Among Penguins: A Bird Man in Antarctica by Noah Strycker

Among Penguins: A Bird Man in Antarctica Reviews

• 
  Wanda Pedersen

  If you have enjoyed Ron Naveen’s
  Waiting to Fly or Gavin Francis’
  Empire Antarctica: Ice, Silence, and Emperor Penguins, you will likely also enjoy this book. In many ways, Among Penguins is like an update of Naveen’s work, documenting just how far research in Antarctica has come in 20 years. I also found the book somewhat reminiscent of Kenn Kaufman’s
  Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder.
  
  Like Kaufman, Strycker is a young man obsessed with birds. Unlike Kaufman, he chooses to find research positions to facilitate his quest for a larger, more exotic life list (a list of all the species of birds that one has seen during one’s life, for those who are not members of the birding cult). Although Strycker isn’t sleeping in ditches or hitch-hiking his way to his next birding destination, he does still endure some hardships during his Antarctic sojourn—his tent is destroyed in hurricane force winds, his boots (when outfitted with crampons) wound his ankles, he is unable to shower for 3 months. Nevertheless, he seems a cheerful and willing researcher, completely under the spell of the penguin.
  
  There is a fair bit of interesting penguin info in this slim volume and some insights into the research process, but there is also an awful lot about Noah Stryker! If you are looking for penguin facts and statistics, this may not be the best reference for you. However, if you are interested in the lives of researchers in far flung parts of the planet, it will scratch that itch.
  
  Stryker’s tale also convinces me that biological field work is not for me! In my life, roughing it is a cheap motel and my knees long ago betrayed me, making me far too unstable on my feet for the type of terrain that he takes in stride. However, I can admire and enjoy his hard work and tenacity.
  
  On the main point, I agree fully with the author: there is absolutely nothing like watching a wild penguin go about its business! I have spent many happy hours doing just that and hope to still clock a few more before I’m physically forced to give up such pursuits.
  
  
• 
  Ashes

  Among Penguins is about the months Noah Stycker spent in a penguin colony, tagging, counting, and observing the birds. I liked it, but this was his first book, so, not surprisingly, it's not his best.
• 
  Haaze

  
  
  The "famous" birder Noah Strycker ventures to Antarctica for a field season counting penguins. A perfect book for somebody considering visiting Antarctica and participating in research (especially a penguin census). He also happily explains why he became a birder and describes different opportunities he was involved in during his high school and college days. This latter aspect is actually a great one so I would definitely recommend this book for a young budding birder (high school/college age). However, Strycker's writing is a bit immature and sophomoric. At times it was a bit much. Regardless, the passages focusing on the natural history of the Adélie penguins as well as the research being done were quite interesting. He also conveyed his experience of working hard in a team under very cold conditions in an engaging fashion.
• 
  Maćkowy

  Pik-Pok,Pingu, Mambo, Tux, nawet ten niegodziwiec z Batmana. Pingwiny w kulturze popularnej mają jednoznacznie pozytywny PR. Wystarczy jednak trochę zagłębić się w pingwini świat, a szybko okaże się, że te słodkie, niezdarne nieloty, to prawdziwi mali twardziele. Jak bowiem inaczej określić ptaka, który całe życie spędza w jednym z najbardziej niegościnnych miejsc na Ziemi - Antarktyktyce?
  Aby zwizualizować sobie o co właściwie chodzi, gorąco polecam mroźny film dokumentalny Wernera Herzoga Spotkania na krańcach świata, który opisuje, życie na stacji badawczej McMurdo - punkcie wyjścia dla wszystkich śmiałków chcących się zmierzyć z “Białym piekłem”. Tutaj też zaczyna się pingwinia przygoda Noaha Stryckera i nasza lektura.
  
  Noah Strycker to prawdziwy ptasi pasjonat. Olbrzymi optymizm, zapał i energia, połączone z lekkim piórem i nerdowskim poczuciem humoru sprawiają, że “Między nami pingwinami” czyta się bardzo przyjemnie. Lektura jest niezwykle lekka i wciągająca, z pewnością będzie świetnym punktem wyjścia dla czytelnika, który dopiero zaczyna interesować się podróżniczymi tematami, bo Stryker posiada wszelkie cechy świetnego nauczyciela: ma wiedzę, łatwość w jej przekazywaniu i wspomniane już wyżej poczucie humoru.
  Muszę jednak zaznaczyć, że czystej wiedzy o pingwinach (biologia etc.) jest tu niewiele. Książka Stryckera to zapis jego wielkiej przygody(szczęśliwi ci, którzy w pracy robią co kochają) i bardziej przypomina pamiętnik z sezonu spędzonego przez autora na Antarktydzie, niż książkę popularnonaukową, a pingwiny są tutaj motywem przewodnim, ale nie jedynym i czasami giną w gąszczu wspomnień autora i jego biografii, co nie dla wszystkich będzie interesujące.
  
