Ten Birds That Changed the World

by Stephen Moss

The natural history of humankind, told through our long relationship with birds  

For the whole of human history, we have lived alongside birds. We have hunted and domesticated them for food; venerated them in our mythologies, religions, and rituals; exploited them for their natural resources; and been inspired by them for our music, art, and poetry. 
 
In  Ten Birds That Changed the World , naturalist and author Stephen Moss tells the gripping story of this long and intimate relationship through key species from all seven of the world’s continents. From Odin’s faithful raven companions to Darwin’s finches, and from the wild turkey of the Americas to the emperor penguin as potent symbol of the climate crisis, this is a fascinating, eye-opening, and endlessly engaging work of natural history. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Birds, History, Animals, Natural History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Stephen Moss is a naturalist, broadcaster, television producer and author. In a distinguished career at the BBC Natural History Unit his credits included Springwatch, Birds Britannia and The Nature of Britain. His books include The Robin: A Biography, A Bird in the Bush, The Bumper Book of Nature, Wild Hares and Hummingbirds and Wild Kingdom. He is also Senior Lecturer in Nature and Travel Writing at Bath Spa University. Originally from London, he lives with his family on the Somerset Levels, and is President of the Somerset Wildlife Trust. He is a regular contributor to the Guardian.

Reviews

[Nic Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book. Amazing facts and stories, really an easy read and engaging for bird lovers and non bird lovers like. My one negative was the chapter on eagles. As others have pointed out, the author is obviously biased against the former US President Trump and basically equated him to Nazi Germany and really showed bias against his viewpoints, and making many comments on the January 6th invasion of the Capital. I think the book would have been strengthened considerably, especially the message about the dangers of the Climate Crisis without alienating tens of millions of people who supported the former President. The book didn’t need to get into the current political climate to make the author’s many excellent point.
With that said, the other nine chapters were amazing and without critique and I’d recommend it to anyone.

[Nat Gurnee · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the facts, stories and tales of human-bird interactions throughout history are certainly enjoyable, “10 Birds That Changed The World” does not seem like an appropriate title for this work.

When coming across a volume titled as such, the reader might expect to hear more about facts, figures and narratives about how a particular bird did, in fact, change the world (and make no mistake, there are plenty).

Rather, Moss seems principally interested in using the stories of each of these birds to make a statement of belief or of commentary on the state (past or present) of affairs in our world.

Not that any of Moss’ commentaries are inherently incorrect, but using birds as means to express one’s personal convictions or press an agenda bears striking resemblance to behaviors he condemns in infamous political leaders (such as in Ch. 8 or Ch. 9).

Instead of being presented with inspiring accounts of how wonderful and unique these creatures are, and how they convey lessons about conservation, human hubris, and political failings, the reader is instead given Moss’ own personal convictions, mingled with arbitrary bird stories that represent them.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss is a wonderful book that takes a closer look about our past, the world’s existence, and our relationships amongst nature, the planet, and one another throughout time through the stories highlighting ten different birds.

I have always had a special place in my heart for birds in general. From birdwatching, identification, nature walks, bird calls, and just being surrounded by nature.

This book is an excellent collection of ten different birds, each chapter ordered chronologically through time to give us not just more information, history, and knowledge of each species, but also how that particular bird tells the story of our natural world, humanity, and our relationships created between all of these elements. By discussing each of these aspects, we learn far more about our pasts and ourselves.

Excellent.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Basic Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/12/23.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clever concept -- using 10 species to illustrate how humans and birds have interacted throughout history. These species help illuminate stories of conservation, mythology, extinction, exploitation, vanity, evolution, nationalism, and more. In the background of all this history is how we and various bird species have fared in these interaction. One guess as to which species always seem to come out on top.

The titles promises to show how these species changed the world, but it's more accurate to say that this book uses these species as a framework to show we have changed the world -- and rarely for the better. It's not all doom and gloom, but not exactly the most uplifting read. Still, I got a lot of it.

[George · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another potentially good book ruined by the author's completely unnecessary descent into the fever swamp of modern left-wing politics. What a shame.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful read. The heartfelt and constructive stories about birds are front loaded. By the time you get to the last couple chapters you're hit with a one-two punch of Mao Zedong and the climate crisis. Regardless, I thought this was great. My reintroduction to nonfiction.

[Jenni Geli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how much these birds changed the world, but the world is definitely changing them

[Kelly Furniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birds & humans have a long connection. From hunting to domesticating them & using them in rituals, folklore & art etc. Stephen Moss tells the story of this long and eventful relationship through ten key species from all seven of the world’s continents. It’s a clever, engrossing concept and a great book of natural history.

[Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In elk hoofdstuk wordt een andere vogel aangehaald, die dient als voorbeeld voor een cultureel, politiek of ecologisch punt. Met name het hoofdstuk over de dodo sprak me aan, waarin Moss de “onnozelheid” van de dodo tegenspreekt. De onnozele aard van de dodo zou als reden voor zijn uitsterving worden gegeven, maar de dodo is, net als vele andere vogelsoorten, van de aarde verdwenen door het menselijk toedoen.
Moss sluit af met een grillig hoofdstuk over de toekomst van vele vogelsoorten wereldwijd.

[Meenakshisankar M · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read with an engaging narrative that focuses on ten birds that the author believes have changed the course of human history, culture., habits and environment. The author's prologue establishing why he chose to write about birds as the most important species that is closer to human evolution and history was convincingly argued. I liked the diverse nature of birds picked to be represented, each shining a light on a different aspect of the human nature and condition. I really loved the research that went into this book, and the details and anecdotes that illustrate so much!

[Bip Padrnos · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Really interesting. I learned a lot of new things about the birds from each chapter and human history in general. There were some clunky points and okie es of writing, but overall it was super informative if quite depressing.

[Paige]

DNF at 2%

The intro gave a brief preview of each chapter, and it sounds like there’s too much negativity in this book for me. A chapter about extinction, a couple more about near extinction, and another titled “climate catastrophe.”

I’ve got too much climate anxiety for this shit

7.30.24

[Morgan Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this is a book about 10 birds is an understatement. A thoughtful look at humanity's history and our complex, constantly evolving, and often destructive relationship with the environment that surrounds us. Challenged my view of things in ways I did not expect it to.

[Helby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title should be more like 10 Birds that Humans Screwed Over…

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to read this book kind of on a whim because it seemed like just my type of nonfiction: a look at history through a lens you probably never would’ve thought of on your own, which in this case was our relationships with ten specific species of birds.

I’ll admit that there were parts of this book I found hard to get through. In my opinion, three of the chapters in the middle were very dry and did not hold my attention very well, which is why it took me seven months to finish, but the first two and last three chapter were especially good, giving the book a strong start and finish. Listening to the audiobook narrated by the author also greatly improved the experience – it also made the emotional impact of some of the chapters that much greater for me.

Is this the best nonfiction book I’ve ever read? No, it’s not. But if you’re looking for something to change the way you look at human history, and our relationship with the natural world and the ways we shape each other, I would definitely recommend it.

[Hannah Girgente · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to think about what to say about this book. First of all, I do not recommend listening to this as an audiobook. The author's tone just sort of rubbed me the wrong way and made it hard for me to appreciate some of the points being made even when I generally agreed. The book was more about the ways we have used birds to change our world rather than ways that birds have changed the world, which is fine, but I was hoping there would be more awe for birds embedded in the book. Having sat with it for a few days, I'm glad I read the book, and the information was all very interesting, but something about the author just made me a little annoyed. I feel like he sometimes came off with a superiority complex or made statements/observations about groups a little recklessly. I'll end it there, but I still don't feel like I've fully expressed the conflicted feelings I came away with this book feeling.

[Aml95 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first audio book and it took sooo long. I’m glad to be done, I won’t be doing an audio book again thank you. It definitely affected my ability to recall

As for the book itself - I really liked it! Would recommend. Thinking about this book a lot.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Yvonne Thälker · Rating 4 out of 5]

But they were all of them deceived, for an eleventh bird changed the world.

[Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you really in your 30s if you don’t dip your toe into bird watching or bird lore at least once?

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! So interesting.

[Darren Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful blending of social history and birds. I learned a lot and was captivated.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting! WOW!

[Morgan Holdsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

genuinely couldn’t put it down, each chapter flowed into the next. i thoroughly enjoyed how stephen moss commented on the wider political relevance of the birds too, especially the bald eagle.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved about this book was its connection of the history of these amazing birds to the challenges of today. From the climate crisis to nationalistic symbolism to economic disparity - what the reviews for this book get wrong is that the exact topics they claim are being made political are in fact… political. But more on that in a second.

This book does an incredible job outlining history and consequences, giving me not only a hundred new facts to annoy my coworkers with, but also a deeper appreciation to the interconnectedness of our lives to the greater world we are apart. The writing makes the book quick and enjoyable, and just an all around fun read. But… how this book is received… that’s rough.

One comment went so far as to say the author undermined the arguments on conservation by talking about politics, despite conservation being a political point. How could you deny this in the face of undermining the EPA, pulling out of the Paris climate accords, and opening up public land for corporate use? Is that too U.S. centric or hurt some feelings? Okay, what about rising emission rates from major powers or the failure to slow the average warming temperatures? Jesus people, really? What’s even more funny is that some of the comments completely miss the political/historical inaccuracies that are made - possibly because there are few - but especially relating to indigenous communities and their relationships with their aviary surroundings. Twice in this book the author makes the (wrongful) deduction that native communities (referencing Central/Latin American and Pacific indigenous populations) were manipulating birds for their own means and therefore did not care for their environments? Not one review wanted to challenge these claims but were so hurt about accurate claims on what the Trump administration was doing? Good lord.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a tough one. I already knew about a number of these birds and their importance, so it wasn't a ton of new stuff, but I also learned a lot of interesting facts and was kinda of walloped, honestly, but the Cormorant chapter. I could not honestly guess why that bird mattered that much, but I actually really liked his argument. I was also intrigued by his argument for the Sparrow and the Penguin's inclusion. I learned some interesting history and saw some of these birds in a different way, as representations of ideas. So in that way, a good book.

