Pigeons

The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird

By: Andrew D. Blechman

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

A "quirky, endlessly entertaining" look at the surprising history of the pigeon (Simon Winchester).

Domesticated since the dawn of man, pigeons have been used as crucial communicators in war by every major historical superpower from ancient Egypt to the United States and are credited with saving thousands of lives. They have been worshipped as fertility goddesses and revered as symbols of peace. Charles Darwin relied heavily on pigeons to help formulate and support his theory of evolution. Yet today they are reviled as "rats with wings."

To research this lively history of the humble pigeon, the author traveled across the United States and Europe to meet with pigeon fanciers and pigeon haters in a quest to find out how we came to misunderstand one of mankind’s most helpful and steadfast companions. Pigeons captures a Brooklyn man's quest to win the Main Event (the pigeon world's equivalent of the Kentucky Derby), as well as a convention dedicated to breeding the perfect bird. The author participates in a live pigeon shoot where entrants pay $150; he tracks down Mike Tyson, the nation's most famous pigeon lover; he spends time with Queen Elizabeth's Royal Pigeon Handler; and he sheds light on a radical "pro-pigeon underground" in New York City. In Pigeons, Andrew D. Blechman reveals for the first time the remarkable story behind this seemingly unremarkable bird.

©2006 Andrew D. Blechman (P)2006 Tantor Media

Historical context , sense of humor and expertise - an excellent read!

One of the best books I've ever read. Entertaining, informative and very funny. Bleckman leaves you wanting more and more!

Entertaining

I read this book years ago, and I still have it in my library. I got the audiobook, and I still like it.
My favorite chapter is when he tries to interview Mike Tyson. And Orlando is cool.
He doesn't take too strong a stance on any side of the issues, which I like. He keeps an open mind.