Alfie and Me

What Owls Know, What Humans Believe

De: Carl Safina

Narrado por: Carl Safina

When ecologist Carl Safina and his wife, Patricia, took in a near-death baby owl, they expected that, like other wild orphans they'd rescued, she'd be a temporary presence. But Alfie's feathers were not growing correctly, requiring prolonged care. As Alfie grew and gained strength, she became a part of the family, joining a menagerie of dogs and chickens and making a home for herself in the backyard.

Alfie & Me is the story of the remarkable impact this little owl would have on their lives. The continuing bond of trust following her freedom—and her raising of her own wild brood—coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a year in which Carl and Patricia were forced to spend time at home without the normal obligations of work and travel. Witnessing all the fine details of their feathered friend's life offered Carl and Patricia a view of existence from Alfie's perspective.

One can travel the world and go nowhere; one can be stuck keeping the faith at home and discover a new world. Safina's relationship with an owl made him want to better understand how people have viewed humanity's relationship with nature across cultures and throughout history. Interwoven with Safina's keen observations, insight, and reflections, Alfie & Me is a work of profound beauties and magical timing harbored within one upended year.

©2023 Carl Safina (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Our need to recognize our interconnectedness with all of nature

The author's story of the owls and our need to see differently our relationship with all of nature was compelling.

What was author's main focusing?

Dislike--- too much time explaining history and referencing other authors and their theories. Owl was minor character.

One of the very best

I have always enjoyed writings by Carl Safina, who I think is one of the very best nature writers of all time, and to me this was one of the best of his works.

A must read

Never imagined an owl would be the antidote to covid and how to better exist in the world. Thank you, Allie.

Charming and thoughtful story of the life of a little owl

I would give the second half of the book 5 stars but the first half took a little bit to get going. It was a bit tedious with all of the upfront, philosophizing and not much owl information at the beginning. So he finds this injured owl and then we don’t hear much about how it’s doing or what he’s doing to rehabilitate until chapters in. Once the story got going, though it was great. There are some criticisms here about how he kept the owl somewhat dependent on him, but he really didn’t. And he was a certified wildlife rehabber, so I don’t see that criticism as valid. But I actually did appreciate his philosophy more and more as the book continued. And I absolutely loved the story of the owl family and how he was able to observe behaviors that he would never have been able to observe if he hadn’t befriended the owl. Overall, a truly wonderful and uplifting story.

Who Knew?!

I am abundantly grateful for Carl Safina's compassion for all life and the delightful, insightful, and engaging ways he's shares about the living world for which he so deeply cares.

This book is especially touching, as we too are blessed by (currently) resident owls in the trees that stand directly adjacent to our home. The owls truly feel like family. To be clear, the feeling is of family at its very best - all resonant with one another in comforting, familial love.

I also appreciate the wonderful ways that Carl reminds of and teaches about how many of us modern humans lost our awareness of our interconnectedness with nature - and ways we can restore our compassion for Mother Earth and all of life.

Loved the Author’s Kindness and knowlege.

Great story. I enjoyed the way the author qualified his beliefs by bringing knowledge into the discussion to support them. I have a little guilt right now though. It’s 114 outside and the air conditioner is set at 86. I did hang out my laundry today though. I think we could all do more to help Mother Earth. I believe stories like this help to raise awareness. I’m glad the heroine …don’t want to give away the ending❤️

A lesson on life from an owl

great writing thoroughly enjoyed poignant thinking. yes on all counts. I enjoyed all of this title

I just did not want this book to end it was wonderful

I really like the way the author wove the story along with thoughtful meditation on the way we treat our world, the way we treat our animals, and the animals that share our planet as well as the planet itself.

Misleading description

This book is 5% about owls and 95% about the author’s endless stream of consciousness and philosophizing about everything from religion to how humans are ruining the world. Clearly the author is someone who is used to giving lectures to a captive audience. If you are looking for charming tale about an owl, you will not find it here. Take a hard pass on this one.