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Alfie e io: Quello che i rapaci sanno, quello che gli umani credono
Nel giugno 2018 Carl Safina e la moglie Patricia trovano nel giardino di casa un «batuffolo sporco e arruffato di piccole piume, vivo per un soffio»: un gufetto neonato che, scopriranno, è in realtà una femmina di assiolo americano orientale. Decidono di adottarla, per curarla e proteggerla finché non sarà in grado di badare a se stessa, e la chiamano Alfie. Occorrerà un anno e mezzo prima che Safina possa arrischiarsi ad aprire la porta della voliera senza timore di esporla a gravi rischi, ma da questa miracolosa convivenza scaturiranno un legame saldo e profondo, e un libro denso di rigorose osservazioni etologiche, intuizioni acute e riflessioni che varcano l’ambito strettamente scientifico. Da un lato, infatti, Safina dispiega le sue competenze di ecologo, offrendo un racconto esemplare dello sviluppo di Alfie e, più in generale, dei tratti morfologici e comportamentali della famiglia degli strigidi. Dall’altro, il rapporto di reciprocità che si instaura lo spinge ad avventurarsi altrove, e a interrogarsi sulla relazione tra l’uomo e gli altri animali, nonché su ciò che questi possono insegnarci circa il nostro posto nel mondo. Ridimensionando le arroganti pretese di unicità e centralità di «Homo sapiens», Safina ribadisce così la sostanziale unità della natura, dove «tutti gli esseri – passati, presenti e futuri – sono inclusi in una grande ragnatela relazionale».
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2023
314 people are currently reading
9384 people want to read
About the author
Carl Safina
46 books582 followersCarl Safina’s work has been recognized with MacArthur, Pew, and Guggenheim Fellowships, and his writing has won Orion, Lannan, and National Academies literary awards and the John Burroughs, James Beard, and George Rabb medals. He has a PhD in ecology from Rutgers University. Safina is the inaugural holder of the endowed chair for nature and humanity at Stony Brook University, where he co-chairs the steering committee of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and is founding president of the not-for-profit organization, The Safina Center. He hosted the 10-part PBS series Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina. His writing appears in The New York Times, Audubon, Orion, and other periodicals and on the Web at National Geographic News and Views, Huffington Post, and CNN.com.
He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Patricia, the two best beach-running dogs in the world, some chickens, a couple of parrots, and Frankie the kingsnake.
He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Patricia, the two best beach-running dogs in the world, some chickens, a couple of parrots, and Frankie the kingsnake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
March 12, 2025
I'm the author. My 5 stars are for Alfie herself. She has been free-living since 2019 and will be 7 years old in May 2025. She has raised 15 wild young ones with two wild mates. Some reader-reviewers have thought that the manner of Alfie's near-death rescue and upbringing would leave her imprinted on humans and unable to live normally. But the reality is that since the start of her free-living life Alfie has always responded normally as an owl to her wild suitors, and, as mentioned, she has raised and fledged fifteen young owlets who all dispersed naturally into their wild lives. Alfie's two mates have both been wild owls. Her first mate nested with her for two years. He failed to return in the third year (meaning that he died). That year, Alfie had no mate and her eggs were infertile. The following winter Alfie acquired a new mate with whom she nested in 2023 and 2024. He is still here now in March of 2025 and they are beginning the activities of a new nesting cycle. I can see their nest and I see them several times a week as they fly about and call at night from various trees around our yard. Every one of Alfie's eggs that has hatched has resulted in a fledged young wild owl; she has never lost a chick in the nest. They are a bit of magic and they provide a much-needed sense of sanity and calm. This story will be a happy ending but it hasn't ended; the happiness continues.
October 1, 2025
“What is the best we can make of our existence? Connection. That’s my answer.”
This is the “adult” story of Alfie, the owl and his human, the author. I previously reviewed the author’s children’s book, “Owls in our Yard.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Safina cares about nature. He is a prolific author who has written many books on what animals think and feel, how animals learn who they are, a natural year in an unnatural world, and such. He especially cares about wild animals in nature.
