Hamblin, Jacob D., ed. Roundtable Review of In the Field, Among the Feathered: A History of Birders and their Guides, by Thomas R. Dunlap. H-Environment Roundtable Reviews 2, no.7 (2012). www.h‐net.org/~environ/roundtables/env‐roundtable‐2‐7.pdf.
Thomas R. Dunlap discusses the development of birding and of its long-term public influence in the USA through the history of field guides. His account goes from the late nineteenth century “back to nature” movement, through the mid-twentieth century development of birdwatching into a popular hobby, to its role in the current “environmental age.” The main issues at stake are the values and scientific models the guides have been conveying in different periods and how they changed over time.
H-Environment’s Roundtable Book Reviews provide multiple perspectives on books and allow the authors the opportunity to respond. This unique dialogue can be a valuable insight into recent scholarship.
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