  Na koniec słów kilka o samym wydaniu książki. Między nami pingwinami, wydane jest uroczo* (te pingwinki na okładce!) minimalistycznie i schludnie, tak naprawdę jedyne czego książce brakuje to zdjęcia, aż się o nie prosi szczególnie, że autor niejednokrotnie wspomina, a jak wiadomo lepiej raz zobaczyć, niż sto razy przeczytać.
  
  Między nami pingwinami, z pewnością zaciekawi kogoś, kto interesuje się naturą w jej ekstremalnym wydaniu oraz prozie dnia powszedniego w takich warunkach (autor poświęca dużo miejsca na tak naturalne czynności, jak jedzenie, spanie i wypróżnianie) i jeśli liczycie na taką właśnie książkę, to będziecie zadowoleni, jeśli jednak - tak jak ja liczyliście, że dowiecie się czegoś pingwinach to możecie poczuć niedosyt.
  
  Za możliwość lektury dziękuję Klubowi Recenzenta portalu nakanapie.pl
• 
  Laura

  Nice view of life for a researcher in Antarctica. Enjoyed learning more of that area's geography and the habits of the penguins. Definitely written from the perspective of a 20-something guy which made it both personal and a bit awkward sometimes. Lighthearted non-fiction with some good information. (probably really 3.5 stars for me)
• 
  Justine Olawsky

  Immediately after college, Noah Strycker won a coveted spot on a 3-month research jaunt in Antarctica to study all things penguins. This book is a recounting of this adventure, replete with background biographical details, anthropomorphic avian musings, handy historical context, and stomach-turning accounts of horrific breaches of hygiene. Let's just say I never want to go to Antarctica. Ever, ever, ever ...
  
  Noah is goofily charming in his self-congratulatory, 22-year-old way as he shares his story of bird obsessions and his theories of "life responsibility avoidance through becoming a bird research bum." Nothing about this story resonates with my own spirit, but it was delightful to step into a world so alien to my own for a chapter or two at a time.
  
  Frankly, penguins, while cute, are just not that interesting. They sort of lumber about, trudging from nest to water to nest in their little tuxedo suits with not much going on between times. The bird stories Noah writes in The Thing with Feathers (2014) are, overall, far more interesting, because they covers many species' quirks. But, Noah has such a fondness and enthusiasm for his subject, that he can fool you for a while into thinking that penguins are more entertaining than they actually are. It's a bit of a mystery to me why anyone thinks it is worth the time, expense, human misery, and general tsuris to study these birds at all. But, that's the National Science Foundation for you.
  
  Throughout the book, Noah refers to a 1922 memoir by one of first groups to explore the area of Antarctica where Noah and his team stayed. Apsley Cherry-Garrard titled his book The Worst Journey in the World. If his take on southmost adventure matches at all the bitter irony of the title he chose, I think that it might be a satisfying counterpoint to Noah's more starry-eyed, dog-diary sort of tale.
• 
  Chochlikowebooki

  To jest moja druga książka o pingwinach i szczerze nie wiem, o której bym napisała, że jest lepsza. Uważam, że każda ma swoje smaczki i jest dobrze przedstawiona od strony autora, który przeżywał przygodę na Antarktydzie i przede wszystkim przedstawiał nam życie tam i ptaki żyjące w różnych warunkach.
  
  Tyle, że “Rok wśród pingwinów” miał ten smaczek, że były dołączone przepiękne zdjęcia, które odzwierciedlały tę historię i można było nie tylko sobie wyobrażać, ale przyjrzeć się wszystkiemu.
  
  Książka pouczająca, pokazuje od samego początku, że warto wierzyć w swoje marzenia, trzeba nie poddawać się w dążeniu do spełnienia ich, bo one są na wyciągnięcie ręki tylko trzeba chcieć. Tak jak główny nasz bohater, autor książki, który w tak młodym wieku znalazł się tam gdzie zawsze chciał i marzył o tym.
  
  Kocham te stworzenia, od nich powinniśmy się wielu rzeczy nauczyć, pingwiny dla mnie zawsze były fascynujące i to się nie zmieni i warto zapoznać się z tą pozycją właśnie dla nich, aby znaleźć pewne smaczki, które jestem pewna spodobają Wam się z powodu tego, że to wszystko jest prawdziwe.
• 
  David

  Noah Strycker is a youthful naturalist with the stamina and foolhardiness to think that a season on the ice of Antarctica would be a fun time. His book is effectively a diary of that season as a research assistant, mingled with a brief account of how he came to be the expert birder that he is. His enthusiasm is engaging, and his description of what's involved in getting a wing tag on a penguin is evocative. But perhaps his chapter on digestive distress while away from base could leave more to the imagination.
• 
  spejsoditi

