2025
Dorian Anderson is an extroverted, smart, and incredibly physically resilient lab scientist with an addictive-type personality. He tackles his addiction to alcohol and drugs by setting a huge challenge: traverse the U.S. to find 600 bird species in one Big Year without using gas/electric vehicles, that is, by bicycle -- and sober. Dorian weaves reflection of his substance abuse history into this amazing travelog; there was plenty of time for introspection while wheeling miles and miles across entire states. We learn about Sonia, the love of his life, and how the addiction tears at the relationship. As he journeys across the awesome landscapes, we are wondering -- as Dorian is -- about the future of his important connection with her. We are rooting for Dorian! So different from my own personality, Dorian’s ambition, daring, and physical capacity heightened my fascination of this incredible human. On top of all this, there are the birds! This one is not just another birding memoir, it’s a new favorite book. The cover art is really cool, too.
June 13, 2024
Birding, Biking, and Recovery
I heard about Dorian's book in a recent birding podcast. I'm a fan of books about Big Years, Kingbird Highway being a favorite, and decided this one needed a shot.
His book is a wonderful representative of the big year narrative and an equally insightful accounting of the substance abuse recovery process.
Several things struck me about his big year. First, an understanding of the bird drove the process, not a focus in his biking ability. This illustrated a key thing about Dorian's success, he kept the main thing The Main Thing. Secondly, during his flashbacks, he gives its a sense of how close Dorian the addict is to Dorian the birding biker. This understanding of the relationship between addict and person is interesting. Finally, i love it when people triumph when doing something hard! Dorian saw a LOT of birds! That is amazing!
I hope you gives this book a try, especially if you like tails of adventure and birding.
I heard about Dorian's book in a recent birding podcast. I'm a fan of books about Big Years, Kingbird Highway being a favorite, and decided this one needed a shot.
His book is a wonderful representative of the big year narrative and an equally insightful accounting of the substance abuse recovery process.
Several things struck me about his big year. First, an understanding of the bird drove the process, not a focus in his biking ability. This illustrated a key thing about Dorian's success, he kept the main thing The Main Thing. Secondly, during his flashbacks, he gives its a sense of how close Dorian the addict is to Dorian the birding biker. This understanding of the relationship between addict and person is interesting. Finally, i love it when people triumph when doing something hard! Dorian saw a LOT of birds! That is amazing!
I hope you gives this book a try, especially if you like tails of adventure and birding.
September 29, 2024
Slightly misleading title, unless he meant "the influence of obsessive behavior syndrome." Because he is clearly an obsessive nutcase--in a pleasing sort of way. Addicted to alcohol and controlled substances, basically anything he could
get his hands on, he manages to quit and stay quit. Only to substitute a new addiction--bicycling across America in search of the ultimate "Bicycle Big Year" goal of 600 birds.
Very enjoyable to read and I wish it were longer. He interleaves the cycling adventure and the bird sightings with long peeks back into his past. Both are fascinating to read about, but I would have preferred more birds. Not less memories--that part was about perfect--but more birds. But then, I'm a bit of bird watcher myself.
Recommended to anyone even if not interested in birds. And a rare glimpse into the good and the ugly of America, as seen from a lone guy on an overloaded bicycle.
get his hands on, he manages to quit and stay quit. Only to substitute a new addiction--bicycling across America in search of the ultimate "Bicycle Big Year" goal of 600 birds.
Very enjoyable to read and I wish it were longer. He interleaves the cycling adventure and the bird sightings with long peeks back into his past. Both are fascinating to read about, but I would have preferred more birds. Not less memories--that part was about perfect--but more birds. But then, I'm a bit of bird watcher myself.
Recommended to anyone even if not interested in birds. And a rare glimpse into the good and the ugly of America, as seen from a lone guy on an overloaded bicycle.
November 13, 2024
In 2014, Dorian Anderson set out on a personal birding “Big Year” with hopes of seeing at least 600 species of birds throughout the continental US in 365 days. (For non-birders: a “Big Year” is when a birder tries to see and/or hear as many birds as possible in a calendar year, all within a certain geographical area such as a county, state or province, country, continent, or even the world.) This is most often a very expensive project as birders use cars, boats and planes to zip around their territory, often zigzagging and hopping from location to location depending on bird migration patterns and reports of rare species being sighted.
