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Audubon: The Dream That Wouldn't Die
Does the name "Audubon" make you think of birds? If so, then no one would be more surprised than bird man John James Audubon himself, who feared that he would die unknown.
Today his name is recognized all around the world, but during his own lifetime he was just another man with a dream that nobody wanted to support. His dream was to publish a series of bird books which featured his life-like bird sketches, so that all the world could know birds as he did.
People told him he wasn't good enough. They cheated him, ignored him, and did everything in their power to discourage him. In spite of the obstacles he pushed forward, sometimes working in temperatures so cold that his fingers could barely hold a pencil to draw. He slept outdoors on the ground when he couldn't afford to pay for lodging, and he performed gruesome and disgusting jobs to earn money.
Audubon was a self-published author in the 1800s, and publishing was a daunting task in those days. Out of his own pocket he hired editors, printers, engravers, colorists, and then had to convince people to buy his books without the ease of internet communication. Selling a book was harder than publishing it. Even in his day the people with the most money expected to get the books for free, books that he had to pay to have printed.
His story is for everyone with a dream. The next time you're feeling doom and gloom, wondering if you should give up your dreams, let the incredible story of Audubon uplift you. He overcame seemingly insurmountable odds, pushed forward when all hope seemed lost, and not only achieved comfortable success, but left a scientific legacy that spans the entire world and still lives on long after his death.
Non-fiction, short story.
Today his name is recognized all around the world, but during his own lifetime he was just another man with a dream that nobody wanted to support. His dream was to publish a series of bird books which featured his life-like bird sketches, so that all the world could know birds as he did.
People told him he wasn't good enough. They cheated him, ignored him, and did everything in their power to discourage him. In spite of the obstacles he pushed forward, sometimes working in temperatures so cold that his fingers could barely hold a pencil to draw. He slept outdoors on the ground when he couldn't afford to pay for lodging, and he performed gruesome and disgusting jobs to earn money.
Audubon was a self-published author in the 1800s, and publishing was a daunting task in those days. Out of his own pocket he hired editors, printers, engravers, colorists, and then had to convince people to buy his books without the ease of internet communication. Selling a book was harder than publishing it. Even in his day the people with the most money expected to get the books for free, books that he had to pay to have printed.
His story is for everyone with a dream. The next time you're feeling doom and gloom, wondering if you should give up your dreams, let the incredible story of Audubon uplift you. He overcame seemingly insurmountable odds, pushed forward when all hope seemed lost, and not only achieved comfortable success, but left a scientific legacy that spans the entire world and still lives on long after his death.
Non-fiction, short story.
- GenresAudiobookInspirational
16 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
45 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Delarose
35 books38 followersInvestigative mythologist and UFO experiencer Sharon Delarose dedicated her 2013 book, Ancient Aliens and the Lost Islands, to "everyone who believes that extraterrestrial life exists on the other side of a wormhole, and that ancient alien astronauts visited us in the past... We are not alone. We have never been alone."
Sharon undertook what became a mission to research and bring to light the true history of the Nordic Aliens who came to Earth all around the world triggering the Bronze Age. They terraformed Earth to make it habitable again after a great flood. They cleared out malevolent giants who terrorized humans. They taught us everything from veterinary medicine to meteorology to road-building to navigating by the stars. They built the first schools and libraries on Earth, and assisted humans in every imaginable way as we shifted into a new and gentler way of life. They also intermingled with us and produced the Heroes of ancient history -- a word whose meaning has long since changed.
The result of this research is the 9-book Nordic Aliens series being published in December 2019, but this was not the beginning. For Sharon it began in the late 1950s when as a toddler she encountered the Alien Greys who became lifelong visitors into her sphere. When your encounters begin at such a young age, you do not ask what just happened or wonder at it, for you it becomes the normal. Oh it's this again. You don't realize that your experiences are different from everyone else's.
Sharon also encountered the Nordics though she didn't recognize it at the time, not being aware of their unique traits. It wasn't until she began to research the Nordics that she realized that she'd personally seen them, and heard their birdsong language, and witnessed their ghost-like pallor and protective suits.
Sharon's 2012 personal experience book, "Alien Nightmares: Screen Memories of UFO Alien Abductions," is an introduction to her early encounters with the Greys, but one intriguing entry involved a woman in a "ghost" suit, a "ghost-woman" who asked for volunteers. This is a common description given for at least one species of Nordics. When Sharon volunteered, she found herself in a bookstore in the "antique books" section, as part of the UFO event.
