Birding Lite birdinglite.com 2.12 December 2011 by Stan Dryden Contact: stan@birdinglite.com						A Peek Inside Photo Gallery Fun Stuff Where to Buy
See a new review of Birding Lite on About.com <<< Click here “Birding Lite can help all birders, beginning or those who have been birding for years, rediscover just what it is they enjoy about birding and how to enjoy this hobby more every day.” Melissa Mayntz,  About.com Guide
About the Book					About the Author
This book is about you, an enlightened human being with an interest in birds who wants to learn more about them. Perhaps you are intimidated by memories of the way learning took place in our youth – study, study, study so you can meet the expectations of an authority figure. But you are a grownup now, and the only person you need to satisfy with your birding knowledge is yourself. Birding Lite will help you in this search for knowledge by giving you insights into how you learn, by providing a less arduous way of learning, by encouraging you to forgive yourself for lapses in your learning, and by giving you permission to take this quest just as far as you want to take it. Birding Lite does not expect you to become an expert, but if it starts you on a journey of continuous learning that ends up with a level of expertise greater than you have now, then the author has done his job. This is not a serious book about birding – it takes a lighthearted approach and is sprinkled with “Fun Facts”, quips, poems, and quotations to entertain you along the way. But it does have seriously-useful information, practical tips, and “ahas” to help everyone from the rank beginner to the advanced birder.								Life List 375
					As a "recovering engineer," Stan Dryden understands the need for a daily infusion of beauty into his life. His recovery has been sustained by listening to fine music, by his move to the Monterey Peninsula in 1997, and by a growing appreciation of the natural world, including birds. Long enchanted with our feathered friends, he became serious about birding in 2000 and has become a bit of a zealot. Chapter three opens a window into his "recovery."
A few features of Birding Lite:
A quip to start each chapter What’s in a name? That which we call a Rose-breasted Grosbeak by any other name would sound as sweet. (With apologies to Wm. Shakespeare) (Chapter 4)	Fantastic Factoids of our Feathered Friends Fun Fact regarding American Dippers: “Amazingly, these birds are able to forage on the bottom of streams in which the current is too fast and the water too deep for people to stand.” (The Birder’s Handbook) (Page 66)		A poem or quotation to end each chapter “I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.” …Charles Lindbergh (Page 12)	Practical advice on birding paraphernalia and more (Chapter 6)			Ideas for even experienced birders (Chapter 1)
What birders are saying about Birding Lite:
Beginning birder Kirkland, WA		“I started reading Birding Lite as a sometime observer of birds. By the time I finished I found myself wanting a field guide to become a more avid birder. Stan has an engaging writing style that makes learning about birds good fun.”
Casual bird watcher San Luis Obispo, CA		“I loved reading this! What a kick. It’s a fun read for someone going on vacation to a place where birds are plentiful. It would also be a good book to have on the coffee table of a cabin or bed-and-breakfast.”
Birding website “guide” Orem, Utah		“I try to be as objective as possible when I do book reviews, but I was laughing out loud at parts of Birding Lite!” I’m happy to be able to share it with my readers.
Once-avid birder Carmel Valley, CA		“Finally, a book for the rest of us! Stan is kind, witty, informative and helpful, and the book gave me confidence to be more serious about birding! This book will excite newcomers and rekindle the enthusiasm of lifelong birdwatchers.”
Advanced birder Pacific Grove, CA		"Full of humor, knowledge, insight, and personal experiences, this is the perfect book for the beginning birder. The more advanced birders will see their birding passions in these pages."
Wild bird store owner Monterey, CA		“Birding Lite has been a surprise success! It introduces the enjoyment of birding to a whole new audience – people who are interested but somewhat intimidated by their lack of expertise. Birding Lite provides the information these folks need to get started without condescension and eases them into the hobby with gentle humor. We continue to be delighted with the interest in Birding Lite and its excellent sales performance!”