His experience in saving Alfie and re-training him to become part of his “wild” natural life shows a window on humanity’s relationship with the rest of nature. And, the pictures he provides in the book are enough to make anyone fall in love, with Alfie, too.
Through his writing, Safina is scientific in his approach as well as humane. His background is as an ecologist. He wants readers to be connected to nature and its natural beauty – including the animals who thrive in it. He is insightful, and thoughtful. He recognizes the importance of the animals as an individual living creature. Especially when he and his family realized that they needed to help Alfie thrive.
“And so began a prolonged, unplanned captivity.”
When he describes Alfie’s behavior, as readers we can’t help but be reminded of their importance.
“This was a year in which we stayed closer but saw farther. We came to see the many ways in which our daily existence is strange and romantic, unpredictable and quirky, buoyed and burdened with exotic customs as any place is. Home is always too close and yet too distant for us to fully know it. It can take a kind of magic spell to let us see the miracles in our everyday routines. Our enabling wizard was the little owl.”
To be in the author’s home with his wife and children adds to the storytelling and reading experience. It is a lovely inside view of a gifted life that respects and loves all animals. Readers will most likely feel warmth and moved when reading this section of the story. But it does get bogged down at times with philosophy and science, that may distract readers.
This is the “adult” story of Alfie, the owl and his human, the author. I previously reviewed the author’s children’s book, “Owls in our Yard.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Safina cares about nature. He is a prolific author who has written many books on what animals think and feel, how animals learn who they are, a natural year in an unnatural world, and such. He especially cares about wild animals in nature.
His experience in saving Alfie and re-training him to become part of his “wild” natural life shows a window on humanity’s relationship with the rest of nature. And, the pictures he provides in the book are enough to make anyone fall in love, with Alfie, too.
Through his writing, Safina is scientific in his approach as well as humane. His background is as an ecologist. He wants readers to be connected to nature and its natural beauty – including the animals who thrive in it. He is insightful, and thoughtful. He recognizes the importance of the animals as an individual living creature. Especially when he and his family realized that they needed to help Alfie thrive.
“And so began a prolonged, unplanned captivity.”
When he describes Alfie’s behavior, as readers we can’t help but be reminded of their importance.
“This was a year in which we stayed closer but saw farther. We came to see the many ways in which our daily existence is strange and romantic, unpredictable and quirky, buoyed and burdened with exotic customs as any place is. Home is always too close and yet too distant for us to fully know it. It can take a kind of magic spell to let us see the miracles in our everyday routines. Our enabling wizard was the little owl.”
To be in the author’s home with his wife and children adds to the storytelling and reading experience. It is a lovely inside view of a gifted life that respects and loves all animals. Readers will most likely feel warmth and moved when reading this section of the story. But it does get bogged down at times with philosophy and science, that may distract readers.
September 24, 2023
Not What I Expected (2.5 stars)
Natural science and ecology are among some of my favorite non-fiction genres so I wanted to love this book. While following Alfie’s growth into an adult Eastern Screech Owl was interesting, the owl (and related nature) facts enlightening, and the two-way relationship with her humans inspiring, I found “Alfie & Me” exceedingly difficult to read. The book read like two separate books meshed together, the transitions choppy and threads unclear. There was the story of Alfie which frequently took a secondary position to a far-reaching cultural anthropological and philosophical discussion of the beliefs of previous civilizations, current indigenous societies, and Western economies regarding the natural world’s role in communities. While the author’s point about the varying perspectives of nature across societies/civilizations is clear (for example, the connectedness of all versus the separation of physical and spiritual) the linkage to the author’s journey with Alfie was too vague.
Natural science and ecology are among some of my favorite non-fiction genres so I wanted to love this book. While following Alfie’s growth into an adult Eastern Screech Owl was interesting, the owl (and related nature) facts enlightening, and the two-way relationship with her humans inspiring, I found “Alfie & Me” exceedingly difficult to read. The book read like two separate books meshed together, the transitions choppy and threads unclear. There was the story of Alfie which frequently took a secondary position to a far-reaching cultural anthropological and philosophical discussion of the beliefs of previous civilizations, current indigenous societies, and Western economies regarding the natural world’s role in communities. While the author’s point about the varying perspectives of nature across societies/civilizations is clear (for example, the connectedness of all versus the separation of physical and spiritual) the linkage to the author’s journey with Alfie was too vague.
