The Silent Sky: The Incredible Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon

Rating:
Summary: A Very Touching And Unnerving Story
Review: After reading Allan Eckert's books on the frontier, I was pleased to find he also wrote a book about the passenger pigeon, a subject that has always fascinated me as a history teacher and an environmentalist. I read The Silent Sky and was deeply moved. So moved in fact that I was almost ashamed to be human. The greed and outright murderous lust thousands of Americans had for such an easy prey as the passenger pigeon was shameful and hard to comprehend. Unfortunately, the passenger pigeons were so timid, easy to hunt and numerous that they were incredibly easy pickings for the pioneers of the 19th century who unbelievably decimated a species that at one time numbered in the tens of billions. Eckert is an awesome writer and really hits you in the gut with such a touching story that you feel fascination, anger, guilt (for being human) and sorrow at the same time. In what I have learned from this incredible book, it really is a silent sky out there today compared to just over a century ago. Anyone with an interest in American History and the environment just has to read this book. Eckert, as a writer and researcher is truly gifted.

Rating:
Summary: I was moved.
Review: The Silent Sky is a tale of the horrible and total slaughter of an entire species. I was captivated by the novel. In fact, I couldn't stop talking about it, and my friends all wondered what could be so interesting about a story about birds. Believe me, it is facinating... just read it.

Rating:
Summary: this book brought tears to my eyes.........
Review: What can i say about this book, it was beyond captivating it was the best story i have ever read. Anyone who cares about nature or wildlife or both need to read this book. The way Eckert puts the plight of the passenger pigeon into words is wonderfull. He makes you believe you are one of the now extinct birds flying among one billion soaring a thousand feet in the air looking for your next meal, feeling your strong wings glide through the air and most of all feel the pain of being alone. In an extremely short period of time man wiped the passenger pigeon off the face of the earth. It gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach to realize that man is capable of destroying such a beautiful bird....hundreds of millions of them...untill they were gone forever. GET THIS BOOK EVEN IF YOU DONT LIKE STORIES ABOUT NATURE..IT WILL TOUCH YOUR SOUL