{"product_id":"9781451648607","title":"The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession","description":"A classic in the making -- an account of the biggest year in birdwatching history.\u003cp\u003eIn the USA, some 50 million people lay claim to being bird-watchers or \"birders,\" spending billions of dollars on birding-related travel and membership fees every year. A select, and utterly obsessed, few compete in one of the world's quirkiest contests -- the race to spot the most species in North America in a single year. And 1998 wasn't just a big year. It was the biggest. \u003ci\u003eThe Big Year \u003c\/i\u003eis Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Obmascik's account of what was to become the greatest birding year of all time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was freak weather conditions that ensured all previous records were broken, but what becomes clear within the pages of this classic portrait of obsession is that while our feathered friends may be the objective of the Big Year competition, it's the curious activities and behavioural patterns of the pursuing \"homo sapiens\" that are the real cause for concern. It is a contest that reveals much of the human character in extremes. Such are the author's powers of observation that he brilliantly brings to life and gets under the skin of these extraordinary, eccentric and obsessive birders while empathizing with and eventually succumbing to the all-consuming nature of their obsession. The result is a wonderfully funny, acutely observed classic to rank alongside the best of Bill Bryson.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMark Obmascik was the lead writer for the \u003ci\u003eDenver Post\u003c\/i\u003e's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Columbine High School massacre. He has been writing on strange characters and the environment for many years. He is an avid outdoorsman and recently admitted to his own growing obsession with birds. He lives in Denverwit his wife and two sons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Atria Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47053918666992,"sku":"9781451648607","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781451648607_p0.jpg?v=1763847608","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781451648607","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}