Subsequent experiences that she did not share involved encyclopedias, more libraries with antique books, using these books to research a book that she was writing, and publishing a book that incorporated Christianity with UFOs and extraterrestrials, though she wasn't writing such a book at that time and did not until 25 years later.
The Nordic Aliens series combines narratives from around the world including the Christian god and his sons, the angels, Greek gods, Celtic gods, Norse gods, Native American gods, Hindu gods, and those of China, Persia, Africa, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and beyond. Earth's extraterrestrial history is a jigsaw puzzle and everybody holds a few pieces. It is not until you put those pieces together that the truth comes to light.
Our ancestors knew the Nordic aliens as kings, queens, neighbors, teachers, and wonder-workers of magic, and yet we remain skeptical in spite of the multitude of UFOs flying the skies. Our ancestral legends are so out of this world, that to accept them is to acknowledge ancient astronaut theory. Studying extraterrestrial history may be the key to understanding our extraterrestrial future.
Sharon undertook what became a mission to research and bring to light the true history of the Nordic Aliens who came to Earth all around the world triggering the Bronze Age. They terraformed Earth to make it habitable again after a great flood. They cleared out malevolent giants who terrorized humans. They taught us everything from veterinary medicine to meteorology to road-building to navigating by the stars. They built the first schools and libraries on Earth, and assisted humans in every imaginable way as we shifted into a new and gentler way of life. They also intermingled with us and produced the Heroes of ancient history -- a word whose meaning has long since changed.
The result of this research is the 9-book Nordic Aliens series being published in December 2019, but this was not the beginning. For Sharon it began in the late 1950s when as a toddler she encountered the Alien Greys who became lifelong visitors into her sphere. When your encounters begin at such a young age, you do not ask what just happened or wonder at it, for you it becomes the normal. Oh it's this again. You don't realize that your experiences are different from everyone else's.
Sharon also encountered the Nordics though she didn't recognize it at the time, not being aware of their unique traits. It wasn't until she began to research the Nordics that she realized that she'd personally seen them, and heard their birdsong language, and witnessed their ghost-like pallor and protective suits.
Sharon's 2012 personal experience book, "Alien Nightmares: Screen Memories of UFO Alien Abductions," is an introduction to her early encounters with the Greys, but one intriguing entry involved a woman in a "ghost" suit, a "ghost-woman" who asked for volunteers. This is a common description given for at least one species of Nordics. When Sharon volunteered, she found herself in a bookstore in the "antique books" section, as part of the UFO event.
Subsequent experiences that she did not share involved encyclopedias, more libraries with antique books, using these books to research a book that she was writing, and publishing a book that incorporated Christianity with UFOs and extraterrestrials, though she wasn't writing such a book at that time and did not until 25 years later.
The Nordic Aliens series combines narratives from around the world including the Christian god and his sons, the angels, Greek gods, Celtic gods, Norse gods, Native American gods, Hindu gods, and those of China, Persia, Africa, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and beyond. Earth's extraterrestrial history is a jigsaw puzzle and everybody holds a few pieces. It is not until you put those pieces together that the truth comes to light.
Our ancestors knew the Nordic aliens as kings, queens, neighbors, teachers, and wonder-workers of magic, and yet we remain skeptical in spite of the multitude of UFOs flying the skies. Our ancestral legends are so out of this world, that to accept them is to acknowledge ancient astronaut theory. Studying extraterrestrial history may be the key to understanding our extraterrestrial future.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 23, 2015
Working outside in the early hours of the morning one gets to appreciate the sounds of nature, at least when I neglect to charge my iPod. I took note just this morning that the prospect of spring was around the corner when I heard the birds singing in the trees. Ok, so not half hour later the thought was clouded by a sudden downpour of sleet and snow but you get the general idea, everyone loves the sound of the birds singing their spring song.
John James Audubon had a serious “thing” about birds, well over the border of obsession and into enthusiasm’s city centre. He set himself a mission to record by sketching all the ornithological species in America, I am not showing off and hold my hands up to admit that I knew none of this until I read this quick book. Sharon Delarose gives us his informative and inspiring rages-to-riches biography which acts as a motivational implement for anyone set out to achieve a goal in life; particularly in the field of writing I feel. As I read this I could not help but suspect that the author has a personal admiration of Audubon as this book, though short is clearly written with honour and respect and asks the reader some open ended questions about their own thoughts during the story, which is nice and reflective of their own personal quests.
