There is something about this book that makes it very down to earth and serious while at the same time hilarious, if a tad cheesy. Slinger offers plenty of blatent and humourous insights into the hobby of birdwatching, while providing novice birders with valuable information on indentifying birds in the field. He also looks at the very eccentric details involved with hardcore birding, from fall warblers to life lists.

All in all, this book is great for beginning birders and experienced veterans alike.

Slinger is knowledgeable, irreverent, interesting, clear, funny, and very well worth reading. There are times when his breezy off-hand style seems a little forced, and his review of bird identification is basically a waste of space; but the book is a highly original approach to birding, and has much valuable information written in such an engaging light-hearted manner that I think every serious -- and not-so-serious -- birder would enjoy it.

I've never been able to enjoy technical manuals, and that is what most bird books are. This is a back-stage pass into birding. It reminds me of another all-time great manuals, Kayak, by the late William Nealy. I will never give another field guide without a companion copy of this wonderful, funny, engaging book.