November 30, 2023
The book is beautifully written, but it sends a very inappropriate message about what to do if you come across a young owl that may (or may not) need help.
As someone who specializes in owls, has been permitted to use live owls in education for decades and is familiar with federal rehabilitation licensing and best practices, I was very taken aback by Safina's methodology.
Here's how Alfie's story should have gone if proper rehabilitation protocols were followed: The young owl was turned into a wildlife rehabilitator. If that rehabilitator did not have experience with owls, it should have been transferred to one who did. If it needed to be retained in captivity beyond a short period, it should have been transferred to a licensed rehabilitator with captive Eastern Screech-Owls (preferably non-releasable adults that would serve as foster parents or other juveniles of the species with which to imprint upon.) In late summer, after she could successfully pass "mouse school" where she could demonstrate her ability to effectively capture mice, she would have been released back into the area in which she was found, or other suitable screech-owl habitat.
To do what he did, he needs to have at least a wildlife rehabilitation sub-permit, which he never mentions if does or does not have at the time. In his book he doesn't mention working closely with a rehabilitator, but he does on his website. A bird slated for release is not to be around humans or pets as per federal regulations: "Orphaned migratory birds should be raised in a manner in which they are imprinted upon their own species. Every precaution must be taken to avoid imprinting birds to humans. Except as required to feed, water, and exercise animals, indoor and outdoor facilities, cages, pens, enclosures or other areas must be sufficiently separate and protected from pets and from human living or work space to prevent human contact with animals." https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/fil...
Birds are also not to be held longer than 180 days without permission of the permitting authorities. Does going on trips when the owl was ready for release in the fall constitute a reason to hold the owl over winter, and not even begin the release process in the spring?
Safina mentions Alfie molting all of her flight feathers in her first fall, calling this normal. She should not have molted her flight feathers until the next year. If she did in fact molt her flight feathers in her first fall it would likely be due to being exposed to abnormal light levels in his home, which messed up her normal molt timing.
To conclude the book by talking about a time when he cut the wing off a Sanderling with a knife and cauterized it with a soldering gun left me horrified. There is no way that was legal, and living in New York there is no excuse for not bringing an injured bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for proper care. Rehabilitators are not allowed to practice veterinary medicine, and any amputation above the elbow would require euthanasia by federal regulations. We aren't living in a war zone or in a country without proper care available for wildlife.
As someone who specializes in owls, has been permitted to use live owls in education for decades and is familiar with federal rehabilitation licensing and best practices, I was very taken aback by Safina's methodology.
Here's how Alfie's story should have gone if proper rehabilitation protocols were followed: The young owl was turned into a wildlife rehabilitator. If that rehabilitator did not have experience with owls, it should have been transferred to one who did. If it needed to be retained in captivity beyond a short period, it should have been transferred to a licensed rehabilitator with captive Eastern Screech-Owls (preferably non-releasable adults that would serve as foster parents or other juveniles of the species with which to imprint upon.) In late summer, after she could successfully pass "mouse school" where she could demonstrate her ability to effectively capture mice, she would have been released back into the area in which she was found, or other suitable screech-owl habitat.
To do what he did, he needs to have at least a wildlife rehabilitation sub-permit, which he never mentions if does or does not have at the time. In his book he doesn't mention working closely with a rehabilitator, but he does on his website. A bird slated for release is not to be around humans or pets as per federal regulations: "Orphaned migratory birds should be raised in a manner in which they are imprinted upon their own species. Every precaution must be taken to avoid imprinting birds to humans. Except as required to feed, water, and exercise animals, indoor and outdoor facilities, cages, pens, enclosures or other areas must be sufficiently separate and protected from pets and from human living or work space to prevent human contact with animals." https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/fil...
Birds are also not to be held longer than 180 days without permission of the permitting authorities. Does going on trips when the owl was ready for release in the fall constitute a reason to hold the owl over winter, and not even begin the release process in the spring?
