The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

Reviews

Yosra

I absolutely loved this book. I was definitely fascinated with this crime, as well as reading once more about the limitless human cruelty towards nature. I've been recommending "The Feather Thief" to everyone I know. It's about a guy who was obsessed about fly-tying, and eventually broke into Natural History museum to steal irreplaceable bird species and feathers to use for this purpose.

Umut Rados

This strange tale of the flutist and the feathers has many different layers and each is artfully uncovered and examined in "The Feather Thief". It was so fascinating. Very well written, very engaging, accomplished look at this crime and history of it. It's disgusting that these people have no consideration for anything but their own avarice.

Nails

Even if you think you're not interested in this, I'd urge you to pick it up because you will be interested when you start reading it :)It made me buy other books for sure. I had reservations about this book when I ordered it but it did not disappoint! I had never heard of this fanatical fly tying obsession considered an art form by those who practice it.

Very interesting - from the bizarro world of peculiar obsessions. It then explores how these discoveries lead bird feathers to be used brutally in fashion and hobbies like fly-tying. It's a fascinating read done in the same way that the best history teachers always pique your interest with quirky tidbits of info here and there. It's one of those non-fiction books that makes you reach out for Google countless times, or buy other books because you discovered things you didn't know existed, or you didn't know you were interested.

After reading, I feel smarter in many different fields of study and also a bit more introspective into the complexities of the human condition. That's why I find this book so accomplished. We readers get to enjoy the journey over many continents and through many centuries to arrive at a better understanding---not just of the real-life crime, but of bigger societal issues like conservation, colonialism, and our need to collect beautiful objects in order to feel successful. The book doesn't end as excitingly as the beginning, but that is the fault of reality, not the author.