THE BIG YEAR A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession

In his introduction, newspaperman Mark Obmascik explains how his obsession with birding snuck up on him, starting with a chance phone call about a birding expert. In the same way, his account of The Big Year, the competition of a lifetime for birders, grows on listeners. The 1998 competition was a race between three rivals that led to a new record--745 different species found and identified by the winner. Listeners learn both about the sport and the people who pursue it, even following a budding romance. Oliver Wyman ably conveys Obmascik’s love of the sport, making its participants come alive with his storytelling and expressing moments of humor and drama without resorting to caricature. J.A.S. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]