Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness

“Crow Planet”: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt Much of this book is a love psalm to the author's own philosophy and lifestyle and she uses crows much more as icons for her eclectic orientation than as topics of study. And that is perfectly fine. Eclectic folks and their outlooks are just as valid and often more fun than plenty of other people I've met. I suppose Haupt could be described as an eco-freak but, if so, she is surely one of the more palatable ones. She might be described as a serendipitous philosopher but that probably tags almost anyone who takes charge of their life on their own terms instead of The Company's or The Government's terms. She certainly deserves to be labeled a talented writer because she writes with an entertaining style that, oddly enough, actually resembles the congenial writings of one Elizabeth Bacon Custer – widow of the gentleman whose famous military career ended in abrupt and smoky fashion along the Little Bighorn River in 1876. Eclectic or not, what Haupt has to say here is very worth listening to. She makes a very strong case for “living the MINUTES of our lives right” wherever we are because each minute has value and opportunity that we shouldn't let escape.She also regularly reminds the reader that the question is often more important than the answer.

I ordered the book on the recommendation of a friend and am more than happy with the selection. This is the kind of book that friends will be telling their friends about for years to come. Though I finished the book months ago, I keep turning the ideas and questions it raised over and over in my head. What is nature? What does it mean in relation to my very urban surroundings? And just what *are* those crows up to anyway?The author takes us along on an urban naturalist's journey and through it we gain insights into the web of living things in which we are all enmeshed. Grim environmentalism this is not. If you're looking for the harsh statistics and glum forecasts of doom that pervade our media, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a dry and dusty reference manual to the genus Corvus, keep browsing. If however you hunger for a celebration of nature (and crows!) and something to bring the joy back to caring about and living in our environment, then this is the portable feast you need.

When I first heard about this book, I was hoping it would NOT be the usual 50 Weird Facts About Crows, but was expecting exactly that, and was still willing to buy it because crows get a lot of bad press. Besides, crows are living proof that we live in a magical world, even in full daylight, and share it with other possibly sentient beings. My informant shook her head and tried again, by paying Crow Planet the highest compliment she could think of: "It reads like your book. Only it's about crows, not carpentry tools."45 minutes later, I had a new copy in my hands. Months later, I'm still reading it with delight, over and over. My friend was so right. This will be a perfect gift, and my own copy goes high on my shelf, right alongside Betty MacDonald's The Egg and I, and Colin Fletcher's The Thousand-Mile Summer, two books that are also not just about rural egg production or nature hiking.

The parts of the book where the author gives crow facts is interesting.... but her lectures about "global warming" and all the liberal ranting was definitely a turn off.

I love to read.

Haupt has written an incredible book about the crow and its fascinating connection, not only to us, but to the bigger backdrop of nature. A thrilling and insightful story.

"Crow Planet" is a lyric book. Most of the text is devoted to the author's feelings, her family, her ideas about nature, the role of man on earth and the like.The volume is organized in ten chapters, written as small essays, without much relationship among each other. The titles are: Getting Up, Preparing, Reading, Walking, Dwelling, Helping, Seeing, Coexisting , Dying and Flying. There is nothing systematic on them. The reader will not find much scientific or at least observational data. Most of the little information provided about crows is easily found elsewere.This was not exactly the book I was looking for, but somehow I liked it. It transmits a feeling of peace and "good vibrations" that make it an easy read, in spite of the fact that the author's prose is not simple.

Wonderful book! No, it is not only about Crows (although they do play a big part). It is also about being awake to the world around you, and better ways of being in the world. Highly recommend!

All of the information was quite compelling. This book was a gift to a fellow crow aficionado. He loved it!

Very informative, since I have a little group of them that I feed every morning !!!!

I love this book. I'm seeing the places where I live work and play through new eyes!

Crow is part of my first name. I've been fascinated with Hugin and Mugin since a child. So I was seriously curious about this book and not disappointed. Reading it on a recent trip to Australia, I decided that it was a must read for my Mum and gave it to her, because I will buy this book again! Fascinating read!