But I had a lot of issues with this book, too.
1) It is very clearly a book with an imperial bias. A lot of the history and literary and mythology references were limited to the Western world, specifically the UK and America. He mentioned that there were some myths in other cultures about, say, Ravens, but only ever went into detail about the Western ones. I was actually cussing out loud when he basically said, in the Dodo chapter, that since the Maori fro New Zealand, in their explorations, killed birds for sustenance as they explored, indigenous people aren't as "harmonious" with nature as the world thinks. I was so pissed to read that. This white, imperialist dude trying to say that indigenous people don't deserve their reputation for respect for nature as a sort of slimy defense of all the disrespectful, gluttonous, destruction of the natural world by the Western world for centuries. Fuck. Off. I almost put the book down right there. He also used the terms "New World" for America and "Old World" for Europe, which are outdated and biased as well. Small things like those added up to an extreme distaste for the bias.

Weirdly, however, the author did a great job centering the suffering of 80,000 Chinese men who were essentially slaves that made the wealth from Cormorant's possible. He was also much more fair in the telling of a few other stories of people of color.

2) I read this on audiobook, which was a mistake. The author would spring on the reader very graphic descriptions of violence against people and birds. These were totally unnecessary and their inclusion should have merited trigger warnings, honestly. Perhaps this author doesn't believe in those "liberal pansy ideas", but I would've appreciated it. When stuff like that comes up in a regular book, I just skim until I can tell I'm past it, but with the audiobook I just had to skip a decent amount until I figured he wasn't talking about it anymore, probably missing some good info in the process. This happened multiple times. I read this book because I care deeply about birds and the natural world. I could not stomach sudden graphic descriptions of the intentional, disgustingly cruel things people did to birds.

So I don't know what to rate this book. I can't recommend it, but I also learned a lot and will be mulling over his ideas.. while trying to forget the gross-ass violence and imperial bias I read. Do with that what you will.

[Roger Morgan-Grenville · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare 'five' for this one, which elegantly and passionately uses ten specific birds to highlight the wider character of man's relationship with nature. Full of fact and anecdote, but with a coherent arc of narrative, this is a beautiful book.

[Daniel]

A real page-turner, I couldn't put it down!

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Ten Birds That Changed the World, naturalist and author Stephen Moss tells the gripping story of this long and intimate relationship through key species from all seven of the world’s continents. From Odin’s faithful raven companions to Darwin’s finches, and from the wild turkey of the Americas to the emperor penguin as potent symbol of the climate crisis, this is a fascinating, eye-opening, and endlessly engaging work of natural history.

I listened to this book on Spotify. The reason I wanted to read this book is because I like birds. I have bird feeders and a bird bath so I like to feed the birds birdseed and give them peanuts and mealworms. I like to give them fresh water and put ice in the water so they can have cool water to drink and bathe in when it’s hot outside. I like to watch the birds eat and take baths in the bird bath. I like when the squirrels visit and eat the peanuts. When I was reading this book, I liked when the author was talking about birds but when he wasn’t talking about birds, I started getting bored and wondering what the point was that he was trying to make. In the chapter about the Bald Eagle, he got political and I didn’t like that. I didn’t think it was necessary to talk about politics in a book about birds. He also didn’t give any practical advice for how to help the birds. What does he expect everyone to do to help the birds? I don’t understand.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s ambitious to seek 10 birds that changed human history, and even more challenging to write a book with engaging stories that don’t overload the reader with dry facts. In fact, how these birds affect history is as much about emotions as science. Why are some birds maligned and others glorified? And what about the humble turkey’s rise from obscurity to exploitation? The fallibility of “facts” about the dodo? How can elimination a grain-eating sparrow result in less grain? Is the bald eagle really a coward? Moss’ approach is inquisitive, incisive, and humorous.

Though Moss is Britain-based, he considers birds throughout the world. Some birds have affected international commerce as well as impacting the countries where they are endemic. The birds profiled are raven, pigeon, wild turkey, guanay cormorant, snowy egret, bald eagle, tree sparrow, and emperor penguin. If you feel an emotional response to any of these birds, whether positive or negative, you will likely enjoy 10 Birds that Changed the World.

Highly recommended for birders and nature lovers, historians, and anyone with a fondness or dislike of any of the birds mentioned above.