Safina mentions Alfie molting all of her flight feathers in her first fall, calling this normal. She should not have molted her flight feathers until the next year. If she did in fact molt her flight feathers in her first fall it would likely be due to being exposed to abnormal light levels in his home, which messed up her normal molt timing.
To conclude the book by talking about a time when he cut the wing off a Sanderling with a knife and cauterized it with a soldering gun left me horrified. There is no way that was legal, and living in New York there is no excuse for not bringing an injured bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for proper care. Rehabilitators are not allowed to practice veterinary medicine, and any amputation above the elbow would require euthanasia by federal regulations. We aren't living in a war zone or in a country without proper care available for wildlife.
March 2, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful book about nature in general and specifically the rescue of an eastern screech owl named Alfie.
To follow Alfie’s healing journey is to be privy to a part of nature few see up close. She blossoms from a near dead bunch of ragged feathers to a magnificent representation of her species. Most incredibly, with no parents to teach her, we watch as instinct takes over and she figures out how to hunt, fend off predators, find a mate, select appropriate living quarters and raise beautiful babies.
Interspersed with Alfie’s story, the author shares the information he has learned from interviewing indigenous peoples throughout the globe. Although these tribes have had no contact, they all share the same beliefs. At their core, they believe nature is to be respected and cared for since every living thing is part of the great web of life. If you harm any part of nature, the damage will be felt around the world. We would be well advised to listen to their message as the damage we have done becomes more apparent with each passing day.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves beautiful nature stories. Alfie’s journey is well worth a read.
To follow Alfie’s healing journey is to be privy to a part of nature few see up close. She blossoms from a near dead bunch of ragged feathers to a magnificent representation of her species. Most incredibly, with no parents to teach her, we watch as instinct takes over and she figures out how to hunt, fend off predators, find a mate, select appropriate living quarters and raise beautiful babies.
Interspersed with Alfie’s story, the author shares the information he has learned from interviewing indigenous peoples throughout the globe. Although these tribes have had no contact, they all share the same beliefs. At their core, they believe nature is to be respected and cared for since every living thing is part of the great web of life. If you harm any part of nature, the damage will be felt around the world. We would be well advised to listen to their message as the damage we have done becomes more apparent with each passing day.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves beautiful nature stories. Alfie’s journey is well worth a read.
November 10, 2023
I didn't realize this book would be 40% owl story and 60% philosophy text, a bit too preachy for me.
November 16, 2023
I was excited to read this one, but it was pretty disappointing. When Carl Safina and his wife Patricia find an owlet near death they rescue it and assume they will keep it safe until it can go back into the wild. But Alfie's feathers aren't growing correctly so she ends up being in their care for over a year before starting to "re-wild." Because the timing of Alfie's "re-wilding" coincides with COVID, Carl and Patricia have an unexpected full-time viewing of Alfie's maturing, finding a mate, and raising her first babies. Throughout their time with Alfie, Carl wonders how much of their "help" is really helping or interfering. They get to watch Alfie's babies, who they call "the Hoo" all fledge and start their own independent owl lives. While most of the parts about the owls were interesting - there was still a LOT of repetition. Alfie mated this many times today, she flew here and there and here and there, how much she hunted/ate/etc. That got old because it was a lot of the same day to day. Also, I would say the book was 50% Alfie and 50% Carl's philosophical musings. I came for Alfie, not for all the other stuff. A little that related to Alfie and their relationship/time would have been fine but I agree with some other reviews I read that is was almost like 2 separate books were meshed together and didn't really work. I did like that some photos were included as that definitely added to the book. I hate it, but I would not recommend this one.
October 25, 2023
#FirstLine - The Little Owl had for more than a year been living a comfortable, healthy life.
Alfie & Me isn't just a book; it's a profound journey that resonates deeply with me as an owl enthusiast. I've always had a special place in my heart for these magnificent birds and even have a collection of owl items, so Carl Safina's tale of his unique relationship with an orphaned screech owl, Alfie, truly spoke to my soul.
As I delved into the pages of this book, I couldn't help but marvel at how Carl and Patricia took in a near-death baby owl, fully expecting her presence to be temporary. But when Alfie's feathers didn't grow correctly, her stay became prolonged, and she started to make a place for herself in their lives. The more I read, the more I felt the deep connection that formed between Alfie and the Safinas – a connection that was profoundly mutual. I could relate to the idea that owls, with their mysterious and wise demeanor, can become an integral part of one's life, almost like an enigmatic friend.
