Monday, May 27, 2019

John James Audubon: The Making of An American by Richard Rhodes



Summary (Amazon):
John James Audubon came to America as a dapper eighteen-year-old eager to make his fortune. He had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds, and he would spend the next thirty-five years traveling to the remotest regions of his new country–often alone and on foot–to render his avian subjects on paper. The works of art he created gave the world its idea of America. They gave America its idea of itself. 

Here Richard Rhodes vividly depicts Audubon’s life and career: his epic wanderings; his quest to portray birds in a lifelike way; his long, anguished separations from his adored wife; his ambivalent witness to the vanishing of the wilderness. John James Audubon: The Making of an American is a magnificent achievement.


Reviews:
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/books/review/john-james-audubon-the-birdman-of-america.html

The Economist: Birds on a Wire: https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2004/08/05/birds-on-a-wire
(wikipedia)


Penguin Book's Site for book:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/141605/john-james-audubon-by-richard-rhodes/9780375713934/

Videos and Films:
John James Audubon: The Birds of America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQijoWmzvTo

PBS: The Masters: Drawn from Naturehttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/john-james-audubon-drawn-from-nature/106/

Audubon: The Filmhttp://www.audubonthefilm.com/


(Audubon.org)

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove - new center open and with an Exhibit of his work: http://johnjames.audubon.org/https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america?site=johnjames&nid=4131

National Audubon Societyhttps://www.audubon.org/

Local Chapter: Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow Environmental Centerhttps://www.bcas.org/

Interesting Articles:
So big it needs its own furniture: http://mentalfloss.com/article/520325/audubons-birds-america-book-so-big-it-needed-its-own-furniture

Going for $10 million: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jan/06/most-expensive-book-birds-of-america-10m

Our Namesake and Inspiration: https://www.audubon.org/content/john-james-audubon

ROAD TRIPS: 
New York Historical Society: https://www.nyhistory.org/explore/john-james-audubon

On Display in Chicago at the Field Museum from now until Dec. 1, 2019:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04/24/rare-audubon-book-showing-north-americas-birds-now-on-display-at-field-museum/

E-notes: https://www.enotes.com/topics/john-james-audubon-richard-rhodes

Discussion Questions: (Heidi will be leading)
1. Discuss and describe who Audubon was, his complicated background, talents, appearance, family life, bird collecting, extensive travels, successes and failures. See pp: 4, 11, 18, 21-, 95, 114-, 124-, 230, 233, 253, 298, 329, 341, 418-, 432

2. The early 1800s were a fascinating and challenging time period with the expansion into the west, the development of the steam engine, Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, July Revolution of 1830, Industrial Revolution, passage over the Atlantic, disease, etc. Discuss how these impacted Audubon and affected his life. See pp: 21, 121, 132, 136, 338, 343-

3. The Panic of 1819 was the first major economic crisis and depression in America and had a profound affect on Audubon’s life. Discuss these impacts including the loss of his business, his marriage and family life, relationships, his mental health and work. How does the 2nd crisis affect him in 1837? See pp: 138- , 249, 400.

4. In 1816 was the year without a summer and communities turned to nature to survive. Discuss the story about the Passenger pigeons, which are now extinct, but were plentiful during this period.  See pages: 112, 127-130. Discuss other destruction of the environment, that he sees during his life. See pp. 337, 384

5. Audubon was a colorful character and had many adventures, including pirates, quicksand, earthquakes, fights, traveling the wild Mississippi, a mysterious naked woman, years apart from this family, alligators in FL, etc. Discuss these and see pages: 85, 96, 116, 140, 169, 180, 302, 361-

6. There were many fascinating men and women who lived and achieved greatness during these times, including Mary Shelley, Humboldt, Darwin, Bartram, Peale, etc. Discuss who he met and was greatly influenced and impacted by, including Alex Wilson, Charles Bonaparte, Berthoud, Syme, Nuttall, Vanderlyn, Bachman, Thomas Sully, Sir Walter Scott, Henry Clay, Rathbones, Andrew Jackson, President Houston, etc. See pp: 144, 150, 166-167, 186, 215, 219-221, 224, 252-, 276, 283-285, 305-, 352, 396-

7. Creatures were still being discovered, collected and named. Discuss and can you identify some of the different names used for the birds and animals we know today, including: mosquito hawks, tufted ducks, black bellied darters, swallow tailed hawk, white headed eagle, great footed hawk, carrion crows, red breasted thrushes, etc. See pages: 158, 178.


8. Discuss Audubon’s painting and his processes which evolved over the years and the challenges from destructive wood rats to losing them, watercolors and oils, finding time and money to realize his dream as well as the men who handled his engravings (Lizars and Havell) and how he sold and developed his famous work, The Birds of America. See pp: 116, 163, 169, 210, 217, 261, 273, 285, 293-294, 299-304, 341, 345-, 403-

(Audubon.org)




Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming edited by Paul Hawken



Summary (Amazon): "The 100 most substantive solutions to reverse global warming, based on meticulous research by leading scientists and policymakers around the world."

Website for the Book: https://www.drawdown.org/

Event: September 24, 7:00 - 9:00 for Climate Week in NYC:
https://www.climateweeknyc.org/event/drawdown



Reviews:
NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/opinion/a-smorgasbord-of-solutions-for-global-warming.html

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/22/first-look-environmental-entrepreneur-paul-hawkens-long-awaited-new-book

Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/paul-hawken/drawdown/

Ted Talks:
1. Chad Frischmann:
https://www.ted.com/talks/chad_frischmann_100_solutions_to_climate_change?language=en
2. Katherine Wilkinson: How empowering women and girls can help stop global warming:
https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_wilkinson_how_empowering_women_and_girls_can_help_stop_global_warming/transcript?language=en

The Green Deal, House Resolution 109https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text

Group Discussion: (This will be led by Donna.)

 The logical way to read this book is to use it to identify how you can make a difference. How each person thinks and perceives his or her role and responsibility in the world is the first step in any transformation - the base upon which all change depends. (p. 216)

Keeping this in mind, read what is of interest to you. Keep some notes and write up some of your own questions and observations to share with the group and what you find inspiring.

Also, please read the beginning including Origins, Language and Numbers (x-xv) and also the end An Opening, Methodology and What the Numbers tell us (p. 216-225)

1. Which solutions for drawing down carbon dioxide emissions struck you as the most:

interesting?    surprising?     feasible?               far-fetched?            controversial?

2. How can we make some changes in our own lives to help drawdown CO 2  levels?

3. How might government agencies affect and/or promote various solutions proposed in Drawdown?

4. Have you read The Green New Deal yet?  If not, what have you heard about it?   

5. Who might you give this book to, a recent graduate? A candidate? A neighbor, friend, or business person?