Don't Die in Autumn: The Heartwarming Memoir of Eric Dempsey, Ireland's Most Loved Birdwatcher

by Eric Dempsey

Eric Dempsey is recognised as one of Ireland's leading bird experts and is a professional guide, speaker, wildlife photographer and writer. Eric is also an experienced broadcaster and a member of the 'Mooney Goes Wild' team on RTÉ Radio 1. He is the author of the bestselling Finding Birds in Ireland, The Field Guide to Ireland's Birds, Birdwatching in Ireland with Eric Dempsey and Ireland's Wildlife Year.Eric was born and bred in Finglas in north Dublin. When he's not off travelling the world in search of Victoria's Riflebirds and Tibetan Snowcock, he is found enjoying and photographing our native Irish birdlife in Co. Wicklow, where he now lives with his wife Hazel.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2015

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most life-affirming books I have ever read. Also warm, poignant, funny (laugh out loud in places), and educational – heartily recommended to all those who loves birds and/or Ireland and the Irish.

[Sophie Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely memoir depicting Dempsey's life and good to listen to on audio with Eric's Irish accent. However, I think you need to know who Eric Dempsey is before reading the book, or to be really REALLY interested in birds/birding. There's a lot of extraneous detail and this really is about Eric's entire life not just his birding career, so some of it I didn't find particularly captivating, having not known who Eric Dempsey was prior to downloading this. There was also actually very little about birds at all until about halfway through, so I think a knowledge of/interest in both Eric Dempsey as a person AND in birds is fairly crucial to fully enjoying this memoir.

[Richard Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audiobook version)

Quite simply the best birding memoir I’ve ever read, and I’ve read many. Having the author narrate his own work was an excellent decision, as his lilting Irish brogue immerses the listener in the story.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I simply couldn't put down—a journey through every scenic corner of Ireland and around the globe. I learned so much, not only about the technicalities of birding but also about the refreshing joy of pursuing an ambition that isn't tied to the career ladder. Reassuring and warm throughout, I highly recommend this book—and suggest keeping a notebook handy to jot down all the fascinating birds and animals Eric introduces.

[AT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of this audio book and like some other reviewers I laughed out loud and cried by times. You don't have to be a birder to enjoy this. Perhaps occasionally the momentum of some twitcher discoveries will hold more significance for birders but it is really Eric's humanity, outlook and turn of phrase which makes this a special book. Have so enjoyed the audiobook, I have now ordered the written word to read it again. This is one of those reads that I will gift others.

[Thu Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why I love memoirs from ordinary people who had lived and experienced something extraordinary in their lives. I won't become a bird watcher any time soon but listening to your story has been a lot of fun. You are very lucky indeed to have started your life with a pair of amazing Ma and Da. And you, sir, are a gentleman. Thank you for sharing your stories.

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeh yeh yeh—like watching paint dry… BUT if you’re NUTTY about birds? AWESOME!!!
My Full Review →

[Jeff Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read ,great love shown for his parents ,lovely Irish book

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry and laugh, Google birds I'd never heard of and want to visit far flung places. If you can listen to it (there are free apps through the library), you can listen in his wonderfully warm Irish accent.

[Brian Gormley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7 out of 5. I thought this book was brilliant, and I absolutely flew through it. That said, I’m a birdwatcher, so it might appeal to me more than it would to non-birdwatchers. Eric Dempsey is one of the most high profile and influential birdwatchers in Ireland. If you’ve heard him on the radio, you’ll know that he’s an engaging and entertaining story-teller. This engaging quality follows through onto the page. While most of the book follows his humorous style, there are some poignant moments. For me, the incident which resulted in Eric deciding to stop “twitching” (chasing rare birds to tick them off a list) was painfully real. Like many books where the author is making a livelihood by following their passion, the book is inspiring and a delight to read.
As I said, I loved this book, and it encouraged me to pick up other books on birding, such as The Big Year and Eagle Country (I’d recommend both!), and I’ve just bought a copy of A Life in the Trees by Declan Murphy which is top of my To Be Read pile.