  Można zarzucić wydawnictwu przedstawienie autora jako bardzo doświadczonego naukowca. Jest nim faktycznie, ale książkę napisał dawno temu, jako początkujący ornitolog. W związku z tym można się trochę rozczarować. Dla mnie jednak książka była w pewien sposób idealna - lekka, przyjemna, prosta. Mimo tego danie jej tej czwartej gwiazdki byłoby na wyrost.
• 
  Dave Walker

  A good introduction to the world of scientific research in Antarctica. Enjoyed learning more about penguins and Strycker's other experiences with birds around the world. I am anxiously anticipating his book on the world big year that he just finished.
• 
  Claire

  I picked this up for myself since I saw on a book I gave back to the library that the author also wrote it. And how glad I am that I made that decision! (This is not available at my public library, I had to order it for myself.) After all, penguins are absolutely adorable. Honestly, besides Scamper, I don't care for the movies about them. I think they all blend together and that can get dull. The books of anything are always better. But look at me preaching to the choir.
  
  What I remember most about this is just that I am not the only one out in the cold counting up all the birds.
  
  You know, I, too, have started to send in Audubon's Christmas Bird Count. I started to do it probably, if I'm 30 now, 12 years ago, with the West Chester Bird Club, although maybe every other year I miss it. When I'm sick or something for meetings I send the organisers an email. It is very similar to the Roman census. I have several bird feeders in my back yard. We have a family of chickadees and blackbirds, with a couple of visitors from other areas. My cats love it, so I love it, as well.
• 
  Lucyloo

  This book is funny, occasionally thoughtful, and leaves you with a strong sense of Noah Stryckers' personality, and the personalities of the two women he shared the small field station in Antartcia with. I fully enjoyed it as a light read, and as an informative one too! (Penguins poo on you just as much as every other animal seems to do...)
  It also left me hoping that he goes on to write more books. His style is engaging, and his imagery evocative without being too heavy-handed.
• 
  AS

  - This book takes place in Antarctica and is on my list “Seven Continents of Books 2022” -
  
  A delightful read from an exuberant young author. I admire the writer’s enthusiasm for birding and liked the stories about the penguin colonies. Though I’ve read a number of other books about Antarctica lately, this one had interesting details about day-to-day life there that I had not heard about before.
  
• 
  Grace

  What a treat to read this after I finished Noah's most recent book ("Birding without Borders"). It was a peek into his beginnings as a birder, scientist, and writer. This book is charming and hilarious, insightful and evocative. I enjoyed every page, and felt like I was in Antarctica right with him. Half journal, half field log-- it was a real treat. Still my favorite author! Highly recommended.
• 
  Woody

  Appropriately, I read this book in Antarctica. His story about finding, training for and then participating in a penguin research study was fascinating. Strycker is a good writer and has his ego in check, as evidenced by his self-deprecating sense of humor.
• 
  Carol Dix

  Sea Forever's library, read on the boat.
• 
  Christy Esmahan

  Interesting! So many things about living in the Antarctic and studying penguins that I didn't know!
• 
  Szyja

  Utkana z anegdot relacja z wyprawy autora na Przylądek Croziera. O pingwinach, wbrew tytułowi i opisowi na okładce, niewiele.
• 
  Africache Gastineau

  What an amazing book. I really enjoyed how he brought to life his time with the penguins. This was a fun book to read full of interesting facts, fun facts and funny events.
• 
  Yee-Sum

  I’m also 22 but have never been dropped by helicopter in a remote Antarctic field camp. What am I doing
• 
  Jakub G

  4,75
• 
  Calypso Kenney

  I gave this five stars because it's an amazing book about a young man's journey to Antarctica to study penguins, and it has everything you'd want in a travel memoir- gritty day-to-day details, arctic landscapes, field studies of the wildlife, history of explorers in the region, and some personal philosophy. It made me realize just how tough life is on Antarctica, even for scientists today. And I loved learning about the penguins- I had no idea there were so many different and unique types of penguin. And Noah Strycker seems like a really happy, enthusiastic person who just loves birds.
  
  That being said, the book was a little insensitive at parts, and there were a few too many penis jokes. Probably because the author was 22 when it was published. I thought there was a lack of empathy for people not like him- he describes many times how he graduated debt free from college, and went and did amazing things before and after his degree, and how getting a normal job or getting married and having kids, etc, are really boring. But I know VERY few people who would have had the opportunity to do a lot of the things he did- and nobody who graduated from school debt-free, with the ability to wait for awesome field assignments to turn up. I think the author is hard-working and extraordinary- but he seems to forget that not everyone is able to do what he did, no matter how much they might want to. A little sensitivity on this might have been nice.
  
  He also doesn't describe one single moment when things aren't great or amazing. He even says that he and his two partners on the remote penguin research station didn't discuss feelings or homesickness or anything personal for three months. That sounds exhausting.
• 
  Stephanie

  Not the type of book I usually read. I was surprised to find that this book held my interest from start to finish: a glimpse of life in Antartica. I will never experience this first-hand so I enjoyed reading about it from the comfort of my living room.