What makes this story even more captivating is the way Carl Safina weaves it into the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many of us found ourselves spending more time at home, exploring our immediate surroundings, and reevaluating our relationship with the natural world. As someone who adores owls, I couldn't help but appreciate the intricate details of Alfie's life and her eventual release into the wild.
Safina's observations and reflections throughout the book provide a unique perspective on humanity's connection with nature, and for someone like me, who cherishes owls, it's like a window into a world I've always yearned to understand better. Alfie & Me is more than just a story; it's a profound exploration of the bonds that form between humans and the natural world. This book holds a special place in my heart as an owl lover, offering a deeper appreciation for our place within the grand tapestry of nature. It's a must-read for anyone who, like me, finds solace and wonder in the eyes of these remarkable birds.
Alfie & Me isn't just a book; it's a profound journey that resonates deeply with me as an owl enthusiast. I've always had a special place in my heart for these magnificent birds and even have a collection of owl items, so Carl Safina's tale of his unique relationship with an orphaned screech owl, Alfie, truly spoke to my soul.
As I delved into the pages of this book, I couldn't help but marvel at how Carl and Patricia took in a near-death baby owl, fully expecting her presence to be temporary. But when Alfie's feathers didn't grow correctly, her stay became prolonged, and she started to make a place for herself in their lives. The more I read, the more I felt the deep connection that formed between Alfie and the Safinas – a connection that was profoundly mutual. I could relate to the idea that owls, with their mysterious and wise demeanor, can become an integral part of one's life, almost like an enigmatic friend.
What makes this story even more captivating is the way Carl Safina weaves it into the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many of us found ourselves spending more time at home, exploring our immediate surroundings, and reevaluating our relationship with the natural world. As someone who adores owls, I couldn't help but appreciate the intricate details of Alfie's life and her eventual release into the wild.
Safina's observations and reflections throughout the book provide a unique perspective on humanity's connection with nature, and for someone like me, who cherishes owls, it's like a window into a world I've always yearned to understand better. Alfie & Me is more than just a story; it's a profound exploration of the bonds that form between humans and the natural world. This book holds a special place in my heart as an owl lover, offering a deeper appreciation for our place within the grand tapestry of nature. It's a must-read for anyone who, like me, finds solace and wonder in the eyes of these remarkable birds.
December 28, 2023
An Eastern Screech Owl enters the life of a scientist/philosopher/historian and this two-stranded braid results. I loved the observations about the owl and its development, and I equally appreciated the review of western philosophy and how the author allowed the one to enhance the other. He writes, “out of the vast non-living universe, for some brief spark and against all odds, we live.” That sums up the spirit of this book.
September 13, 2023
If you don't fall in love with Safina's writing, in the same way that he fell in love with a little screech owl, then you might be a heartless monster. Through the lens of his personal relationship with a rescued owl, Safina chronicles humanity's own history with nature and the lessons that the world's interconnectivity can teach us. In journaling the grounding day-to-day of Alfie's life, Safina offers to share some of the peace and sanity he's found with the turbulent, overwrought masses.
November 6, 2025
7/10
"La vita, l'universo e tutto quanto"
Bella la storia di Alfie e degli Hoo, dei cani, galline, mare, alberi! Molte pagine molto belle ma troppi, troppi pipponi. Diverse pagine in meno mi sarebbe piaciuto di più
(vedo che ci ho messo un mese a finirlo, qualcosa vuol dire)
"La vita, l'universo e tutto quanto"
Bella la storia di Alfie e degli Hoo, dei cani, galline, mare, alberi! Molte pagine molto belle ma troppi, troppi pipponi. Diverse pagine in meno mi sarebbe piaciuto di più
(vedo che ci ho messo un mese a finirlo, qualcosa vuol dire)
November 28, 2023
This is the first book by Carl Safina that I've read. Suffice it to say that it will probably be the last. For the life of me, I don't understand what he was trying to do. Whatever it was, for me it didn't work. The narrative of Alfie, the owlet that he & his wife, Patricia, rescued and nursed back to health and adopted as part of their animal family was enjoyable. It was most interesting watching Alfie grow & then being nurtured and venturing out on her own as she matured into adulthood. But interspersed with this story is sort of a philosophical history of humankind, which might have been interesting on its own, but I couldn't see what it had to do with Alfie's story. For me, it accomplished nothing, & I ended up just skimming through the last few chapters because it was a total distraction. Bottom line is that I cannot recommend this book at all.