These are the reasons I liked this book and not that it got my mind racing with mention of a “Booby Island,” that is my story and I’m sticking to it!
John James Audubon had a serious “thing” about birds, well over the border of obsession and into enthusiasm’s city centre. He set himself a mission to record by sketching all the ornithological species in America, I am not showing off and hold my hands up to admit that I knew none of this until I read this quick book. Sharon Delarose gives us his informative and inspiring rages-to-riches biography which acts as a motivational implement for anyone set out to achieve a goal in life; particularly in the field of writing I feel. As I read this I could not help but suspect that the author has a personal admiration of Audubon as this book, though short is clearly written with honour and respect and asks the reader some open ended questions about their own thoughts during the story, which is nice and reflective of their own personal quests.
These are the reasons I liked this book and not that it got my mind racing with mention of a “Booby Island,” that is my story and I’m sticking to it!
February 23, 2015
The book is about John James Audubon - 1785 – 1851, an artist who dreamed of publishing a series of bird book that contained his real life bird sketches. Birds were his best friends and he spent hours in the outdoors sketching them in their natural habitat. He was penniless and did all kinds of odd jobs to earn money to publish his books but he found it a long and arduous journey. Even though he got accolades for his work no one, not even the rich and famous were willing to part with their money. His travels took him to Europe, Canada and the south-eastern states of America but apart from brief material successes he met disappointment everywhere. It was after his death that he was finally recognised with his book, “The Birds of America” selling at an auction for 11.5 million dollars in 2010.
The book follows an incredible journey of a man who did not believe in giving up on his dream, he might not have seen success in his lifetime but his research in birds left a legacy for mankind. I thoroughly enjoyed Sharon Delarose’s book and highly recommend it to those who enjoy biographies and believe in the power of dreams.
The book follows an incredible journey of a man who did not believe in giving up on his dream, he might not have seen success in his lifetime but his research in birds left a legacy for mankind. I thoroughly enjoyed Sharon Delarose’s book and highly recommend it to those who enjoy biographies and believe in the power of dreams.
May 21, 2014
This is not only an enlightening brief read about the struggles of John James Audubon,
but also an encouragement to anyone with a belief and a passion to keep following your dreams.
It would have been easier on many occasions for JJ Audubon to give up and find another, more comfortable, more financially rewarding line of work. He would not become reknowned and appreciated until after his death.
Even with the recognition and assistance by some well known public figures of his time, Audubon faced one set back after another.
Today we all know and appreciate his beautiful lifelike illustrations.
We attach his name to a world wide society of ornithological and environmental causes.
Sadly, that association came about many years after Audubon's passing from this life.
This is both a biographical look at the difficulties of beoming John James Audubon,
and a book doing whatever it takes to find and follow your life's purpose.
but also an encouragement to anyone with a belief and a passion to keep following your dreams.
It would have been easier on many occasions for JJ Audubon to give up and find another, more comfortable, more financially rewarding line of work. He would not become reknowned and appreciated until after his death.
Even with the recognition and assistance by some well known public figures of his time, Audubon faced one set back after another.
Today we all know and appreciate his beautiful lifelike illustrations.
We attach his name to a world wide society of ornithological and environmental causes.
Sadly, that association came about many years after Audubon's passing from this life.
This is both a biographical look at the difficulties of beoming John James Audubon,
and a book doing whatever it takes to find and follow your life's purpose.
February 25, 2015
Anyone who loves bird watching has heard the name Audubon. Audubon: The Dream That Wouldn't Die is about the man behind the name. John James Audubon struggled to get his dream of bird sketches published. I hadn't realized the difficulties he faced of traveling to other countries and basically taking odd jobs to build his dream. Among his more interesting or unusual endeavors include making paintings of dead people for grieving family members and becoming a taxidermist. Highly recommended for everyone who loves birds.
March 5, 2015
Inspiring Nonfiction
John James Audubon's life story is interesting. He went to great lengths to follow his dream, in spite of setbacks. Those lengths will seem extreme and foreign to those of us in this day and age.
Sharon Delarose's Audubon: The Dream That Wouldn't Die is a fascinating account of the artist and naturalist.
John James Audubon's life story is interesting. He went to great lengths to follow his dream, in spite of setbacks. Those lengths will seem extreme and foreign to those of us in this day and age.
Sharon Delarose's Audubon: The Dream That Wouldn't Die is a fascinating account of the artist and naturalist.
April 16, 2018
I enjoyed learning more about Audubon, but I didn't feel that the book was very well written.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews