This high quality hardbound book is a tome of sorts to state-of-the art wild dolphin scientific research and the personalities of some of their researchers. Spellbinding, graphic text replete with dozens of large format full color portraits -- captured primarily for its sister IMAX film -- Dolphins contains a pirate's treasure of newly-found knowledge to permeate the casual reader's grey matter. Intended primarily for lay audiences; but, with enough quantitative analysis to keep the most discerning scientist interested, Dolphins saturates the reader with a feeling that he's watching and researching the dolphins alongside the real scientists. Conservative in the Aldo Leopold sense of the word, Cahill provides the facts and lets the reader reach his/her own conclusions regarding the impacts of man on some dwindling dolphin populations.

I found, after seeing MacGillivray Freeman's IMAX film Dolphins, that I wanted to know more. The book follows the basis of the film, but goes into much more detail. This book is a superb account of what it is like to study and be around dolphins in the WILD. Cahill's style of writing makes you feel as if you are with him each night as he recounts a day of activity and research. He doesn't "write down" to the reader, i.e., you feel as if you're right there with him, learning along the way. He conveys a true sense of real-life scientific adventure that is fun and intriguing. The incredible pictures alone, many from the IMAX film, are worth buying the book for. I'm a conservative and will not tolerate "tree-hugger" political agendas. This book, like the film, is far from being one that attempts to drill dolphin conservation into your head. Instead, it offers a refreshing angle that provides the reader the knowledge to draw his/her own conclusions about these fascinating animals. Even the lovely scientist, Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski, who Cahill makes the main subject of the book, lets the dolphins "sell themselves" vs. her preaching conservation. It is quite enlightening and is certainly one to keep on the coffee table.

If you're a dolphin freak or a Tim Cahill freak (both of which I am),you're going to like this book. The photographs are just incredible, and as always, Cahill's breezy, sardonic style makes for enjoyable reading.

The book does a good job of not romanticizing the dolphins (If I see one more New Age painting of noble dolphins swimming among a sea of stars, I'll get nauseous) but still conveys an appreciation of these impressive creatures.

Cahill also does a good job of profiling a team of cetologists studying the dolphins.

This isn't hard biology, but there are some interesting sections authored by dolphin investigators, and references for more technical readings in the notes.

I've always loved Yellowstone in Winter. Since 20 years I fly from Germany to Montana to spend several freezing months each year in Yellowstone, because I'm under the spell!!! Reading this book and looking at the absolutely beautiful photos from Tom Murphy makes me want to jump into the next plane and fly to the land of fire and ice.
There are a lot of books out there about Yellowstone, but nothing captures more the magic of silence and solitude than this one.

It has been my pleasure to know Tom Murphy for almost a decade. From the time I first saw his work, I knew I was in the presence of a consummate artist who thoroughly knew his subject. Silence & Solitude will finally allow the rest of the world to see the beauty and power of a Yellowstone winter through his eyes. It is poignant, passionate and highly literate in its narration. Enjoy!

Call Of The Wild: The Art Of Parks Reece is a most remarkable, 124-page showcase of the warm and often whimsical colored artwork of Parks Reece. Centered around the double themes of nature and wry commentaries or puns, Reece's paintings include "Hazards of Hunting" featuring a racoon using deer antlers to string its bow targeting an orange-vested hunter; "The One Who Learned the Words" representing a particularly exceptional hummingbird among hummingbirds; "Alien Abduction" showing a fish's point of view at being plucked out of the water, and much, much more. Highly recommended and uniquely memorable, Call Of The Wild is enhanced with essays by Tim Cahill and sonnets by Greg Keeler.

Professional driver, Garry Sowerby and the admirable Tim Cahill put together a GM-sponsored race from Terra del Fuego, Argentina to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska (in less than 24 days) and pull it off. This is the story of their 15,000-mile odyssey, the goal being to break the Guinness World Record.

Tim is his usual exuberant, one-of-guys, self-deprecating self. There is no one who can recount an anecdote with quite his flair. While speeding across Honduras, a flock of birds crossed the windshield while Cahill was driving. "Garry had snapped bolt upright from his slouching position in the passenger seat. He was holding his belly as if he had been shot. 'Wah' he said in his strange, sleep clogged voice-----there seemed to be a dead bird in his lap. 'I reached down there,' Garry said, 'I felt something warm and wet. I was sure I had been shot. I thought I was feeling my own intestines. Then I started wondering why my intestines would have feathers and bird feet on them." Stories like this made me laugh aloud.

