| A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All | 
 enlarge | Author: Luke Dempsey
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $16.49
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (6 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4661
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1
ISBN: 159691355X
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.0723473
EAN: 9781596913554
ASIN: 159691355X
Publication Date: July 22, 2008
Release Date: July 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
It was an epiphany: The moment two friends showed Luke Dempsey a small bird flitting around the bushes of his country garden, he fell madly in love. But did he really want to be a birder? Didn?t that mean he?d be forced to eat granola? And wear a man-pouch? Before he knew it, though, he was lost to birding mania. Early mornings in Central Park gave way to weekend mornings wandering around Pennsylvania, which morphed into weeklong trips to Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Florida?anywhere the birds were.A Supremely Bad Idea is one man?s account of an epic journey around America, all in search of the rarest and most beautiful birds the country has to offer. But the birds are only part of it. There are also his crazy companions, Don and Donna Graffiti, who obsess over Dempsey?s culinary limitations and watch in horror as an innocent comment in a store in Arizona almost turns into an international incident; asa trip through wild Florida turns into a series of (sometimes poetic) fisticuffs;and as he teeters at the summit of the Rocky Mountains, a displaced Brit falling in love all over again, this time with his adopted country.Both a paean to avian beautyand a memoir of the back roads of America, A Supremely Bad Idea is a supremely fun comic romp:an environmentally sound This Is Spinal Tap with binoculars.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 ehhhh...skip this one. November 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
First, the text certainly does not capture much of the spirit implied by the title and subtitle. If you are interested on how obsessed some "Mad Birders" really are, I highly suggest "The Big Year" by Mark Obmascik, or "To See Every Bird on Earth" by Dan Koppel, in lieu of this title. Also, "Birding on Borrowed Time" by Phoebe Snetsinger", although a dry and lifeless book, illustrates how much of one's life can be given over to a true obsession with birding, and how much of a Supremely Bad Idea it can be (i.e. she skipped her daughter's wedding for a bird trip).
There are spots in the book that do grab the essence of enjoying the beauty of the natural world, and the thrill of the chase of finding new birds. However these are far too often interrupted by poor attempts at being witty and humorous. The portrayals of the inside humor of his group usually fall flat (believe me, you will get tired of Don asking the author about whether or not he likes tomatoes). In addition, this Brit expat and his New York pals obviously have poor regard for the non-urban inhabitants of middle and western America. So much for open minds in this group.
Also irritating were the factual errors. I came across 2-3 in my relatively quick read. For instance he describes the Elegant Trogon as skittish, and that it spends hardly any time at all perched. Utter rubbish. Compared to other passerines, (perching birds like sparrows and warblers vs. ducks and herons) Trogons aren't very active. In fact, when the author's trio find one, they observe it sit in one spot for half an hour, contradicting his own earlier "skittish" assertion.
I wish I hadn't wasted my money on this new hardcover version. If you still think you want to buy this book at least get a used copy,. or wait until a paperback version is available.
Thumbs down October 18, 2008
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
I had to hang this one up after a few chapters. It was hard to tell whether this was a book on birding or a political blog written by an elitist frat boy who is long on opinions and short on life experiences.
Hey Dempsey, calling American soldiers "grunts" and yelling at them out a car window "Good for you, boys, learning how to kill" isn't as cool or as funny as you seem to think it is.
 Tells of the author's mad involvement in the world of birding October 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A SUPREMELY BAD IDEA: THREE MAD BIRDERS AND THEIR QUEST TO SEE IT ALL tells of the author's mad involvement in the world of birding, and an ensuing journey around America in search of the rarest, most beautiful birds in the country. His sidekicks join him in a hilarious and bird-filled road trip providing an inviting, lively first-person travelogue perfect for general libraries with patrons interested in either travel or birding.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
One to add to your Life List September 18, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
When a friend recently gave me a copy of "A Supremely Bad Idea", I would have ranked my interest in bird watching as #3, directly behind elective groin surgery and spending quality time with my Mother in Law. (#4, BTW, is front row seating at a Celine Dione covers Barry Manilow concert.)
But author Luke Dempsey has made me an enthusiast - very much of his work, and even of ornithology (well, at least to some extent). In the tradition of writers like Bill Bryson and Tony Horowitz, Dempsey gives us a glimpse inside a micro-culture we'd likely not otherwise explore. Wrapping important lessons in biology and ecology in an irresistible travelogue, Dempsey shares with readers his passion for birding and his observations about life here in his adopted homeland.
We accompany the freshly divorced author and his quirky birding friends, Don and Donna Graffiti, on bird watching excursions across the U.S., learning at least as much about them and the colorful folks they meet along the way as the colorful birds they hope to see. Dempsey's voice is distinctive and his style - sometimes irreverent, occasionally endearing, and always entertaining - is a delight. Short ante-chapters work well to add dimension to the primary story line and help it keep pace.
Discovering an author like Luke Dempsey gives me some appreciation for the adrenaline jolt a birder must feel when he spies a life bird for the first time. I hope we'll be seeing more of this author in the future.
-Jeff Yeager
Author, The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches
Not just for birders! September 14, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This was a delightful book - as a very modest birder I am now inspired (especially to go to Central Park) and to never travel without my binoculars. And as a reader, I found the book well written and very funny and the characters were terrific - especially Don. Great read, lots of information, lots of laughs - highly recommended.
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