November 17, 2023
interesting about the owl ... the philosophical tangents are distracting
January 14, 2025
This is a great story of a family that becomes close to a screech owl that they call Alfie. Alfie grows and comes to raise owlets in the family’s yard. The story is well written and beautiful.
December 21, 2024
Meh. Pages and pages and pages about the history of philosophy or whatever, and the narrative about Alfie that's sprinkled in among all of that isn't particularly well-written.
November 18, 2024
The depth and breadth of this book astounded me.
Best book I have read in a long time, and I read a lot! I checked it out from the library and now plan to buy in hardcover. It is a book that deserves shelf space in my crowded home library. I am telling everyone about it. The story of Alfie is wonderful on its own. Tucked in around that story is an incredible philosophical analysis of western society, with some eastern philosophers thrown in as well. It is timely and educational, as well as food for thought. I did a lot of highlighting. It gave me hope for the future. I will reread it soon.
Now I plan to read more books by Carl Safina.
Best book I have read in a long time, and I read a lot! I checked it out from the library and now plan to buy in hardcover. It is a book that deserves shelf space in my crowded home library. I am telling everyone about it. The story of Alfie is wonderful on its own. Tucked in around that story is an incredible philosophical analysis of western society, with some eastern philosophers thrown in as well. It is timely and educational, as well as food for thought. I did a lot of highlighting. It gave me hope for the future. I will reread it soon.
Now I plan to read more books by Carl Safina.
November 28, 2024
If this book had been 100 pages with more pictures – a coffee table book – I would have enjoyed it. Instead, Safina decided to bury the wonderful story of Alfie in countless pages of references to beliefs of various indigenous communities around the world and philosophers throughout the ages. At times the writing is preachy and he enjoys pointing out all the ways he has chosen to live with the land by eating eggs from his hens, fish from the sea, dandelions from his lawn and abstaining from air conditioning in his house. Safina desires to impress his readers with the vast number of philosophical references (some of which were quite interesting) to the point that the reader struggles to get to the end to discover what happens with Alfie.
Safina is a trained ecologist, but seems to prefer his role as an amateur philosopher and anthropologist. I would have preferred more ecological, botanical and zoological references to things I may not have known. Instead, he beats the reader over the head with the same themes in every chapter. Some level of repetition is of course required to demonstrate the universal theme of indigenous people’s respect for the land and sustainability, but he went too far to stoke his own ego. He was trying to write the next “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, but he fails miserably.
Safina is a trained ecologist, but seems to prefer his role as an amateur philosopher and anthropologist. I would have preferred more ecological, botanical and zoological references to things I may not have known. Instead, he beats the reader over the head with the same themes in every chapter. Some level of repetition is of course required to demonstrate the universal theme of indigenous people’s respect for the land and sustainability, but he went too far to stoke his own ego. He was trying to write the next “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, but he fails miserably.
January 9, 2024
I got more than half-way through this book. It was not what I expected, and I honestly, would not give more time to finish it. I like rescue stories, and that is part of the book. However, it was a much smaller part than the actual theme, which focused more on ecology, politics, religions, and more. Part of the title indicated that human beliefs would be discussed, but it was a biased, judgmental approach. The tone of the book was harsh towards most religions, and the author conveyed feelings of hostility towards those who believe in any of the three major world religions. I was disappointed that with a publishing date of Jan 2024, the author stated that Covid-19 was started by the terrible ways humans kill and eat their food (referring to the meat markets in China). Even main stream scientists admit Covid-19 was started in a lab. I'm sure there are many people who will whole-heartedly agree with this author's beliefs. I just wanted to read a true story about a rescued owl, not listen to hours of politics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 12, 2024DNF. I was hoping for a book about owls and this is more a book about ecological philosophy. I just kept thinking I would rather read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer Wall again - less generalizing about the worldviews of all indigenous peoples are and more about finding real spirituality in the natural world.