What set Anderson’s Big Year apart from others was that he decided to attempt it as a “non-petroleum” venture; more specifically, he did it all on his bicycle and by foot. He takes us on the journey, which started in Massachusetts on January 1st (yikes!), and ended on December 31st after travelling over 17,800 miles and recording 618 bird species. What a remarkable journey (especially considering he was an inexperienced cyclist!).
As a birder myself, I really enjoyed the book, but I have a few issues with it. First of all, I think the title is misleading. Anderson was addicted to alcohol and drugs from his teens and into his late twenties, but by the time he decided to make this birding trip he had been sober for almost four years. He spends a lot of his trip confronting his past addictions, which is an inspiring part of the book, but the title makes it sound like he’s on drugs while biking. He is not.
Because he takes a candid look at his career decisions and past addictions, the book kind of hints that it will appeal to non-birders. Frankly, I don’t think it will. His journey to recovery is inspiring to everyone, but there’s a lot of bird stuff in there for non-birders to wade through. I think a reader would need at least a passing interest in birds.
Maps! Where are the maps? This book would have been SO much better if it had included even just simple black and white maps of his route so that the reader could follow along... especially for those of us who don’t live in the States.
Photos of some of the birds (and the wonderful people he met along the way) would have been a fantastic addition. I assume this wasn’t done because of the cost, but it would have been so nice to see some of the rarer birds and to put a face to some of the kind people he met.
(I actually found a solution to this problem: I looked up his blog online and as I read the book, I checked his daily blogs and it was a great way to see the birds/people, and also pick up a few extra tidbits about his trip. I highly recommend doing this if you plan on reading the book. It really enriched my enjoyment of his story.)
Finally, one sentence that stood out for winning the “I wish my eyes hadn’t read this because now I can’t un-see it” prize: “...but our conversation flowed as freely as urine despite those distractions”. Just NO!
My “negatives” look like they outweigh the positives but honestly, that isn’t the case! Anderson’s story truly is inspiring, both in his battle with past addictions and just the fact he tackled this incredible project. It’s incredible that despite having no biking experience, he managed to log almost 18,000 miles and recorded 618 bird species. Absolutely amazing. And just as amazing is his wife, Sonia. Behind every successful man is a woman.
What set Anderson’s Big Year apart from others was that he decided to attempt it as a “non-petroleum” venture; more specifically, he did it all on his bicycle and by foot. He takes us on the journey, which started in Massachusetts on January 1st (yikes!), and ended on December 31st after travelling over 17,800 miles and recording 618 bird species. What a remarkable journey (especially considering he was an inexperienced cyclist!).
As a birder myself, I really enjoyed the book, but I have a few issues with it. First of all, I think the title is misleading. Anderson was addicted to alcohol and drugs from his teens and into his late twenties, but by the time he decided to make this birding trip he had been sober for almost four years. He spends a lot of his trip confronting his past addictions, which is an inspiring part of the book, but the title makes it sound like he’s on drugs while biking. He is not.
Because he takes a candid look at his career decisions and past addictions, the book kind of hints that it will appeal to non-birders. Frankly, I don’t think it will. His journey to recovery is inspiring to everyone, but there’s a lot of bird stuff in there for non-birders to wade through. I think a reader would need at least a passing interest in birds.
Maps! Where are the maps? This book would have been SO much better if it had included even just simple black and white maps of his route so that the reader could follow along... especially for those of us who don’t live in the States.
Photos of some of the birds (and the wonderful people he met along the way) would have been a fantastic addition. I assume this wasn’t done because of the cost, but it would have been so nice to see some of the rarer birds and to put a face to some of the kind people he met.
(I actually found a solution to this problem: I looked up his blog online and as I read the book, I checked his daily blogs and it was a great way to see the birds/people, and also pick up a few extra tidbits about his trip. I highly recommend doing this if you plan on reading the book. It really enriched my enjoyment of his story.)
Finally, one sentence that stood out for winning the “I wish my eyes hadn’t read this because now I can’t un-see it” prize: “...but our conversation flowed as freely as urine despite those distractions”. Just NO!
My “negatives” look like they outweigh the positives but honestly, that isn’t the case! Anderson’s story truly is inspiring, both in his battle with past addictions and just the fact he tackled this incredible project. It’s incredible that despite having no biking experience, he managed to log almost 18,000 miles and recorded 618 bird species. Absolutely amazing. And just as amazing is his wife, Sonia. Behind every successful man is a woman.
