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NO HALF MEASURES
“This book is the next best thing to going birdwatching with Jennifer. Read it for the sheer pleasure of going travelling in the wild with an informed, engaging guide.”
- Pradip Krishen, Author of Trees of Delhi and Jungle Trees of Central India
ABOUT THE BOOK
Tasked with steering a very important client through an area of unrest and insurgency, Jennifer embarks on a thrilling adventure to navigate uncharted territories on the edge of India’s map.
The region has a rich tapestry of diverse ethnicities that contribute to our nation’s cultural mosaic. Armed with an appreciation of Natural History and its ability to raise one’s consciousness to the wider world, Pete and Jennifer, through shared exploration, experience things out of their normal frame of reference.
- Pradip Krishen, Author of Trees of Delhi and Jungle Trees of Central India
ABOUT THE BOOK
Tasked with steering a very important client through an area of unrest and insurgency, Jennifer embarks on a thrilling adventure to navigate uncharted territories on the edge of India’s map.
The region has a rich tapestry of diverse ethnicities that contribute to our nation’s cultural mosaic. Armed with an appreciation of Natural History and its ability to raise one’s consciousness to the wider world, Pete and Jennifer, through shared exploration, experience things out of their normal frame of reference.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 25, 2025
I first came across Jennifer Nandi's writing in The Green Ogre, where she had written about her bird-watching experiences in the Himalayas. I was in awe of the language and the effortlessness of her writing in those posts. I later met her during a Dandeli birding trip in 2013, where along with some lifers I had picked up a thing or two about cutting out the noise in one's own head during birding, thanks to her advice. So when I heard of her debut book, I was overjoyed. Got a hold of one through Kindle, and this one did not disappoint.
Through this book, Jennifer takes us along with Peter McKay, a British Citizen with 40 days to kill along the North Eastern states of India. This region is a birdwatcher's paradise, a junction where multiple bird highways meet. Jennifer, and Pete with an accompanying local guide and a driver travel through the North Eastern states of India, braving riots, separatists, unclean restrooms, shady overnight lodges, and some bad weather, in an attempt to soak in the local culture and the wildlife. This is not an easy trip to make, due to the amount of unrest on some of these parts, and I am fortunate that I could experience those parts through Jennifer's writing
The book is a breezy read, and it almost feels at the end that you were in all those places Jennifer described, right behind her and Pete as they stroll through the rainforests, binoculars in hand, or sip the local brews sitting next to a campfire. I am hoping that Jennifer Nandi could chronicle more of her birding adventures. Thank you, Jennifer Nandi; I know there cannot be a repeat of that Dandeli trip with me being in the US now, but this was the closest to that experience that I could get of birding with you!
Through this book, Jennifer takes us along with Peter McKay, a British Citizen with 40 days to kill along the North Eastern states of India. This region is a birdwatcher's paradise, a junction where multiple bird highways meet. Jennifer, and Pete with an accompanying local guide and a driver travel through the North Eastern states of India, braving riots, separatists, unclean restrooms, shady overnight lodges, and some bad weather, in an attempt to soak in the local culture and the wildlife. This is not an easy trip to make, due to the amount of unrest on some of these parts, and I am fortunate that I could experience those parts through Jennifer's writing
The book is a breezy read, and it almost feels at the end that you were in all those places Jennifer described, right behind her and Pete as they stroll through the rainforests, binoculars in hand, or sip the local brews sitting next to a campfire. I am hoping that Jennifer Nandi could chronicle more of her birding adventures. Thank you, Jennifer Nandi; I know there cannot be a repeat of that Dandeli trip with me being in the US now, but this was the closest to that experience that I could get of birding with you!
May 22, 2026
An immersive, atmospheric journey into India's remote borderlands, No Half Measures by Jennifer Nandi is a masterfully written work that beautifully weaves together nature, culture, and deep exploration. Written with the luminous precision of a seasoned naturalist, the book transcends the boundaries of a standard travelogue to offer readers a profound meditation on the natural world and our place within it. The narrative carries us deep into the rugged, peripheral wilderness of Northeast India—a sensitive and often misunderstood region where the map begins to blur into international borders. It is here, amidst the dense, canopy-covered rainforests of Namdapha and the complex, politically charged landscapes bordering Manas, that Nandi invites us to slow down and truly look at the living world around us.