March 17, 2025
I am not going to lie, this book was hard to get through for me. The plot is enduring. A human rescues a baby owl, brings it back to health, watches it grow up, and learns some life lessons along the way. Alfie, the owl, is incredibly cute and has her quirks, but I felt like I read the part of her eating a mouse off the porch over 20 times. Safina does a good job weaving in religion, values, morals, and life lessons in the book. I especially like his analysis of the role of western philosophy and how humans see themselves. There’s a lot of back and forth between description of owls and how humans should think about their relationships with all living things. Some notable quotes below:
“Strive for simplicity, spontaneity, humility, frugality, and compassion. Taoists see no divine lawgiver. What impresses them is the spontaneity of the world, it’s inherent motion, its seasons, how plants come forth - all without central directives and without self-conscious thinking.”
“”An attitude of separation is reflected in all Western education, which is built on the idea that the world is… an object that doesn’t interact with our psychological or spiritual lives.” The tragedy is: dualism is just an idea. Dualism is “a metaphor based on deception,” writes Tyson Yunkaporta, “and in an Aboriginal worldview this is how curses work. You take part of a system… then you sing a false pattern into the world. The curse is a deception made real.””
“There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough
There is no curse greater than the desire for gain.
Therefore, whosoever knows what is enough will always have enough”
“Strive for simplicity, spontaneity, humility, frugality, and compassion. Taoists see no divine lawgiver. What impresses them is the spontaneity of the world, it’s inherent motion, its seasons, how plants come forth - all without central directives and without self-conscious thinking.”
“”An attitude of separation is reflected in all Western education, which is built on the idea that the world is… an object that doesn’t interact with our psychological or spiritual lives.” The tragedy is: dualism is just an idea. Dualism is “a metaphor based on deception,” writes Tyson Yunkaporta, “and in an Aboriginal worldview this is how curses work. You take part of a system… then you sing a false pattern into the world. The curse is a deception made real.””
“There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough
There is no curse greater than the desire for gain.
Therefore, whosoever knows what is enough will always have enough”
October 11, 2023
I love all the wonders of nature and learning about Alfie did not disappoint. When rescued, she was a tiny ball of feathers nearly dead. Alfie first lives in Safina's home, then grows enough to be moved outdoors to a screened coop. Safina hesitated to leave the door to the coop open because he worried Alfie would fly away and not be able to survive on her own. It is remarkable how Alfie's instinct kicked in, and she found shelter in her Ivy Tower and nearby trees, learned to hunt, and mated with Plus-One. Alfie and her mate raised 3 healthy owlets, affectionately called the Hoo. I enjoyed the photos included in the book.
I rate the story of Alfie 5*, but only 2* for nearly half the book about philosophy, references to thinkers through the ages (Confucius, Aristotle, Plato, etc.), religious and world leaders, and humans' impact on the health of the Earth. For me, those sections were extraneous to Alfie's story.
Thank you to Bookbrowse for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I rate the story of Alfie 5*, but only 2* for nearly half the book about philosophy, references to thinkers through the ages (Confucius, Aristotle, Plato, etc.), religious and world leaders, and humans' impact on the health of the Earth. For me, those sections were extraneous to Alfie's story.
Thank you to Bookbrowse for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2024
Not many ecologists would dive as deep as Safina did into the ways of knowing and its history. While for me, a habitual fiction reader, those parts were harder to get through I really enjoyed glimpses into indigenous world views on animals and the Earth. It’s also heartening seeing an academic giving space and creedance to splitting the western world from anthropocentrism, and the objective sterility from which ecology has arisen.
I don’t totally agree with how he handled Alfie, but in the end, it goes to his point about interconnected relations. In a non-broken world, all humans should be kin to our non-human neighbors.
I don’t totally agree with how he handled Alfie, but in the end, it goes to his point about interconnected relations. In a non-broken world, all humans should be kin to our non-human neighbors.
January 18, 2025
I would give the second half of the book 5 stars but the first half took a bit to get going. A little tedious with all the philosophy and not enough owl information. I really wanted to know how the owl that he rescued was doing! Once the store got going, though, it was great. I loved hearing about the story of the owl family and all the fascinating behaviors that he was able to observe because the owl that he rescued and rehabilitated was so friendly towards him. Overall, it was a wonderful uplifting story. And the author is certainly well read in historical political, and philosophical thought.
January 12, 2025
DNF 40%. Not going to do it this year. Not going to finish books that I don't like. This was picked for a school book club that I didn't attend but thought I would read the book. It's actually a philosophy book with repetitive snippets about rescuing a baby owl (the owl parts were cute). Lesson for me: stop picking up books about owls. At least Chouette was a decent story. This one was not for me.
October 28, 2024
This was a good book, although not the story I expected. I thought there would be more focus on Alfie and owls but there was quite a bit of philosophy and nature.
January 18, 2025
Who knew a book about owls could be so deep and thought-provoking?
December 8, 2024
If only.
If only this had been the book the title led me to expect all would have been well. I wanted a “natural” book, nothing heavy - and certainly not a book full of moralizing and philosophizing, but that is what I found myself reading, with the beautiful story of Alfie’s rescue, careful nurturing, development and gradual release to the wild to find a mate and raise her own family well and truly hidden between the stodgy pages. I mean no disrespect to the author but all I wanted was “Alfie and Me” and the only way to get that was to skip quite a chunk of the book. It was disappointing.
If only this had been the book the title led me to expect all would have been well. I wanted a “natural” book, nothing heavy - and certainly not a book full of moralizing and philosophizing, but that is what I found myself reading, with the beautiful story of Alfie’s rescue, careful nurturing, development and gradual release to the wild to find a mate and raise her own family well and truly hidden between the stodgy pages. I mean no disrespect to the author but all I wanted was “Alfie and Me” and the only way to get that was to skip quite a chunk of the book. It was disappointing.
March 20, 2025
There was precious little about Alfie and far too much about the author. It was not worth slogging through the writing of such a pompous blowhard.
January 29, 2024
DNF, 31%.
This is as 15 minute story about rehabbing an owl and a 12-hour crash course in philosophy. If it had been heavily scientific about biology and ornithology, I could've kept going. If it had been about all the other rehabbing the author has done, I could've kept going. If it had been more about the author's actual life experiences, like the part about his Uncle Tony, I would've gladly kept going. But this book is marketed poorly, and manipulates unlikely readers into the pages under false pretenses. I wanted owls! I wanted human-owl relationships. I wanted to know how each impacted the other's life and knowledge. I wanted Alfie, and I wanted to see the world through his eyes. And I got the tiniest possible morsel of that, until it wasn't enough to keep me going. So I googled the author and Alfie and learned the story of the owl, as I had yearned for.
This is as 15 minute story about rehabbing an owl and a 12-hour crash course in philosophy. If it had been heavily scientific about biology and ornithology, I could've kept going. If it had been about all the other rehabbing the author has done, I could've kept going. If it had been more about the author's actual life experiences, like the part about his Uncle Tony, I would've gladly kept going. But this book is marketed poorly, and manipulates unlikely readers into the pages under false pretenses. I wanted owls! I wanted human-owl relationships. I wanted to know how each impacted the other's life and knowledge. I wanted Alfie, and I wanted to see the world through his eyes. And I got the tiniest possible morsel of that, until it wasn't enough to keep me going. So I googled the author and Alfie and learned the story of the owl, as I had yearned for.
January 23, 2024
I really loved the part of the book that dealt with the owl. It was fascinating and beautiful. However, about half the book was about the author's views on all things philosophical, religious, poetic, and scientific. I think the title should read, "What Owls Know, What I Believe." I wish a brutal editor had cut out at least 3/4 of the latter musings. Some were nice, but after a while I just got annoyed every time he interrupted the story with his complaints about everything else.
I think most people would enjoy the book if they read the story of the owl carefully and skimmed over the other parts.
I think most people would enjoy the book if they read the story of the owl carefully and skimmed over the other parts.
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