February 20, 2025
I'm glad I broke with my fiction-only tendencies (and that my parents recommended this book) to read Anderson's exciting, informative, and feel-good story of pedaling nearly 18K miles and logging 618 distinct bird species in 2014. There is much to celebrate in this adventurous tale and Anderson made the effective decision to intersperse story elements of his alcoholism and substance abuse (both the long, downward spiral and the eventual recovery) within the narration of his bicycle trip and the birding details. His would be a compelling story of recovery even if it was simply about his struggles with drugs, but it's made that much more complete and exciting when set against the backdrop of the unique (and at times harrowing in its own right) "year without petroleum". And then, of course, the saga of his relationship with Sonia is one more piece we readers get to cheer on.
At the very center, though, and the primary reason I so thoroughly enjoyed this tale, is the "competition" of his Big Year. Every time Anderson spends a chapter relating a single-minded quest to log a distinct, rare, hard to find species, I found myself as rapt as I would be while cheering on my favorite sports teams. Often these quests end in success and I revel in the shared glory of the triumphant hunt. Occasionally they aren't successful which just adds to the excitement the next time around.
I don't think I'll ever attempt a Big Year and I'm pretty confident I'll never bicycle around the country, but Anderson helped make the case that I should find my own (Quixotic) pursuits. I fully agree.
At the very center, though, and the primary reason I so thoroughly enjoyed this tale, is the "competition" of his Big Year. Every time Anderson spends a chapter relating a single-minded quest to log a distinct, rare, hard to find species, I found myself as rapt as I would be while cheering on my favorite sports teams. Often these quests end in success and I revel in the shared glory of the triumphant hunt. Occasionally they aren't successful which just adds to the excitement the next time around.
I don't think I'll ever attempt a Big Year and I'm pretty confident I'll never bicycle around the country, but Anderson helped make the case that I should find my own (Quixotic) pursuits. I fully agree.
April 25, 2024
I had heard about this book from the ABA podcast "American Birding" where he outlined his story.
This book by Mr. Anderson is first an adventure story of a cross-country yearlong trek to see as many species of birds in one calendar year as possible. Along the way he weaves his personal story of addiction to alcohol and recovery, and his personal and professional problems as scientific researcher in the competitive field of neuronal biology. He walks away from a top research lab to discover himself on a personal challenge to spend a year on a loaded bicycle, even though his cycling experience was minimal consisting only of short commutes to work in the city.
I was interested in the book as I am interested in birds, having travelled a bit to see them, and also have done a fair bit of cycling and know the difficulties one can face in road cycling. He doesn't go into much detail on the cycling aspect but concentrates on the fun stuff - the birds- he sees. With social media and a widely followed blog he was able to plan logistics around species, but had to make hard choices such as pedaling 3 days to see one bird. His amazing accomplishment led to a change of career and happiness. A very uplifting story.
This book by Mr. Anderson is first an adventure story of a cross-country yearlong trek to see as many species of birds in one calendar year as possible. Along the way he weaves his personal story of addiction to alcohol and recovery, and his personal and professional problems as scientific researcher in the competitive field of neuronal biology. He walks away from a top research lab to discover himself on a personal challenge to spend a year on a loaded bicycle, even though his cycling experience was minimal consisting only of short commutes to work in the city.
I was interested in the book as I am interested in birds, having travelled a bit to see them, and also have done a fair bit of cycling and know the difficulties one can face in road cycling. He doesn't go into much detail on the cycling aspect but concentrates on the fun stuff - the birds- he sees. With social media and a widely followed blog he was able to plan logistics around species, but had to make hard choices such as pedaling 3 days to see one bird. His amazing accomplishment led to a change of career and happiness. A very uplifting story.
April 3, 2024
I followed author Dorian Anderson's Big Year transcontinental bicycling and birding trip on his blog in 2014. I even connected Dorian with a couple who blogged from northern California; the California bloggers provided accommodations for Dorian during one overnight of his trip. When I realized Dorian had written a book about his Big Year, I was anxious to read his account. Birding Under the Influence is a bold, ambitious undertaking because it combines compulsive birding, long-distance biking, and a big heaping helping of introspection about the author's struggle to overcome alcoholism and addiction. In the end, the mixture "gels," but just barely. I wasn't aware of Anderson's addictions when I followed his blog in 2014 (either because I wasn't sufficiently observant at the time or because he didn't feature them prominently) but that's what comes through most assertively in this book.
Anderson is not a particularly gifted writer. His prose is affected and stilted, and his word choices often odd. Here are two sentences that exemplify his style: "Pine scent ticking my nose and birdsong tap-dancing on my tympanum, I made halting progress toward the tundra." (page 121) "The white walls mirrored my blank vision of the future, and a flickering light suggested sobriety would be a dim journey." (page 125) I could have placed my finger almost anywhere in the book to find similar language; it gets "old" pretty quickly.
A map of Anderson's route would have enhanced the book, but he is pretty explicit about his route so I could have approximated his travel in a road atlas if I'd wanted to.
Anderson is not a particularly gifted writer. His prose is affected and stilted, and his word choices often odd. Here are two sentences that exemplify his style: "Pine scent ticking my nose and birdsong tap-dancing on my tympanum, I made halting progress toward the tundra." (page 121) "The white walls mirrored my blank vision of the future, and a flickering light suggested sobriety would be a dim journey." (page 125) I could have placed my finger almost anywhere in the book to find similar language; it gets "old" pretty quickly.
A map of Anderson's route would have enhanced the book, but he is pretty explicit about his route so I could have approximated his travel in a road atlas if I'd wanted to.
August 17, 2024
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is phenomenally entertaining, engaging, and (pardon me) addicting. I could not put it down. As an avid reader and birder, I have read many books about birding and Big Years. This is the one that sticks with me and that I find myself discussing and sharing with others most often. The idea of a low carbon footprint Big Year is compelling. I thought I would be unable to relate to the book since I don't cycle but, as you learn quickly, neither did the author until he began this nutty quest. The book is filled with adventure, hilarious stories and insights, unbelievable accomplishments shared in an endearingly modest fashion, and a beautiful look at a loving, supportive relationship. And of course, the essence - recognizing his addiction and the need for change, finding the courage to leave his job and embark upon the Big Year, and having the strength to carry through - is astounding. Fantastic read.
June 15, 2024
As a biker and lover of birds, though not really a birder, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I live to travel, so a great travel adventure is often at the top of my reading list. Dorian embarked on an unbelievable journey: traveling over 50 miles every day, and, more dauntingly, climbing thousands of feet on a regular basis is not for the faint of heart. That he accomplished all this without any experience totally amazes me. I could feel his pain, having climbed lesser hills myself, not to mention the myriad other hazardous circumstances he endured. He has masterfully woven the progression of his career, his relationships and his addiction into a fascinating tale. Sure, I loved learning about birds, but the essence of this story for me is about the courage to step out of mainstream expectations to take the path less traveled. What an inspiring read!
February 21, 2025
A captivating memoir of a very interesting character who embarks on a pedal-powered adventure around the USA on a big year. An inspiring story of willpower and following your dreams, and people of all race, gender, profession etc... went out of their ways to support a man on a mission. A very inspiring book.
Going against the grain at its best. Many Big Year stories all sound the same, flying thousands of miles from here to there spending thousands of dollars on airfares and burning thousands of liters of petrol.
The fact that Dorian Anderson did the whole 365 by bicycle is simple amazing, logging 618 bird species and a few flat tires on the way. A journey fueled my muscle, perspiration and desire.
Along the way we learn about the authors troubled past, as an alcoholic, Dorian is now sober, and learn about the amazing women that is now his beloved wife.
Going against the grain at its best. Many Big Year stories all sound the same, flying thousands of miles from here to there spending thousands of dollars on airfares and burning thousands of liters of petrol.
The fact that Dorian Anderson did the whole 365 by bicycle is simple amazing, logging 618 bird species and a few flat tires on the way. A journey fueled my muscle, perspiration and desire.
Along the way we learn about the authors troubled past, as an alcoholic, Dorian is now sober, and learn about the amazing women that is now his beloved wife.
November 14, 2023
If you enjoyed books like "Into The Wild" and "Into Thin Air" by Jonathan Krakauer, then this your next adventure. BUI is an example of the power of the human heart to test itself against all odds diving headlong into the abyss and coming out the other side. Expertly written, a real life tale of how one remarkable man dealt with his alcoholism, dashed dream of being a professor and becomes the first person to do a big year finding birds across the United States by bicycle. High and lowlights include almost losing a loved one to alcoholism, cycling through the snow in the northeast coast during the polar vortex, almost getting run over by 16 wheelers, cycling across the texan desert and up the rocky mountains. My jaw dropped throughout reading this book. Don't sleep on this wild ride.