Using this raw, unpredictable wilderness as her canvas, Nandi gently shifts our awareness, completely lifting us out of our everyday urban frames of reference. In a world dominated by screens, schedules, and artificial structures, her writing serves as a powerful reminder of a different kind of reality. She handles the underlying tensions of the borderlands with immense grace, showing that these remote spaces are not just geographic coordinates or ecological data points, but complex socio-cultural ecosystems where human history and wild nature are inextricably linked. The diverse tribal communities who inhabit these fringes are brought to life, highlighting a deep, sometimes fraught relationship with the land they protect.
The true heart of the book, however, lies in the author's remarkable naturalist’s eye. Her prose is a celebration of vibrant, slow-paced observation, encouraging a manner of looking at the earth that has largely been lost in modern times. Whether she is tracing the hidden movements of elusive wildlife across a forest floor or capturing the sudden, breathtaking flash of a rare bird through the mist, Nandi's passion is infectious. She makes the quiet joys of birdwatching and field tracking feel deeply essential, illustrating how the simple act of paying close attention to nature can be an act of profound reverence. Through her eyes, the forest becomes a living, breathing teacher, and ecological mindfulness becomes a tangible, accessible practice rather than an abstract concept.
Ultimately, No Half Measures is a captivating read, not only for dedicated lovers of nature writing but for anyone seeking an uplifting, transformative experience for the mind. It offers a beautiful, necessary antidote to the unrelenting chaos, noise, and stress of modern urban life. Nandi reminds us that healing can be found when we step away from the concrete grid and allow ourselves to be humbled by the vastness of the wild. It is a striking literary call to action that urges us to live fully, look deeply, and refuse to take half measures in how we engage with the magnificent planet we share.
Using this raw, unpredictable wilderness as her canvas, Nandi gently shifts our awareness, completely lifting us out of our everyday urban frames of reference. In a world dominated by screens, schedules, and artificial structures, her writing serves as a powerful reminder of a different kind of reality. She handles the underlying tensions of the borderlands with immense grace, showing that these remote spaces are not just geographic coordinates or ecological data points, but complex socio-cultural ecosystems where human history and wild nature are inextricably linked. The diverse tribal communities who inhabit these fringes are brought to life, highlighting a deep, sometimes fraught relationship with the land they protect.
The true heart of the book, however, lies in the author's remarkable naturalist’s eye. Her prose is a celebration of vibrant, slow-paced observation, encouraging a manner of looking at the earth that has largely been lost in modern times. Whether she is tracing the hidden movements of elusive wildlife across a forest floor or capturing the sudden, breathtaking flash of a rare bird through the mist, Nandi's passion is infectious. She makes the quiet joys of birdwatching and field tracking feel deeply essential, illustrating how the simple act of paying close attention to nature can be an act of profound reverence. Through her eyes, the forest becomes a living, breathing teacher, and ecological mindfulness becomes a tangible, accessible practice rather than an abstract concept.
Ultimately, No Half Measures is a captivating read, not only for dedicated lovers of nature writing but for anyone seeking an uplifting, transformative experience for the mind. It offers a beautiful, necessary antidote to the unrelenting chaos, noise, and stress of modern urban life. Nandi reminds us that healing can be found when we step away from the concrete grid and allow ourselves to be humbled by the vastness of the wild. It is a striking literary call to action that urges us to live fully, look deeply, and refuse to take half measures in how we engage with the magnificent planet we share.
July 5, 2025
This exquisitely written book is full of passion and wide-eyed wonder for the natural world. If you are a birder, you must read it! Jennifer Nandi takes the reader on a wild ride through untouched jungles and mountain terrains in the farthest reaches of northeastern India bordering on Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan. She touches on interesting points of history and, with the utmost respect for native peoples, gives the reader a sensual feel for the land, its many cultures and exquisite creatures - some of which are only found in this remote region of the world. I savored every page of this book and could not put it down. Thank you, Jennifer, for taking me on this magical journey. I only wish I could have been there with you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews