#### : The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird `Author:` `Availability:` > [!info] > ## Summary Summary of Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird by Andrew D. Blechman The Book in a Nutshell: Andrew Blechman's Pigeons is a charming, curious, and deeply human exploration of the bird that thrives in our midst yet is overwhelmingly ignored or despised. Unlike a dense scientific text, Blechman's approach is that of a journalist on a quest. He travels into the quirky, passionate, and often hidden subcultures of people who love, breed, and race pigeons to understand how a creature once revered as a symbol of love, peace, and sacredness became dismissed as a "flying rat." Key Themes and Observations: 1. A Journey into Subculture: The book's heart lies in Blechman's immersive profiles of pigeon enthusiasts. He meets: · Fanciers & Breeders: Artists who meticulously breed pigeons for specific, often bizarre and beautiful, physical traits for show competitions. · Racers: Dedicated competitors who train homing pigeons for high-stakes long-distance races, a sport that inspires an almost fanatical devotion. · Shooters: Participants in pigeon shoots, exploring the controversial and dark side of human-pigeon interaction. 2. The Rise and Fall of a Reputation: Blechman meticulously traces the pigeon's dramatic shift in status. He details its historical role as a vital messenger (saving thousands of lives in both World Wars), a sacred symbol in multiple religions (the Holy Spirit in Christianity), and a luxury food item. He then explores the post-WWII turning point where modern architecture (eliminating nesting spots), urban hygiene campaigns, and the rise of the telephone conspired to recast the pigeon as a filthy, disease-ridden pest. 3. The Science of a Marvel: The book highlights the pigeon's astonishing natural abilities, most notably its unparalleled navigational skills. Scientists still do not fully understand the biological mechanisms—potentially involving magnetism, scent maps, and low-frequency sound waves—that allow a pigeon to find its home from hundreds of miles away. 4. A Plea for Reappraisal: Throughout his journey, Blechman argues that our disdain is misplaced. He dismantles myths about disease transmission (they are no more a threat than other birds or pets) and presents the pigeon as an incredibly adaptable and resilient success story. The book is a call to see the bird not as a nuisance, but as a fascinating and intelligent creature with a profound shared history with humanity. Conclusion: Blechman’s work is less about the ecology of the pigeon and more about its sociology—our relationship with it. It is a warm, often funny, and always enlightening travelogue that successfully rescues the pigeon's reputation from the gutter and restores a sense of wonder for this humble urban dweller. --- Honorary Mention: Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan The Book in a Nutshell: If Blechman's book is a light-filled travelogue, Robert Sullivan's Rats is its brilliant, shadowy counterpart. Sullivan employs a similar methodology of immersive journalism but applies it to a far grittier subject. He spends a year studying rats in a single, trash-filled alley in New York City, becoming a nocturnal naturalist of the urban underworld. Sullivan’s book is a gritty, philosophical, and oddly respectful portrait of the ultimate survivor. He details the rat's incredible biology, its role in spreading plague, and its grim efficiency as a parasite of human civilization. But more than that, he argues that the rat is the ultimate mirror to humanity; its population, health, and success are direct reflections of our own waste, infrastructure, and failings. He profiles the exterminators and sanitation workers who fight a perpetual war against them, adding a layer of dark comedy and human drama. Why it's a Perfect Companion: Together, these two books form the essential duology on urban wildlife. Blechman gives us the citizen of the skyline, a creature whose story is one of fallen grace, while Sullivan gives us the denizen of the underworld, a creature who has always been reviled yet commands awe. Both authors masterfully commiserate their subjects, arguing that the rat and pigeon are not inherently vile but are instead incredible adaptors to the ecosystems we create. They are two sides of the same coin: involuntary companions on our urban journey, deserving of understanding and a measure of respect for their sheer tenacity. ## Key Takeaways ## Quotes - ## Notes `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]