December 16, 2023
Book 51 of 2023 (audio)
I'll throw this one 5/5. It's not always easy to write a book about chasing birds and make it interesting for the reader. Anderson manages to do that. As one who started the book challenges on this very site three years to go help halt drinking, and one who is just getting into some birding, well, what a combination. Most remarkably, the guy went from being a non-biker to 18,000 miles in one year!? And with all that equipment in all those conditions!? Nuts!!
Really, the book is a great blend of Anderson's backstory, including a nice love interest, his birding pursuit, and some nice information about the birds themselves. I've done several books on alcohol, a few on birds and birding. I suspect I'll try to pin down a copy of this to keep in my home collection.
I'll throw this one 5/5. It's not always easy to write a book about chasing birds and make it interesting for the reader. Anderson manages to do that. As one who started the book challenges on this very site three years to go help halt drinking, and one who is just getting into some birding, well, what a combination. Most remarkably, the guy went from being a non-biker to 18,000 miles in one year!? And with all that equipment in all those conditions!? Nuts!!
Really, the book is a great blend of Anderson's backstory, including a nice love interest, his birding pursuit, and some nice information about the birds themselves. I've done several books on alcohol, a few on birds and birding. I suspect I'll try to pin down a copy of this to keep in my home collection.
November 18, 2024
I bought this book at the 2024 Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, where the author guided several birding trips, and I read it in two days. It's his vivid, fast-paced account of the calendar year he spent crisscrossing the country on bicycle to see as many bird species as possible. But it's also so much more. It's about adventure, addiction, love and redemption. It's a tall order, but Anderson delivers. He deftly weaves the threads of his struggle with his excesses and his battle to salvage his relationship with the love of his life into the central story arc of his bicycle Big Year. I'd recommend this book to any birder and any other lover of nature, as well as anyone who's interested in the workings of the human spirit and heart.
April 2, 2024
Its so cool to see how Dorian discusses every experience of traveling not just with the birds but the culture, the people in general, how he is seen, every person he stayed with, and obviously how his addiction is related. He also did an amazing job comparing his experiences with his addiction. Also, man, I feel like I'm the one California birder who hasn't had a sage grouse experience yet... solely cause I don't wanna drive all the way to Mono or Lassen... can you blame me? Great book, even non birders will enjoy it!
August 23, 2024
It is rare that I read a book straight through the epilogue, the acknowledgements, and the “about the author” sections. 😏 I really enjoyed this book. I’m a cyclist, a newly head over heels birder, and have four + years of sobriety, so this book came to me with a review that was something like, “this book is perfect for you!”, and it was. The writing was a little clunky at times, but not in a way that disrupted the narrative. It was thoroughly enjoyable all the way through. Such a fun read, and an inspiring story.
October 13, 2024
4 stars more for the story itself rather than the writing- I’m sorry, but all the dialogue sounds super fake. I felt the EXACT same way with Kenn Kaufman’s Kingbird Highway. These authors try to recollect dialogue from events that happened years ago and it honestly just seems like they’re making it up. But who cares? Huh? You? Who are you anyway? You’re no one!
For real though, just reading this book made my legs ache. This guy rode his bike 10,000+ miles in a year and saw 618 birbs. What have you accomplished? Huh? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! NOTHIN.
For real though, just reading this book made my legs ache. This guy rode his bike 10,000+ miles in a year and saw 618 birbs. What have you accomplished? Huh? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! NOTHIN.
June 25, 2025
Imagine going for a Big Year in birding where you travel around the country trying to see and identify as many birds as possible in one calendar year (like in the movie, The Big Year). Now take that several steps further and imagine doing this on a bicycle, traveling in snow, through hellish deserts, and grueling climbs in mountainous terrain. That's what the author did during a major turning point in his life. Conquering personal demons and making major life decisions at the same time, his odyssey makes for a compelling story, even for those with no previous interest in birding.
December 21, 2025
It seemed like the author could only tolerate academia and/or bench science when he was getting trashed all the time. I will learn nothing from this. My major issue with the book is that I didn't feel like the narrative about the author's addiction and recovery was well integrated with the narrative about his birding big year. Both narratives were told chronologically, so there was really no connection between them. It was like reading two different memoirs about the same guy simultaneously. It didn't help that I was more invested and interested in the birding part.
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