The book was nonetheless claustrophobic. By the time, Tim and Garry had reached Central America; my only thought was "let me out of this truck!" All but about 20 pages are devoted to South and Central America. The last 5,000 miles of the US, Canada and Alaska are barely mentioned. I suppose this is because the last third of the trip was without incident or terrors. But it did give the book an unbalanced feel. The section regarding how you get yourself considered for setting a Guinness Record was very interesting. Hint: If you plan on setting or beating a record, check with Guinness before (not after) you do it. There were about 35 pages devoted to how one went about getting sponsored, i.e., raising money (in this case about $350,000) that I found tedious.

The book was enjoyable for the most part, but I did get the impression Tim Cahill was as glad the trip was over as I was.

I'd read one other Tim Cahill book before this, and I didn't like it one bit. However, the jacket to this caught my attention long enough to skim the flaps, where the concept behind the book got to me and I checked it out. The book is about Cahill's accompanying a friend on his attempt to set the world record (as adjudicated by Guinness) for driving from the tip of South America to the tip of Alaska in 1987. Cahill's tone is very intimate and chatty as he explains the myriad of logistical steps that have to be taken to mount such an event. Almost the first third of the book is taken up by describing the process of lining up sponsors, scouting the route, securing permissions and appropriate documentation for all the countries to be traveled through, and meeting with the Guinness people to ensure everything is done according to Hoyle (or rather, Guinness, in this case). Most of the rest of the book describes the trials and tribulations of the trek up to the US border. As might be imagined, there are many wacky hi-jinks and interesting encounters along the way. Cahill does a good job of recounting these, as well as capturing the interplay between the to men who are cooped up together driving day and night for almost a month. For good measure, the reader is given snapshots of history and interesting anecdotes about the places being passed through. Once again, I am puzzled by the lack of map, but its not really crucial to this book. A very enjoyable and quick read about a subject I'd never known anything about. I could be wrong, but I think this would be a more enjoyable read for men than women.

I gotta tell you that I didn't find the book as laugh-out-loud funny as many of the people here did. But that fact didn't cause me to love "Road Fever" any less then they did. What I loved about it is the care Tim Cahill spent in recounting in great detail the amount of preparation - especially in the area of paperwork - required to make a journey from Tierra del Fuego to the northern tip of Alaska in record time.

Because, frankly, it's not a question of how fast you can drive; rather, the BIG ISSUE is how much time it takes you to cross the border from Country X to Country Y. And then again from Country Y to Country Z. This ain't the European Community where you can whiz past the Germany - Netherlands border without realizing it. These are real border crossings - guards, official stamps, commissars, corruption, danger, you name it.

Garry Sowerby and Tim Cahill spent up to a year preparing for that aspect of the trip. Yes, GM sponsorship helped in places. Yes, the Canadian government helped in places. But what carries them through at the end of the day is the intense focus and planning these two guys put into the journey before the trip even gets started.

There's a lesson in there for everyone.

This book is scary. I just luckily came upon it in a used book store and thought I would try it out. John Wayne Gacy was one sick, twisted individual. My only complaint was the fact that he wouldnt admit to any recollection of the murders. Complete BS if you ask me. How can you forget the killing of 33 people? He only can recall 5 in bits and pieces. It would have been a better book if Gracy didnt have amnesia!

I couldn't disagree more with the "Borderline Propaganda" review below. On the contrary, Cahill's writing was nothing short of masterful -- a chilling glimpse into the mind and motivations of a true sociopath.

I've never read "Killer Clown," so I can't speak to the charges of plagiarism. But I must take exception to the comment that the book doesn't tell us what Gacy is thinking. In fact, it basically tells the story from Gacy's point of view, exposing him -- using his own words -- as a liar, a manipulator and a malingerer without equal. I always imagined Cahill writing this book with a nod and a wink to the reader, as if to say "Can you believe this guy?" Far from being a Gacy dupe or apologist, Cahill simply doles out the rope, and Gacy dutifully wraps it around his neck and ties the noose.

It's a fascinating, and sometimes macabre, journey into a sick and twisted mind, and I haven't found anything since that comes close to matching the style or insight offered by this book.

This is a great wrap up of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. I absolutely was riveted to the story. I couldn't believe how sick this [man] was. Thank goodness he is gone. There was nothing redeeming about his Life.
Cahill, the author did a wonderful job making his life story seem so real feeling as I read.
I will say the first chapter was so gross, what with the describing the little red worms in the soil in the crawl space. (Shivering) highly recommended

I was quite disappointed with this book, after Pecked to Death by Ducks and A Jaguar is Ripping my Flesh which were truly rip-rollicking great fun.

No butterworms, but plenty of reasons why not to live in Honduras, the joys of watching the international spear fishing competition (similar to watching the grass grow) and how to work the crowd of hostile natives (laugh a lot).

