Book Review: "The Big Year" by Mark Obmascik

Anyone who has ever been excited should read this book.

“If you had a year of your life to do anything you wanted, and you could do only that thing for a year, what would you do? These three guys all chose to chase birds.” There’s a term for this, a “Big Year,” and it’s a competitive event.

I like birds. I can tell a sparrow from a titmouse, and a crow from pigeon. I’ve seen bald eagles, but can’t tell you if there are any hairy eagles or other varieties. I can’t reliably tell a morning dove from a pigeon, but I feed them both and am happy seeing them out my windows. That’s my level of interest in birds.

I’ve met intense birders twice. One was a birdman named Lee, who had a grant from the World Bank to see if the natives in the Republic of Kiribati were eating rare birds, and generally check on the status of birds there. I was in Kiribati fishing with my friend Mabbott who actually managed to hook a few endangered species. Some are probably endangered because they are stupid - the boobys certainly were no rocket scientists! I met the other gentleman while flying to Alaska to fish. He was going to try to spot Siberian species not normally found in North America, but that are occasionally blown over when the wind goes the right way. These species play prominently in “The Big Year” as do trips to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to chase them. Since I’ve been to both Alaska and the Republic of Kiribati several times to fish, it should be clear that I have my intense interests as well. Both men fascinated me with their drive and obsession. They knew what they loved and were doing it!

Competitions are no stranger to me either. I once fished the entire month of the Martha’s Island Fishing Derby. I was a regular before having kids. I never won, but do have a 3^rd place plaque for a fish I caught while flyfishing in a gale. I also regularly take part in ham radio competitions. They typically last 48 continuous hours and I usually manage to operate 45+ hours, much of that time with one radio going into each ear. I find the mere thought of a year long competition fascinating!

This book is a natural for me, but I think almost anyone with a passion for just about anything can relate, whether it’s their business, profession, a hobby, a sport, etc.

These three men are all very different people and didn’t know each other at the beginning. One was the reigning champion, having established the record years earlier, and was now trying to break his own record. Although he economized somewhat, neither money nor time were issues. One was a recently retired executive. He had a lifelong passion for birding, and plenty of time and money, but he had the least experience. Corporate life had contained his enthusiasm for decades and he was now busting loose. And the last worked a fulltime job amazingly, and was so broke he borrowed money from his parents and often ate dogfood – or was it catfood? They all shattered the existing record!

The excitement and love these men have is heartwarming. Their entirely reasonable excesses in having truly excellent “Big Years” are exciting and invigorating. And their passion is incredible!

If you don’t like this book you probably are dull and not a close friend of mine.