Tim Cahill is an unabashed delight. If I had to go all or any of these places, he's my pick of a companion. Funny, quirky, compassionate and I suspect a lot more competent than he lets on. An added bonus is his lyrical writing; his descriptions are magic. His analysis of bringing stone age people into the age of technology is thoughtful, insightful and all empathy.

In the essay, "On the River of Cold Fire" I have never read a better description of a totally cold, wet miserable journey. All the times, we have said "If I ever get out of here---" are summed up in this article.

I've decided I will forgive him for accusing Emily Dickinson of over-editing and even his titles. It is so difficult to tell your loved ones you want "A Jaguar Ripped My Flesh" or "A Wolverine is Eating My Leg" for your birthday. But be firm. Insist these are what you really want.

How could anyone not like a chapter referring to Yogurt Riders? Tim Cahill's style is frank, entertaining and informal.

As with most of his other books, Tim has gone out and done a lot of interesting traveling. He's always willing to write about embarrassing himself if need be, and I doubt he embellishes much if at all. _Butterworms_ is a collection of stories of these sorts of travels, and is well worth your time and money.

A special note: Cahill books make superb gifts in my experience--anyone interested in new things and places tends to like them.

Well written, sometimes funny, but overall lacking! His earlier books are far more humorous. He seems to be straining to write this - maybe some more yoga Tim!

JL

Many of the tales in this book were fascinating and funny but some were too short or unclear or just not interesting. Tim Cahill travels in a real way and grabs hold of the customs and food of the places he finds himself. Actually it is hard to imagine how he has survived this long, though he has had some scrapes along the way. It is fascinating that in Cahill's view, the bravest thing he has done is "appearing on one silly, unaired television show".

Tim Cahill is one of the modern day explorers who is documenting the amazing diversity of cultures in this world and for that, this book is worth reading.

"Hold the Enlightenment" packs heaps of fun into 31 humorous essays. The author, Tim Cahill, displays a talent for free-spirited travel writing. And he does so without the cynicism that darkens the work of some of his peers.

Cahill's adventures take him to the four corners of the world: Africa, South America, Mexico, the mountains near his home in Montana. The essays cover a lot of ground. In addition, Cahill couples a keen storytelling ability with a helpful dash of research. This provides interesting background material for the landscapes and the cultures that he visits.

In the introduction, Cahill claims that he's not trying to be funny when he writes. Yeah, right. He's definitely trying to be funny (unless he's become so good at it that he doesn't have to try anymore). The results are there to enjoy. But the best stories combine humor with more serious issues. These are the essays that demonstrate Cahill's versatility--and maturity--as a writer. And they also make "Hold the Enlightenment" a pleasant surprise for those hoping for more than another book of crazy derring-do.

I was quite disappointed in this book. Cahill has written outstanding material but this collection seems to be a gathering of miscellaneous leftovers. I was led to this book after reading A Walk in the Woods by Bryson - and it was a false lead. The quality is not there.

I'm a big fan of travel writer Bill Bryson, so expanding to reading Tim Cahill's books wasn't much of a stretch. Like Bryson, Cahill goes out travelling with that "I'm just an ordinary guy in the world" outlook, bringing the reader along with the hope that maybe he'll do something really dumb or goofy and end up having more of an adventure than planned. After reading Cahill's experiences in remote corners of the world from deep inside caves to the top of El Capitan, the next time you get on an airplane and sit near a tall, bearded, slightly worried-looking man you'll wonder if it's Cahill and where he's off to this time. And some adventurous part of you will want to go with him. Enjoy your travels with Tim Cahill!

I was recommended to read Tim Cahill's books as a huge fan of Bill Bryson. While both writers discuss their adventures in traveling, their styles are very different. Bryson's books tend to be coherent pieces about one specific trip or expedition (Australia, the Appalachian trail), while Pecked to Death is a collection of short works written by Cahill, sometimes for other magazines. I find Bryson funnier; however Cahill's writing seems to be more evocative of the natural wonders he is writing about.

This distinction mentioned; Pecked to Death by Ducks is a very worthwhile read. Cahill has traveled to some of the most amazing places in the world, with some of the most interesting companions, and these adventures are marvelously rendered in this book. In addition, since each chapter stands alone, it's quite easy to stop and start again. Definately recommended for anyone with an interest in adventure or eco-travel!

At the bookstore where I work, a customer once came in to ask for this book and asked for "Sharks Ripped off my Arms."! This is not a travelogue so much as a collection of essays, most originally published in 'Outside' magazine, of which Cahill is an editor. As such, these make for interesting reading whether or not you are planning an excursion to any of the places Cahill talks about. His focus in these essays is understanding the undercurrents of place - whether he is in Montana or Peru or the Australian Outback - the culture, the history, and the complex relationships between travelers and residents. Some of the author's excursions have been downright life-threatening, such as when he and two other men went on an extended trek in the state of Chachopayas in Peru in a search for unexplored ruins. Wherever his travels take him, Cahill describes the scene with humor, intelligence and balance. This is not a tourist who expects hot showers and a McDonald's at every stop, this is a world adventurer who wants to see and experience everything he can. And then write about it.

This was yet another thrift shop purchase for under a dollar and it was a dollar well spent. Tim Cahill's travel writing is punchy, funny and downright irreverent in places. It is also poignant, and darkly humorous, a travel book with a difference. Peru, Africa, Austrailia and even America are discussed from his unique point of view. An especially good chapter is "Life and Love in Gorilla Country" a journey through Rwanda and the secret world of the Gorilla. It is not a sentimental chapter, it is brutal, sometimes funny but more often that not eye opening. He talks about how Gorillas have died at the hands of poachers and mentions the work of the Naturalist Dian Fossey. This travel book is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted. Also it meanders a lot, jumping from place to place, subject to subject. You have to prepared to read it as a series of essays, travel logs articles that Cahill has written over the years and then put together to make up this book. However in this case it works and it is excellent from page one onwards. If you want a read with a sting in its tail, then this is definitely the book for you.

If you are familiar with other Tim Cahill books, this contains similar stories; sky dives, sea dives, caving, climbs, and so on. It has more stories than usual about his own part of the world (Montana near Yellowstone) and lets us see in one story a strong sense of outrage at events surrounding endangered species in Mexico. If you prefer your authors to at least have strong feelings about some topics (I do), and the heck with dispassionate journalism, there's some satisfaction here.

Everything from proper approaches to mountain gorillas to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens is here, and the stories are usually quick reads. Perfect reading for those who grab their moments of reading enjoyment in blocks of 5-10 minutes in between other activities.

Can't see how it could fail to appeal.

This is an excellent collection of thoughts and comments on the sheer edge of adventure. Cahill knows exactly how to describe the amazing stupidity of some of these adventure sports in a way that still leaves you interested in participating. Like his previous collection, Jaquars Ripped My Flesh, this book covers the gamut in place and sport, from extreme skiing in Montana to whitewater rafting in India. And while Cahill is a master at adventure writing, when he turns his pen to describing the cultures of some of the more exotic places that he has visited and the difference between their culture and our's, he's both hilarious and profound. This book is a selection of the Vintage Departures series, a group of books that I have found to be uniformly excellent.

"A Wolverine---" is the second book of articles mostly taken from "Rolling Stone" and "Outside" magazine. The articles were written as far back as 1971 when Tim was a young man indeed. And it shows. Youthful high spirits prevail, and there is much cheery bravado interspersed with excellent journalistic essays that display a remarkable maturity.

Ever wonder why people chase all over the earth to view a solar eclipse? Find out on a rollicking trip to find the absolute best place to get an unclouded view. Discover what all the shouting is about.

I am used to Tim somehow bringing me back alive, laughing all the way from the wildest, strangest parts of the world. I have always credited him with fine introspection and lyrical prose that sneaked into whatever he wrote. The guy is just incapable of bad writing.

The essays include a fine thought piece on the late Dian Fossey, the "Gorillas in the Mist" author who was murdered apparently by poachers. The essay on "reprogramming" of children who were enmeshed in cults is harrowing. Cahill has no use for the cults, but the rationale and methods of reprogramming are chilling. He infiltrated a California cult and lived there while developing his story. The living conditions (except for the leader who lived in a mansion on the hill) were unbelievably bad, yet the morale was high among the young converts. Tim presents a balanced, sometimes humorous, article that shows empathy for all except the leader.

The premier essay, which should be required reading, was his on-the-spot reporting of the Jamestown Massacre that took place in Guyana twenty years ago. The immediacy and power of his word pictures, the horror of 900 dead supposedly suicides, the incredible remoteness of the site crush with a pervasive sadness and dismay.

While Cahill is always very entertaining, his later books have focused more on the caving, scuba, climbing and flying aspects of adventure travel. In _Wolverine_ the stories include a broader variety of journalistic endeavour, taking him from Jonestown to a bizarre religious cult to encounters with mountain gorillas. This was the book that hooked me on Tim's writing.

What makes it so good is, for one thing, that he's never so detached as to reek of smug pseudo-sophistication, but never so involved as to let his emotions and opinions interfere with the story. The balance between the two extremes is perfect. For another, Tim simply does and sees things hardly anyone else ever sees and does, let alone writes about. For yet another, he is often very funny in a dry, Montana sort of way. If you are new to Tim Cahill, you're in for quite a few hours of great reading.